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Do I need a DTV visa to work remotely in Thailand for 2-3 months?
DTV visaVisa rulesRemote work in ThailandTourist visaImmigrationVisa extensionLegal workExpat advice
Nov 9, 2025
6 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI'll be working remotely from Thailand for 2-3 months. Given it's a relatively short stay, do I actually need a DTV visa? I'm going in a month so a bit wary if I apply now I may not get it in time
TLDR : Answer Summary
The necessity of a DTV visa for remote work in Thailand is debated. While legally you cannot work on a tourist entry visa, many expats and tourists do so without issue, considering the risk low. The DTV visa is specifically designed for remote workers. Tourists can enter Thailand on a visa exemption for 60 days, with the option to extend by 30 days at a local immigration office. There is also ambiguity, as some believe the government is encouraging remote work tourism. However, relying on a tourist entry may carry legal risks.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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.
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Henrik *****
If only 1 time DTV is not for you.
You need to get a visa that allow you to work legally during your stay in Thailand.
Would never ever try to bend rules and work illegally in a country that would be worth visiting again some other time.
You need to get a visa that allow you to work legally during your stay in Thailand.
Would never ever try to bend rules and work illegally in a country that would be worth visiting again some other time.
Anonymous ******************
Labor laws in many countries I’ve looked at don’t specifically address remote workers employed abroad and those that have permit it because it doesn’t threaten local employment, which is the whole purpose of having the laws in the first place. Thailand seems to be following this example which is why they’ve been so relaxed about giving out 5 year visas that explicitly permit remote work from overseas employers. Be careful of all the alarmist crap you’ll read on forums like Thaivisa. I challenge people to find a single case where a foreigner in Thailand was deported or charged for working online for a foreign employer where they were paid in a foreign bank account. Be far more concerned about things like overstays, which they do take seriously.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant 719 Very well said. I've been following this whole debacle since roughly 2018 and I concur with your statements.
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Paul *******
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Elías ********
Legally? I have no idea, I couldn't care less (I have a DTV for remote work already, so) but I remember some government (Tourism Authority of Thailand) ads (they're in YouTube actually) where they explicitly invite tourists to come to Thailand and work remotely.
Elías ********
Not to mention that some embassies issued multi entry tourist visa (METV) to some people that requested a DTV... so 🙄
Reply to
Elías ********
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Sefton ********
Legally you cant work without one.. Reality is no one checks, so much so many even believe it isnt the law.
Paul *******
@Sefton *******
It's vague as far as working for a non-Thai entity is concerned anyway. Seems to be OK, otherwise, one could argue even giving advice on this forum is a form of "working" and a work permit technically required for it.Reply to
Paul *******
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Anonymous ******************
Who knows you’re working if you don’t admit. They’re not exerting panoptical control over or monitoring of each tourist. If they expelled you the ground of that, that would be a huge scandal.
DTV_Be*******
93 passports get 60 days visa exemption stamp on arrival
You can go to your local immigration office and buy a 30 day extension for ฿1,900
You have to figure out the rules of your local immigration office to figure out when you can buy the 30 day extension as every single immigration office has their own rules
Good luck
You can go to your local immigration office and buy a 30 day extension for ฿1,900
You have to figure out the rules of your local immigration office to figure out when you can buy the 30 day extension as every single immigration office has their own rules
Good luck
John **********
It's not strictly legal to work remotely from Thailand on a tourist entry, people do it but they keep it quiet. The DTV is one of only 2 visas that allow you to do so legally
Paul *******
@John *********
No, I don't think that is the correct analysis. It's actually OK to work remotely on any visa (besides, the DTV has the exact same "employment prohibited" remark as tourist visas, retirement visas and certain other visa types).Basically, the fear is that those on tourist visas or exemptions coming for "remote work" might end up overstaying or working illegally for a Thai entity. That's why, it's best to get a DTV for remote work as it was specifically designed for that purpose.
However, for a true holidaymaker/vacationer who just spends a month in Thailand and does a little bit of remote work, it's actually fine.
John **********
@Paul ******
I believe you are totally wrong. Work is very tightly defined in Thai law and there is no exception for remote work in the legislation. Nobody is going to care if you answer a few emails from back home if you are on holiday but earning a living is differentPaul *******
@John *********
Even voluntary work technically requires a work permit so what you're doing everyday answering people's enquiries online could be seen as "working".John **********
@Paul ******
any work inside Thailand requires a work permit. A work permit is not required for remote work but a relevant visa isPaul *******
@John *********
You don't know what you're talking about. Firstly, remote work can now be done on any visa...secondly, a "employment prohibited" visa is very clear in its meaning.John **********
@Paul ******
please show me anything that says remote work can be done on any visa, anything official I meanPaul *******
@John *********
Please show me anything that states that there is a distinction between an "Employment Prohibited" DTV and any other "Employment Prohibited" visa. They're both the SAME. NOTHING has ever been stated to suggest a DTV has any special work authorization that say, a retirement visa doesn't have.
They're both non-work authorized and thus Thai immigration and the labor office will treat them the same.
John **********
@Paul ******
as I've said previously the description of work in Thai law is defined very tightly. It would on my view mean that no work is allowed on any visa or no visa. Saying that the Thai government has obviously chosen to make a couple of exceptionsReply to
John **********
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Anonymous ******************
@John *********
The other is Thai Elite VisaJohn **********
Anonymous participant 717 No, the other is the LTR Remote Worker visa
Sefton ********
Anonymous participant 717 Elite visa does not give that right. The elite visa sellers semi pretend it does until they are pushed.
Arguably the LTR does, tho they didnt include it in the royal gazette to make it clear law but it is 'in practice'. There is even a remote worker category for LTR.
Arguably the LTR does, tho they didnt include it in the royal gazette to make it clear law but it is 'in practice'. There is even a remote worker category for LTR.
John **********
@Sefton *******
not all LTR visas are equal. The Remote Worker option is not so easy to obtain and isn't suitable for digital nomadsPaul *******
@John *********
It is suitable for digital Nomads who can meet the BOI requirements.John **********
@Paul ******
but part of the requirements involve working for a company that has a high turnover requirement on top of the applicants high income requirement. Certainly not your typical digital nomadPaul *******
@John *********
Talk to Jo Clemente. He's on an LTR and works remotely. Maybe the term "digital nomad" doesn't quite apply to him in the traditional sense, but he travels outside of Thailand so frequently that he's almost a "digital nomad" in a sense...though a wealthy one.Sefton ********
@John *********
Agreed, but my point is despite it not explicitly saying so in the royal gazette, the LTR is the only other visa that offers a work permit exemption without the process of applying for one from the labour dept (which visiting management executives used to get to attend meetings).The BOI claim that the HNW and Wealthy retiree also have this benefit, but the legal eagles will point out the BOI doesnt have the right or power to make that claim.
Reply to
Sefton ********
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Nick *******
You are taking a risk but I would say it is very minimal. I used to do work whilst on holiday all the time before I had a DTV because I couldn’t disconnect from work completely.
Dave *********
Come on a tourist entry and just keep your mouth shut about working
James ********
Wise advice ✅
Reply to
James ********
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