This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Do I need a Digital Work Permit if I have an LTR visa for remote work in Thailand?
LTR VisaDigital Work PermitVisa RegulationsThailand ImmigrationRemote Work VisaExpat Life in ThailandWork Permit Requirements
Apr 25, 2023
3 years ago
Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTERI recently got my LTR visa (moving from Canada). Thanks to everyone who's helped me with my questions!
My next challenge is the Digital Work Permit (DWP). For those that got the LTR visa, did you go through with getting the DWP? Or is the LTR visa enough? Also what did you say when entering Thailand? Did you have to mention anything about working? Or can you say you're just visiting on vacation? Did you have to show your return flight ticket?
When I was trying to complete their form for DWP, it asks for the company number, but the company I work for is in Canada and it wasn't showing up. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks 🙏
My next challenge is the Digital Work Permit (DWP). For those that got the LTR visa, did you go through with getting the DWP? Or is the LTR visa enough? Also what did you say when entering Thailand? Did you have to mention anything about working? Or can you say you're just visiting on vacation? Did you have to show your return flight ticket?
When I was trying to complete their form for DWP, it asks for the company number, but the company I work for is in Canada and it wasn't showing up. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks 🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, who recently obtained an LTR visa for remote work in Thailand, inquired about the necessity of acquiring a Digital Work Permit (DWP) and the proper process when entering Thailand regarding their work status. Comments clarified that the DWP is not needed for those holding the remote work LTR visa, as it is exclusively available for highly skilled workers employed by Thai companies. Additionally, it's emphasized that the current LTR visa does not permit working for a foreign employer in Thailand without canceling the LTR and applying for a non-B visa.
LONG TERM RESIDENT (LTR) VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic LTR Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted DTV Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Jo **********
no need for digital work permit if you have an LTR for remote working. the option of a work permit is only available under the highly skilled workers option. I got my LTR based on remote working very convenient .
Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
thanks for sharing your experience 🙏Reply to
Koj***
Reply
James *********
May I ask about your experience applying for the LTR Working From Thailand visa?
1) how many days from application submission to approval did it take?
2) are you collecting your LTR visa in your home country or in Thailand? If the former, how many extra days did the Canadian Thai embassy take to process? Did you get a letter with visa emailed or an actual stamp in your passport which you physically collected?
3) were you asked to provide additional documents after your initial application?
Thanks so much.
1) how many days from application submission to approval did it take?
2) are you collecting your LTR visa in your home country or in Thailand? If the former, how many extra days did the Canadian Thai embassy take to process? Did you get a letter with visa emailed or an actual stamp in your passport which you physically collected?
3) were you asked to provide additional documents after your initial application?
Thanks so much.
Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTER@James ********
if I could do it again, I'd probably go for the sticker instead of evisa even if it requires a flight because at least youwont be stuck in a potential online back and forth hell 😅James *********
@Ray ****
there are 3 more bank holidays in the first week of May 1, 4, and 5. Delays accumulating.Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTER@James ********
omg 🤦🏻♂️Reply to
Koj***
Reply
James *********
@Ray ****
@Brandon ***********
Thanks to both of you for your feedback. My application ‘started’ in late Feb. My employer delayed me 6 weeks. I have more documents I am waiting to upload (more payslips as I have 3 separate employers, I also have improved contract which is long term and a new employer letter and I also happen to have a no criminal record certificate which is less than 12 months old). I am waiting to upload, called them yesterday, and lady said she would pass on message to who is reviewing my application.When or rather if I get this opportunity to update my documents I think I will change location of Visa pickup up from UK to Bangkok. But that carrys risk of application failure and scramble for Plan B or leave again. They don’t make it easy. If I can get provisionally approved and then fly to Thailand, that is probably most sensible.
Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTERYeah I wish I did that instead. But I was worried that it would be more complicated there and I thought I'd feel more at ease if I had everything set up before I leave Canada. I've already paid for evisa so I guess there's no going back now.
I did overpay. I thought I'd get charged 50k THB at checkout and thought I could use Wise to keep fee low, but they charged $2500 CAD which is around 63k THB, so overpaid by $500 CAD 🤦♂️
I did overpay. I thought I'd get charged 50k THB at checkout and thought I could use Wise to keep fee low, but they charged $2500 CAD which is around 63k THB, so overpaid by $500 CAD 🤦♂️
Jo **********
@Ray ****
i did the same evisa for my LTR. Since having the LTR i have entered 3 times. it is confusing to the border agents. And a flight gate said I over stayed because she saw 2023 when actually it was 2028! it’s also strange that every time i get stamped in for 5 years knowing I am staying each time for 10-40 days. they really should look at changing this.Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
what do you mean you get stamped in each time for 5 years? And 10-40 days? Does that mean you don't stay in Thailand very long?Jo **********
@Ray ****
yes need to fly almost everything month for business trips.James *********
@Jo *********
they should allow you to swap evisa for a stamp at immigration. Maybe one day.Jo **********
@James ********
exactlyReply to
Jo **********
Reply
Brandon ************
@Ray ****
Personally I Think you would have been better off flying to thailand as a tourist and getting the visa stamp here. For 2 reasons.1 is they will charge you exactly 50,000 baht which is cheaper than every embassy.
2 is they will also include the multiple re-entry permit in your visa as a stamp, rather than possibly confusing border agents in the future that it's built into your visa.
James *********
@Brandon ***********
good pointsReply to
James *********
Reply
Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTER@James ********
happy to share. Will prob write a blog post to help others after I finally get to BKK because it was confusing as hell 😅1. Took me about 3 full months to get approval on LTR. There were documents requested about 3 times, so the back and forth really drew outthe process. I provided the wrong health insurance the first time and that set me back a week because I had to research insurance plans. They also took down the LTR site a week without any communication which was confusing and may have added to the delay.
2. I foolishly went against some advice from this forum to get the sticker and opted for the evisa instead because I thought it would be faster because I could apply online instead of making a flight to Ottawa. But then I realized process takes 20 business days for evisa, and they don't include holidays, so Songkran set me back +1 week. I'm actually still waiting for the final email of the visa. They requested a doc from me which setme back another couple of days.
3. As you saw in my other answers, yes.
James *********
@Ray ****
Is the ‘sticker’ you get in person in your passport at the Ottawa Thai embassy the same as the stamp if you collect the LTR visa in Bangkok?James *********
@Ray ****
was it 20 business days for BOI and another 20 business days for e visa after you have letter of acceptance?Reply to
James *********
Reply
Brandon ************
@James ********
My experience was a full 30 days but that was right after the program started so I believe it's less now. Ray may have more information on more recent timelines.It appears he applied through the Canadian Embassy e-visa, which means it's simply an e-mail and he will have to keep that PDF with him for the next 10 years. I don't know the timeline for Canada embassies though.
I purposely did not submit health insurance with my application which is an option they offer, but you have to send it after you are provisionally approved. That was the only extra thing I had to submit.
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Brandon ************
If you applied for the "remote work" LTR, you do not qualify for a work permit. The work permit is only for the highly skilled category, as work permits are only for those working for a Thai company in Thailand.
You saw this yourself as the information required is only in relation to Thai companies.
Also if you later get a job in Thailand, you would have to cancel your LTR and apply for a non-B visa, as the visa you currently have is not authorized for working in Thailand because you have the one based on remote work for a foreign company.
You saw this yourself as the information required is only in relation to Thai companies.
Also if you later get a job in Thailand, you would have to cancel your LTR and apply for a non-B visa, as the visa you currently have is not authorized for working in Thailand because you have the one based on remote work for a foreign company.
Koj***
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks-- the fact that it was in the LTR website and was called "Digital Work Permit" threw me off. It really sounded like I needed that to do digital work. But this makes a lot more sense now since the DWP form didn't make any sense.
What about coming into Thailand with LTR? Do you have to disclose anything about your work? or do they usually just see the LTR visa and not ask any further questions?
What about coming into Thailand with LTR? Do you have to disclose anything about your work? or do they usually just see the LTR visa and not ask any further questions?
John **********
@Ray ****
as I understand it the digital work permit is part of the visa you haveBrandon ************
@John *********
no work permit at all. Cannot pay taxes, cannot apply for financing, etc.John **********
@Brandon ***********
I didn't say it was the same as the traditional work permit, but it does allow you to work inside Thailand legally for the purpose the visa was issued.Reply to
John **********
Reply
Brandon ************
@Ray ****
nope. You don't have to disclose anything. It's a very weird grey area but basically your permission to work remotely is baked into the visa itself. You're not going to have to do anything about your LTR until you hit the 5 year cutoff. At that point you have to apply again as if you're applying for a new LTR, the only difference is you won't have to pay again.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
2 comments
2 years ago
19 comments
2 years ago
10 comments
2 years ago
36 comments
2 years ago
9 comments
2 years ago
35 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
12 comments
2 years ago
25 comments
2 years ago
19 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
25 comments
2 years ago
17 comments
2 years ago
31 comments
3 years ago
19 comments
3 years ago
30 comments
3 years ago
23 comments
3 years ago
145 comments
3 years ago
6 comments
4 years ago
60 comments
4 years ago
18 comments
4 years ago
8 comments
4 years ago
14 comments
8 years ago
10 comments
a month ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.