Can I work remotely from Thailand for a month each year with my current employment arrangements?

Jan 14, 2025
4 days ago
Hi all. I'd like to work from Thailand for a month per year annually and take annual leave either side of that, so trips would be around 2 months total. My wife is Thai and we've found (probably like everyone else) that a short trip just isn't long enough.

I work for a company in the financial sector in the UK and I'm expected to work primarily from our UK office, but company policy does allow for up to 1 month of remote work per year, as long as we have a visa to do so legally. So I couldn't visit on a tourist visa, for example, as it's not technically legal to do any remote work on that particular visa. As far as I'm aware the DTV is the only option.

My company have OK'd my request to work from Thailand and have given me permission to apply for the visa, but they're refusing to provide me with a permission letter (either mentioning Thailand specifically or remote work in general). Because of the nature of our business they don't want to give any indication that they're operating within Thailand or countries in which they're not registered, as it could get messy from a regulatory perspective. I'm not an investor myself (I work in digital), and none of the work I do involves Thai prospects or customers, and it won't for the forseeable future.

This has put me in a slightly tricky situation. I have an employment contract, but it doesn't explicitly state the terms remote work anywhere. It just states that I'm expected to work from our UK office for 11 months in any calendar year.

Are my chances pretty poor? I'm tempted to apply, highlighting the relevant section of my contract and giving more context through the cover letter, but I think the London embassy is probably like to want more info.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for the help.
1,343
views
1
likes
46
all likes
27
replies
0
images
8
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster seeks advice on working remotely from Thailand for a month annually while facing challenges with their UK employer's reluctance to provide a specific permission letter for remote work. They consider the DTV visa but have concerns about its restrictions and legality regarding remote work. The community offers various insights, suggesting alternative visa options and discussing the legal nuances of working remotely while in Thailand.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Siggi *******
This is a troll post
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siggi ******
I’m not really sure what your problem is with me, but I’m not trolling. I have a genuine problem and I came here for advice, not for some egomaniac to accuse me of trolling. To what end??

It sounds like this isn’t an option for me, thanks to everyone else for attempting to help
Neil ******
The letter my employer wrote for me was very brief and didn’t specify a country. It basically said “ in the role of project manager some of his work can be done remotely “
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Neil *****
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately they’ve told me that they won’t write a letter of any kind, which is frustrating to say the least.
Neil ******
Anonymous participant write your own mate👍
Greg ********
@Neil *****
I was going to say that but if the company ever fine out and they want him put of the door for free he has given them the perfect excuse.
John **********
I'm not even sure the DTV would satisfy your UK company as it comes with a "Work prohibited" endorsement.

I also don't think they would issue one on the basis of your existing contract, mostly because it says you can only work remotely for 1 month per annum.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Sounds like it’s not an option for me then. Disappointing, but appreciate your help, thanks.
Catherine ********
If you’re only coming for a month don’t bother with a work visa - just come as a tourist. Can be in the country for up to 90 days at a time and the visa is issued on arrival at the airport
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Catherine *******
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately my work won’t sanction it unless I can work legally, so don’t think this is an option. Appreciate the advice though.
Siggi *******
Anonymous participant what troll post this is? You want to tell us you work in finance service? But you are unable to understand easy things. Nowhere in the world is a visa to work remotely for an outside company, si stop telling this lies it's not legal. Dtv is a tourist visa you are not allowed to work in Side Thailand but work is by definition to work for Thai clients. Millions of people come to Thailand and by your definition work illegally.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siggi ******
I didn’t realise my post would cause so much offense. Take a step back and chill out ffs.

It’s quite simple - the DTV allows for remote work for a foreign company. The tourist visa doesn’t, technically speaking, even if nobody will ever bat an eye. My employer won’t sanction me going on a tourist visa and thus I cannot.

I apologise for hurting you so deeply.
Pete *******
@Catherine *******
there is no visa issued on arrival for a UK passport holder.
Catherine ********
@Pete ******
there is. You get a tourist visa on arrival as a UK citizen. 30 days in the country, can be extended twice totalling 90 days.
Pete *******
@Catherine *******
you get a 60 day entry stamp. Not a visa.
Catherine ********
@Pete ******
whatever you call it you get 60 days in the country.
Jef ********
@Catherine *******
hahahah you got told.

I seen a guy do a video on YouTube about visas, and he went and asked agents about the process for VOA arrival etc. made a 30 minute video because he was given the correct information about VOA arrival but the info is only good for people from a few nations who can actually get a VOA.

So it’s quite clear that it’s important that you know the correct thing your talking about
Catherine ********
@Jef *******
“I got told” are you an adult?!

It used to be called a VOA which is where the confusion comes from.

The poster still gets the same info.

As a uk citizen he shows up at the airport he will be allowed in.

Grow up and check your ego for gods sake
Greg ********
@Catherine *******
It was never VOA for UK citizens. It has always been Via Exempt. VOA is something completely different and it is not free.
Jef ********
@Catherine *******
calm down Karen ,

You should just admit your wrong instead of throwing your 2 cents in for in correct information and the put your head in the sand when you get called out for your BS
Catherine ********
@Jef *******
I’m wrong. It’s not called a visa it’s called an entry stamp.

Dear original poster hope this has been a helpful train of comments.

Enjoy your 60 days in the country.
Pete *******
@Catherine *******
that’s right you get 60 days entry extendable once for 30 days. You do NOT get a 30 day visa extendable twice for a total of 90 days as you stated. You would be entering under the visa exempt entry scheme.
Glenn **********
@Catherine *******
you can't just say 'whatever you call it' talking about visa's etc you have to be exact. People misconstrue comments.

When you enter Thailand you get a 60 day visa EXEMPT stamp if you are from one of the countries eligible for it.
Luit *****************
For DTV they will need somewhere explicitly stated you are able to work remotely, it is not necessary that Thailand is mentioned explicitly.

There is always discussion if remote work is seen as work for Thai law, but practically you can just work remote without getting problems.

Several people just got confirmed from Thai embassies in different countries it is not a problem, and the fact that on DTV even when opted for workcation, there still is the remark "Working prohibited" shows they do not see remote work as work.

Legally it is not easy to say what is the location of the work in case of remote work,
Wannikea *********
Just enter using the free 60 day visa exempt stamp, which can be extended an additional 30 days at immigration.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
Hey, thanks for the reply! Unfortunately my work won’t sanction it unless I can legally work on the visa, which I don’t believe I can with the 60 day entry. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.
Wannikea *********
Anonymous participant you can't work on any tourist class visa, that is you can't do business with a Thai entity or citizen. Working online with entities outside of Thailand doesn't count as working in Thailand. Digital nomads have been doing this for a long time. The DTV simply gives them better, longer, stable, access to being in the country. Example you have an online store selling stickers to people in Timbuktu. Managing that site remotely isn't working in Thailand.