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Do I need a DTV visa to work remotely in Thailand for 2 weeks during my 1-month stay?

DTV visaworking remotely in Thailandtourist visavisa exemptionThai consulate guidanceVisa on Arrivalexpat visa regulations
Dec 17, 2024
a month ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone,

So I’m planning to be in Thailand for a month, 2 weeks vacation and the other 2 weeks working remotely. I would like some clarification that I would need the DTV to work for those 2 weeks? The DTV seemed pretty overkill for just the 2 weeks I plan to work. Any insight is much appreciated. Also thank you in advance!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to spend a month in Thailand, with two weeks for vacation and two weeks to work remotely. They are uncertain if a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) is necessary for their brief work period. Comments suggest that obtaining a DTV is excessive for such a short stay, especially since remote work for a foreign company generally does not require a special visa. Furthermore, with a tourist visa or depending on specific arrangements, it may be possible to work for a limited duration without additional permissions. Ultimately, the user confirmed with the Thai Consulate that a tourist visa suffices for their situation.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone, thank you for your inputs. I called the Thai Consulate in Canada to double check what some of you said.

Since I am working for a foreign company as a software engineer and I’ll be there for such a short trip, the person stated I’ll be fine with a tourist visa. Thanks once again to everyone that chimed in.
a month ago
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Sam ******
You don't need a visa to work online
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Sam *****
 suggest you do a bit of research on Thai law regarding working in Thailand.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Pete ******
 How can somebody check if you are working remote?

If I do something behind my laptop who can see if this is work or just my own administration?

It does not result in payments in Thailand.

When I chat to a collegue, is that work or just a private conversation?
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Luit ****************
 irrelevant, the point is about legality not compliance.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Pete ******
 It is difficult to define legally where you are working in case of remote working, so I doubt Thai government can prove you are working in Thailand when you do remote work, and the text on DTV about working prohibited shows remote work is not work in Thailand.

How do you think about a manager of a foreign company who during his vacation calls his office they should not forget to deliver an order.

Is he according YOUR definition WORKING in THAILAND, and therefore illegal?

I know Thai have strange rules about working, mainly to protect their own people.

When I do paint our own house here, that can be seen as working, because a Thai could have done this for his job.

But a Thai cannot do the remote job I do.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
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Sam ******
@Pete ******
 don't need to lived here 20 years worked online with no visa
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Sam *****
 admission of illegal activity is probably not sensible….
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Pete ******
 it’s not illegal to work remotely… suggest you do a bit or research
a month ago
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Sam ******
@Pete ******
 the fact that DTV is a tourist visa but allows online work is all you need to know that you are wrong. It's never been illegal to work online in Thailand on a tourist visa. It's simply that tourist visas were only for 3 months, and DTV is 5 years.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Sam *****
 the fact that on DTV still the text "Working prohibited" is, suggests that Thai government does not see remote work as working, but it is a grey area.
a month ago
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Sam ******
@Luit ****************
 is it though. If they say "working prohibited" but online work is ok, that very much suggests that online work does not count as "work" as far as Thailand is concerned
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Sam *****
 That exactly is my opinion, and apart from that, who will look here in my house what I do on my laptop and phone?

I have DTV now, but not because of the remote working I also did before.
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Sam *****
 you really are a special kind of stupid…
a month ago
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Sam ******
@Pete ******
 feel free to quote any single case where someone has been charged with online work or had their visa cancelled for online work.

Or just admit you are wrong and jog on. I'm happy to wait but everyone reading this knows that you are not going to try to respond because it's literally never happened.
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Sam *****
 just read Thai law. Dumb as a dumb thing in a room full of dumb things. You should get the stupid award for being in Thailand 20 years and still being so dumb.
a month ago
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Sam ******
@Pete ******
 still not seeing any quotes just tantrums. And in 4 posts you haven't yet thought of a synonym for dumb. It's ok if you aren't intelligent enough to work online. The world needs janitors too. But that doesn't make online work illegal.
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Sam *****
 for Gods sake don’t recreate.
a month ago
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Sam ******
@Pete ******
 still got nothing then
a month ago
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Sam ******
"

It's not illegal to work online champ. Show us proof otherwise or kindly slink off back to Thaivisa with all the other bitter old sex tourists
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Sam *****
 are you really this stupid?
a month ago
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Pete *******
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Anonymous ******************
It’s like if you are on vacation and some colleague asks you to check your emails real quick….. DTV is too much for that.
a month ago
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Pete *******
With permission from the labour office you can work on a visa exempt entry for up to 15 days.
a month ago
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Annie ************
@Pe**
, wow, that is so helpful, thank you! I didn't know this
a month ago
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Andreas *********
@Pete ******
 😃 got any offical link to this? Because for such short "workations", there are specific visa available before travel
a month ago
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Pete *******
@Andreas ********
a month ago
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Andreas *********
@Pete ******
 awgh, cool, thank you for the insight. I wasn't aware of this. There has been a specific visa for this purpose for decades, but it is good to know that the short-term work permit can also be had on top of a visa-exempt entry
a month ago
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Andreas *********
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Anonymous ******************
No point obtaining a DTV for such a short time and remote work. If you wish to work in Thailand for a Thai company or deal with thai businesses, you'll need a working visa.
a month ago
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Ian ********
If you only plan to stay here just for one month I suggest better use the Visa on Arrival
a month ago
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Andreas *********
@Ian *******
 visa on arrival only grants you 15 days, costs 2000.- Baht and can't be extended. Only for citizens of 3 dozens of countries
a month ago
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Ian ********
@Andreas ********
Thailand offers both a Visa on Arrival (VOA) program and a visa exemption scheme for some countries:

Visa on Arrival

Allows citizens of 31 countries and territories to visit Thailand for up to 15 days for tourism purposes. To apply for a VOA, you must meet the following requirements:

Have a passport that's valid for at least 30 days

Have a confirmed return ticket

Have proof of sufficient funds, at least 10,000 THB per person and 20,000 THB per family

Have a valid address in Thailand, such as a hotel or apartment

Pay a fee of 2,000 THB in cash and Thai currency upon entry

Visa exemption

Some countries and territories are eligible for a visa exemption that allows a stay of up to 45 days. These include Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

Starting December 2024, all visa-exempt travelers will need to apply for an ETA before traveling to Thailand.

Thailand also offers other types of visas, including the Thailand Marriage Visa, the Thailand Retirement Visa, and the LTR Visa Thailand.
a month ago
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Andreas *********
@Ian *******
 matey, I know all this. I am a professional visa adviser
a month ago
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Ian ********
@Andreas ********
 Thank you.
a month ago
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Andreas *********
@Ian *******
a month ago
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Andreas *********
@Ian *******
a month ago
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Andreas *********
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Ian ********
@Andreas ********
 It depends on the Nationality
a month ago
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Ian ********
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