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Can I work remotely while holding a retirement visa in Thailand?
Jun 26, 2025
10 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI am looking to get a retirement visa but also might be bored in retirement and pick up some remote work for a non Thai company. . Can I do this on a retirement visa? Thank you in advance.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses the possibility of working remotely for a non-Thai company while on a retirement visa in Thailand. Opinions are divided, with some users suggesting that it's technically against the law while others argue that it is common practice and unlikely to attract attention. They highlight that the retirement visa itself does not explicitly permit employment but working remotely is often overlooked. Users also mention alternative options like the DTV and LTR visas for those seeking to work legally.
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Chris *******
What you do in the privacy of your bedroom is your business.. keep it that way.
No issues.
No issues.
Dany ********
you can. dont worry. remote work isnt seen as work by law which is also emphasized by the fact that a dtv even specifies that work/employment is prohibited in thailand… you will be fine… i guess there was never ever a reported problem for a foreigner working remotely under ANY sort of visa. there isnt even a different visa for your situation. even the DTV is just a tourist visa and aimed for people that come and go, not specifically for people that live permanently in the country…. so whats left? a LTR visa which is impossible to get for most people… so yes, you will be fine to work remotely with your retirement visa…
Greg ********
Sticking to the letter of the law, no. In practice, you would probably never get found out unless someone dobbed you in.
Ja***
@Greg *******
Sticking to the letter of the law it's not legal to work remotely with a DTV either. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced this visa and said people could do remote work but the no laws were actually changed to allow this.Greg ********
@Ja***
whatever! It was in the Royal Gazette was it not? If in there it is law. The DTV including the Workaytion category was published. Are you now an expert on Thai Constitutional Law? Even an image of it here ***************************************************************************************************************************
*****
db5e9a2666fdd5ddbb5Ja***
@Greg *******
They added the new visa types in the Royal Gazette but the underlying law governing work authorization was not changed. The relevant law is the Alien Working Act, B.E. 2551 (2008).Alessandro ***********
@Ja***
I’ve literally told them I’m working remotely. Applied for a remote working visa. And been accepted for said visa. With document from the company I’m working for explicitly stating I’m working for them…. Why would you think it’s not legal to work remotely with a DTV?Reply to
Alessandro ***********
Reply
John **********
You can't work on a retirement visa. Look for an appropriate visa
Jude ****************
@John *********
yes genius of facebookDany ********
@John *********
you can work remotely and no one will have a problem with that. there isnt even another longterm non immigrant visa for people like that… same as people on marriage visa.John **********
@Dany *******
there are only 2 visas that allow you to work remotely, the DTV and the LTR Remote Worker. I understand people work remotely on other visas but not legally so they need to keep it quietReply to
John **********
Reply
Ray *****
You can change to DTV yes. I just did similar. I Let my retirement run out and applied for DTV on remote work. No issues, very easy
Reply to
Ray *****
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