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Can I use my author status and Amazon sales as proof of remote work on a retirement visa in Thailand?
Retirement VisaRemote WorkVisa DocumentationAuthoring BooksFreelancing in ThailandThai Immigration Rules
Feb 15, 2025
a year ago
Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello all. I am on a retirement visa, have been here 9 years. If I can show my Amazon page with six published books and plenty of reviews, plus good behavior here for years and an ample Thai bank account, would authoring books (in the US) be considered sufficient proof of remote work? Thanks y'all, good site.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user inquires if being an author with published works on Amazon and a solid Thai bank account could serve as proof of remote work under their retirement visa in Thailand. The discussion includes the relevance of providing tax documents and the overall ease of the retirement visa relative to the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV). Comments reflect on the pros and cons of different visa types and the complexities of Thai immigration regulations.
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Eitan *******************
Hi
Really curious as I’m contemplatemplating on both 🏧
@Brian *******
What’s the benefit for you with dtv compared to the retirement visa that you already got?Really curious as I’m contemplatemplating on both 🏧
Greg ********
@Eitan ******************
Being able to work online is the key I think.Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
Typing on a keyboard and uploading the book to Amazon where it is sold... the question is whether that qualifies. I say it should!Greg ********
@Brian *******
I would tend to agree but as you say divining what qualifies and where is like guessing all next weeks football scores correctly. My pals consultancy is a start up in Oncology Clinical Development. I would consult on Project Managwmt and systems. With no revenue as of yet etc I doubt I would get the Workaytion DTV though. There would be no Thai clients though.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Eitan ******************
I don't want to share intimate details but I would like an airtight visa status and some of my creative activities might be considered work some day. So I am always looking to ensure my status is fully secure.Eitan *******************
@Brian *******
I do agree that in your case a dtv will be more of a- on the safe sideBrian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Eitan ******************
Yes, I have a cozy retirement visa now but want protection. The question is whether I am better protected in my current state with discrete activity, or risking a new visa which could be withdrawn or changed in 5 years.Eitan *******************
@Brian *******
I have the feeling that you will have to live with uncertainty as the only stable thing nowadays is the instability and constant change.But if you don’t get the dtv for some reason I guess you can always fall back to the retirement
Reply to
Eitan *******************
Reply
David ********
@Brian *******
essentially depends if you make regular moneyBrian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *******
Regular meaning ongoing and consistent? To me, regular would mean engaging in occasional creative activities that would be classified as work which is verboten under the retirement visa. In a judicial system where a violation can mean a small fine or a big one or deportation or some other new manner of torment.Reply to
Brian ********
Reply
Greg ********
@Brian *******
That is my thoughts too. I am a consultant for a friend's company but no work done in Thailand - it is Singapore. In the future it might be nice to work online though. I have been looking at BOI Smart S visa but that might be over the topReply to
Greg ********
Reply
Christopher *******
Retirement is the best hassle free visa in Thailand
Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Christopher ******
Agree but I may choose to do creative work at some point and I want to be fully aligned with the ever fluid Thai immigration code. And no doubt I went through years of jumping through hoops to get my retirement visa.Li ****
@Christopher ******
agree. dtv reentry or extension has hasslesReply to
Li ****
Reply
Li ****
do you think dtv is better than retirement visa?
Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Li ***
No, except if I choose to do creative work such as authoring or aiding another author, that may leave me vulnerable. The ideal course according to some friends is to collect my well earned pension, make love to my girlfriend every sunset, work on my daily yoga practice, swim in tropical waters, and never do anything resembling work ever again.Reply to
Brian ********
Reply
Eric *****
Look at the embassies' published requirements
Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Eric ****
This being Thailand, the interpretations are akin to divining the will of God in some ancient scripture. Obtuse language, varying interpretations from embassy to embassy if you know what I mean.Reply to
Brian ********
Reply
Greg ********
Good question. Really interested to see the outcome. Good luck.
Wannikea *********
While being an author you can also be a freelancer and have your online business managed remotely through Amazon, they will likely ask to see taxes paid etc hopefully you have a business entity. Your book reviews or good behaviour are irrelevant.
Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
Agree on that last point, it was presented as proof of actual work (something they ask for), and yes there are tax forms and sales reports. I just can't have Amazon give me that employer document and was wondering - should I opt for the DTV - whether this fits neatly in their criteria. Or gets close enough should I go for that visa.Wannikea *********
@Brian *******
in the case of being a freelancer you'd have contracts and a portfolio, but in your case I don't think you're really on a workation because you're not working for anybody else, so you would be a remote worker working for your own LLC and you provide a contract to yourself.Brian ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
Yes that seems the Gordian knot. As an author I work for "myself" though without an LLC. A remote worker working for myself to publish books on a US platform.Wannikea *********
@Brian *******
reading some of your other replies, what you're doing, writing, is not and won't be getting you a foul of a non O based on being over 50. If you can deal with the non O funding requirement and are familiar with the extension process then stay with it. The DTV will require a border bounce every 6 months as extensions are the wild west of the original application process, but now in the hands of immigration as opposed to the MFA embassy staff. And who knows if any tweaks will be made on the DTV. It has some benefits and some uncertainty. I can understand your curiosity for it.Reply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
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