Answereda month ago
Can I use a Digital Work Visa (DTV) in Thailand as a freelance A/V technician working primarily abroad?
Hi, I work freelance in A/V for events internationally with a long paper trail of 4 years doing this. The plan is to use Thailand as a base in between events. Is this an expected use case with the DTV? And is there any kind of thing they are more likely to deny for? For example, even doing this, am I better off buying some cooking course for a more reliable acceptance or should I stick to this seeing as (in my mind) it's one of the intentions behind the visa
Answer summary
The Digital Work Visa (DTV) in Thailand may seem suitable for freelancers like A/V technicians who work internationally, but there are important considerations. Many respondents suggest that using Thailand as a base while working abroad aligns with the DTV's intent, provided that your work is characterized as remote or can be related to operations done from Thailand. It's crucial to demonstrate that work is not performed physically in Thailand. Supporting documents such as employment contracts or invoices that indicate your work takes place remotely will strengthen your application. Keep in mind that guidelines frequently shift, making communication with the embassy essential to understand current approval criteria.
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Sefton ********
If you mean leaving Thailand to work overseas, and using Thailand as a base for down time when not working, then no the workation DTV does not fit, I have no idea why people are saying it does. The DTV is not designed for rotation work or work outside Thailand.
The soft power DTV is open to all of course.
The soft power DTV is open to all of course.
Expat******
@Sefton *******
totally incorrect. There are hundreds of DTV holders working overseas or remotely from Thailand as freelancers/contractors, rig workers, sports events, engineers etc. Our company has an agent just to handle outgoing visas to return to work and new applicants who are on regular income, own or long term rent condos. DTV is set up for remote and workation and if it were contrary to that it wouldn’t be a multi-entry visa unlike retirement or other res visas it’s encouraged to stay in-country as multi/entry is chargeable and continued proof of income etc. If anything it’s the soft part of the program in question having no income and many are now being issued 6 month MEV while some struggle to even get a bus ticket after 180 days let alone fly out which is what the visa is set up for, MULTI- entry.Anonymous *************
OPExpatsiam✈️ That's definitely what I would have assumed. But I'm wondering how many of these people have applied recently? As it seemed incredibly loose at the start
Anonymous *************
OP@Sefton *******
Thanks, yeah I am concerned that if I email the local embassy I will inadvertently put my foot in it by admitting something that they would recognise later on. The management/scheduling/planning thing I could definitely get the company i freelance for to do and that may help get it over the line. But then if they look at my past invoices those are all from being physically at the job. Absolutely insane people got a 5 year visa for a dentail appointment compared to the hoops we have to jump through nowSefton ********
Anonymous participant when it started almost any application worked, literally some dentist appointments, gradually it's tightened.
The 'workation' visa is for remote workers who can work from Thailand, multiple Embassy's demand proof of this from the employer or a statement from a Freelancer. That you can do your work from Thailand.
For example landlords with rental properties have been denied, because it's not working FROM Thailand, but applicants that made it sound. more property management tasks, done online, succeeded. Its how they applied.
Oil and gas workers denied, but ones who claimed they did management tasks, scheduling, planning, training etc etc while rotation in Thailand, and get some letter of that from their company, succeed.
The more edge case it can be made, the better the chance. But but 'I have money from work I do outside Thailand let me have a visa to stay' will likely fall.
If in doubt email the local embassy, each one has it's own policy, but many are poor at replying.
The 'workation' visa is for remote workers who can work from Thailand, multiple Embassy's demand proof of this from the employer or a statement from a Freelancer. That you can do your work from Thailand.
For example landlords with rental properties have been denied, because it's not working FROM Thailand, but applicants that made it sound. more property management tasks, done online, succeeded. Its how they applied.
Oil and gas workers denied, but ones who claimed they did management tasks, scheduling, planning, training etc etc while rotation in Thailand, and get some letter of that from their company, succeed.
The more edge case it can be made, the better the chance. But but 'I have money from work I do outside Thailand let me have a visa to stay' will likely fall.
If in doubt email the local embassy, each one has it's own policy, but many are poor at replying.
Sefton ********
At first folks got them for dental appointments or a single festival ticket 😂. What happened at the start is not what's happening now.
Fly in fly oil workers have been denied. Air crew and ship crew have been denied. People are routinely asked to provide proof that thier work can be performed from Thailand.
Guys who made up work that they could do from Thailand as part of that job got issued visas.
Of course, Thailand is consistently inconsistent.
Fly in fly oil workers have been denied. Air crew and ship crew have been denied. People are routinely asked to provide proof that thier work can be performed from Thailand.
Guys who made up work that they could do from Thailand as part of that job got issued visas.
Of course, Thailand is consistently inconsistent.
Anonymous *************
OP@Sefton *******
When you're saying all these people have been denied, this is in the last couple of months since they've changed it?Anonymous *************
OP@Sefton *******
ok thanks Sefton, I’m quite confused now given the other two replies. The terms seems to state that it’s for freelancers but doesn’t state if that work is occurring while you’re in Thailand. I kinda figured with the clamp down that they would be more suspicious of the soft power stuff but if that simplifies things I’d be open to itSefton ********
Anonymous participant is for remote work that is to be performed from Thailand.
It isn't for work outside of Thailand that you physically travel to.
It isn't for work outside of Thailand that you physically travel to.
Sefton ********
Anonymous participant yeah.. If you were to expand this to event management, that you do the planning, comms, prep, etc etc FROM Thailand.. and that you also sometimes attend the event that you have planned.. Thats the kind of app that will likely succeed.
Anonymous *************
OP@Sefton *******
Right yeah I can see your point. What work did the rig workers make up to add into their applications? It's kinda hard to know what their intent with this Visa is, because you can't stay more than 180 days at a time, and as Expatsiam✈️ said it's multiple entry. And then it's utterly bizarre to me they let people take 16k USD in with a couple of cooking classes and they can stay for 5 years. Could I for example add in that I work on these events in the planning stage in thailand?Sefton ********
Expatsiam✈️ there are 2 categories for dtv. Remote workers, and soft power. That's all. Remote freelancers are in the first category.
If your work can be performed remote (or your company or agent claims that) you're fine. If it's rotation where you leave thailand to do the work, most embassies now refuse. The Kota Kinabalu embassy explicitly says this 'work FROM Thailand'.
Things were a lot looser in the start when almost any excuse got one.
If your work can be performed remote (or your company or agent claims that) you're fine. If it's rotation where you leave thailand to do the work, most embassies now refuse. The Kota Kinabalu embassy explicitly says this 'work FROM Thailand'.
Things were a lot looser in the start when almost any excuse got one.
Expat******
@Sefton *******
That’s for Remote/digital workers not freelancers which there are obvious variables in the category Workation which allows travel being a MEV.Cliff *********
This is exactly what DTV is for.
Make sure you can write yourself an employment contract and give yourself permission to work anywhere abroad.
Make sure you have enough seasoned money in a real bank account.
Make clear the events are NOT physically occurring in Thailand.
Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Make sure you can write yourself an employment contract and give yourself permission to work anywhere abroad.
Make sure you have enough seasoned money in a real bank account.
Make clear the events are NOT physically occurring in Thailand.
Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Anonymous *************
OP@Cliff ********
Thanks cliff, I’m a bit confused as someone above explicitly said that this is exactly not what it’s for and now I’m confused. I did figure that because the visa description says it’s for freelancers that would imply I could do this, but they never stated on the website whether this is freelance work while based in Thailand. For example, I never work online, only physically at events outside of ThailandCliff *********
Anonymous participant do you do any work online or by phone prior to the event or do you just arrive and know exactly what needs to be done? Making the prior arrangements online would be appropriate for the visa.
Expat******
Freelancing with solid enough immediate future production contracts and some repeat work provides a solid case and pays to apply while your on an event to show current finances etc. should that event be in the country you can apply from. They like to hear why Thailand is choice of hub (partner, ideal for commuting back and forth from events) and no intention of working events in Thailand.
Anonymous *************
OPExpatsiam✈️ Thanks for the reply, but i can now only apply in my home country since the changes and the events never happen there. I have no issues providing bank statements to show current finances, though that registered account isnt from my home country. Though is still under my name
Anonymous *************
OPOk thanks a lot. So in applying you show them invoices etc?
Expat******
Anonymous participant Where the bank is shouldn’t matter as it states any bank and supports people on res/work visas who may not have bank access in that country. Just show the source for country working or being paid from that relates to the job your on, to your a/c.
Expat******
Yes, show the matching transactions by way of highlighting on invoices and corresponding deposits on account statements. This can be a business or other account not necessarily the account the 500k is in which has to be seasoned for 3 or 6 months depending on the country of application.
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