Do I need my employer's company to be registered in Laos to apply for the DTV as a remote worker?

DTV (Digital Nomad Visa)Remote Work Visa Applications Company Registration Expatriate Regulations Laos Immigration Taiwanese Nationals Service Contracts

Oct 2, 2024

14 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

For a remote worker applying for DTV, does my employer's company need to be registered in the country where I am applying for DTV? 

For example, if the company is US-based and registered in the US, but the project is in Laos and I, as a Taiwanese national, can work entirely remotely, can I apply for DTV in Laos with the company’s US registration? Or does the company need to be registered in Laos?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

When applying for a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Laos as a remote worker, it is not necessary for your employer's company to be registered in Laos. As long as you can demonstrate your ability to work remotely—such as through a service contract or a letter from your company stating your remote work status—you should be able to apply successfully. Experiences shared by others indicate that having a company registered in a third country can simplify the application process, as it minimizes the risk of additional documentation or scrutiny related to local registrations.

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Paul *******

Not only is there no issue, it's actually better to work for a business NOT registered in the country you're applying.

I've heard of some consulates asking for things like tax returns or official proof of being on the payroll (in the case of Burmese applicants applying in Myanmar on the basis of locally based companies).

This won't happen if you're working for a company in a third country.

My business involves remote work in Myanmar and Laos, although the bulk of it is in Myanmar. Partly for this reason, I'm not applying in Yangon as I don't want there to be questions and additional documentation requested that I may not be able to supply..

Myanmar being in civil strife and with the complications arising from land registration in marginal areas (and I'm not even talking about anything involving foreign nationals here) it could get quite complex.

Of course I may be overthinking things here, as I only deal with Burmese stakeholders and clients, with the company I'm working for being registered outside of the country.

Still, it's better I apply in Taipei or Indonesia as they're more flexible.

13 days ago

Julia **********

@Paul ******

Hi. I want to know something that's related to the registration. The company I am working for is the foreign owned and registered a few years ago. But due to the current situation in Myanmar, the company has struck-off and it's over due date to register again. And it is still running for other countries except for Myanmar. But however, it has records that the company was legit in Myanmar and I am planning to apply for a DTV under the remote worker category. Therefore, I still don't know about the information that I should still have to show the company registration along with my application or not ? I am planning to apply from Yangon.

13 days ago

Reply to

Julia **********

Jason *********

No issues. Just make sure you have a letter from your company stating you can work remotely or a contract that states this. Highlight it and submit with your packet.

14 days ago

Jared *********

You can apply in many different countries in that situation.

It doesn't matter where the company is registered or located (except a Thai company of course or registeredin Thailand) as long as you can show that you're allowed to work remotely and be able to stay in Thailand without any issues.

My company is in USA and registered in USA, I flew to Taipei from Thailand just to apply for the DTV, then flew back to Thailand the same day that I received the DTV.

14 days ago

Paul *******

@Jared ********

Just wondering, i hope the Taipei consulate weren't making visa applicants wear masks were they?

I read a review on Google from a Taiwanese applicant mentioning this, but it was over a year old. I think it was from September 2023. Concerning, considering I applied for my last visa in Savannakhet, Laos in September 2023 and masks weren't required anymore there.

13 days ago

Jared *********

@Paul ******

no they dont require masks, but who cares. It's not a big deal to wear a mask. It's common courtesy to wear one in much of Asia when someone has a cold or cough.

13 days ago

Paul *******

@Jared ********

I was referring to whether it was still a requirement. I noticed that as of September 2023, it was still mandatory to wear one at the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei.

If this is no longer the case, then good as that's all I wanted to know.

Unlike Thais, the rest of us don't obsess over masks and most of us don't carry one around. Hence if it were still a requirement, it would sure be a nuisance to have to buy one and just to wear one, when you're no longer used to it.

There is no general rule about wearing masks in Asia. Thais are the ones most obsessed with masking; even the Japanese have largely stopped masking up long ago. I just saw some pictures of unmasked Japanese police officers from September 2023, whereas in October 2024, most Thai police officers, even the ones upcountry, still wear masks.

13 days ago

Reply to

Paul *******

Greg ********

@Jared ********

You cannot work for a Thai company.

13 days ago

Jared *********

@Greg *******

that's a good point which I didn't clarify. Thanks. I will modify my comment.

13 days ago

Greg ********

@Jared ********

NP - Even remotely it could be an issue. My old Japanese company registered in Thailand would allow WFH but still needed a WP if employed by the Thai legal entity.

13 days ago

Jared *********

@Greg *******

if you're under the HR of or employed by or on loan from HQ to the Thai entity then you're working for a Thai company.... even if the Thai entity is a wholly owned sub of "Japanese" company. But I understand your point

13 days ago

Greg ********

@Jared ********

Japanese company I worked for also had Thailand as a designated HQ for tax reasons. We were employed in Thailand through this company as it was BOI and so we were on 15% flat tax. They were on the Japanese Stock Exchange but legal global HQ in Singapore for tax reasons too. Large companies do have these sort of arrangements for these reasons. At a previous company I was at we found a legal entity in Singapore hardly anyone knew about. Eventually came to light all global IP went through it :-)

13 days ago

Jared *********

@Greg *******

yep, I've run businesses like these before for large multinational companies, built factories in several countries around the world, etc. Was an exec in both Japanese and US companies.

About 12 years I was going to build a factory in Rayong using the BOI benefits but moved it in the end to another country where we already had corporate structure, buildings, land, HR, etc. (Semi-Retired executive)

Fun stuff!!! Sometimes I miss the big paychecks and running those big corporate businesses but now I'm happy to be relaxed here in Thailand with my small companies in the US doing their thing.

13 days ago

Greg ********

@Jared ********

Yeah I "Retired" in 2017 and was going back to UK to do my doctorate and maybe consulting. Got approached for a role while here in Thailand so went back to work for a global role out of Bangkok. Now working on a small startup for fun. An old boss approached me about a role where she is COO last month. Interview with CEO was meant to be 23rd September but I cancelled it the Friday before. She was not happy but hey-ho. She always was a nightmare to work for 🙂 :-)

13 days ago

Jared *********

@Greg *******

nice! And I hear ya about working again after "retirement "

13 days ago

Greg ********

@Jared ********

I just want something to keep me from getting bored. I do not play golf or am ever likely too. I would die if I drank every day. Working on a small startup keeps me busy. Helping friends with some of their side projects. Pal has started a Podcast so offering to help build AI tools for him to develop a wider audience and newsletter. Got a call tomorrow about helping a group in my old area "Project Management Offices".

13 days ago

Reply to

Greg ********

John *****

No need to

14 days ago

Graham *******

Does not matter, but you will need some kind of service contract.

14 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Graham ******