Hi all,
I'm a couple of weeks away from needing to renew my retirement visa but thought I'd explore the possibility of going with the DTV instead. The main reasons are that I thought it might be easier and cheaper. My Thai bank account has dipped well under the 80000 baht which means I have to pay more for the retirement visa and I don't think I need to pay for health insurance with the DVT. I do have much more than the 800k btw, just prefer to keep in in my investments if possible at this point.
So, some questions:
1. I read somewhere that I can't apply for the dtv within Thailand. True or false?
1. I also read that I can't apply for a Thai bank account with a dtv but does that mean I need to close my current Thai account?
2. Do I need health insurance with a dtv?
3. Regarding the need to leave the country after 180 days how long do I need to be away for? Can that be done 20 or 30 days before if it's a more suitable time to travel for me?
4. I read that I may be able to just pay more after 180 days rather than leave. Is that true and if so how much?
Finally, if there are any Thai visa services business reading this can you please pm me.
Thank you, Stuart
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is exploring the possibility of switching from a retirement visa to a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) due to financial constraints with the retirement visa. Key questions include whether the DTV can be applied for from within Thailand, the implications for his Thai bank account, health insurance requirements, and the rules regarding leaving Thailand every 180 days. The community clarified that the DTV must be applied for outside of Thailand, he can keep his existing bank account, there is no health insurance requirement, and he does not need to be away for a specific number of days. Additionally, several users advised that staying on the retirement visa might be more practical given his situation.
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