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How can I obtain a DTV visa for Thailand as a UK business owner without returning to the UK?

DTV VisaVisa Application ProcessTaxes in ThailandUK Business Owners in ThailandVisa RequirementsThai ImmigrationTax Residency in ThailandDouble Taxation Agreement (DTA)Visa Services in Thailand
Oct 4, 2024
12 days ago
Cameron ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all,

Looking for guidance and help.

I own a uk business and pay uk taxes, I live in the UK.

I am planning on getting the dtv visa, for my situation as a business owner, and moving to thailand permanently.

I am currently in thailand now and looking for suggestions on how best to obtain the visa without returning to the UK to apply, has anybody had success in a neighbouring country to thailand and how long did it take to be approved from application?

Also, since I would be spending more than 180 days in thailand in a calender year, would I owe taxes in thailand?

To add to this, I was working paye in the uk until July 2024 so no personal tax returns to display, business has corp tax and vat returns, and I have a paye slip until July this year, what would the embassy need on this point?

I did ask uk hmrc this before I left and also the embassy and they said as long as you are paying taxes in the uk still then nothing more to be done.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK business owner is seeking advice on obtaining a DTV visa for Thailand from a neighboring country without returning to the UK. They are currently in Thailand and want to know about successful application experiences elsewhere, the duration of visa approval, and tax obligations if spending over 180 days in Thailand. Comments suggest that while the DTV visa is not a permanent residency option, neighboring countries like Taipei and Jakarta offer efficient walk-in application processes, with potential same-day approval. Regarding taxes, spending more than 180 days in Thailand makes one a tax resident, and they may owe taxes unless structured under the UK-Taiwan double taxation agreement.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Graham *******
As far as Thai tax is concerned, you can off set Uk tax against Thai tax, you need to read the DTA. As far as what the Thai tax office will accept as proof of tax paid, in general most have little to no experience, very few as yet have paid Thai tax, the shjt might hit the fan in 2025. Try to get uk p60.
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You cannot do any business with Thai's under DTV.
8 days ago
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Michael ********
I've heard great things about Taipei and will likely be going there next week to do my DTV in Taipei. I'm an American.
12 days ago
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Michael ********
Also the flights to Taiwan are very convenient in Thailand. I'm in Chiang Mai and there's a daily direct flight.
12 days ago
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Paul *******
@Michael *******
 That's right but if you're talking EVA Air, they use a smaller A321 on the Chiang Mai route and it not only fills up quickly, but is more expensive than flying from Bangkok, from where you have lots of airline options and EVA Air has up to 5 daily flights depending on the day of the week.

Starlux also flies from Chiang Mai to Taipei and possibly Air Asia too, so you do have options that don't require you to transit in BKK, but it may end up being a lot cheaper if you do.
10 days ago
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Michael ********
@Paul ******
 I just booked a couple cheap direct chiang mai to Taipei tickets for Tuesday
10 days ago
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Paul *******
@Michael *******
 What airline? I have to admit, I was only looking at EVA Air, and their economy class fares from Chiang Mai are 3500 Baht more expensive per sector than Premium Economy from Bangkok (premium economy not being available ex Chiang Mai), making for a rather expensive ticket.

Other airlines, not sure. Due to less competition, flying internationally out of Chiang Mai tends to be more expensive than Bangkok but of course it doesn't mean you can't get a good deal at times and you also have to weigh whether flying down to Bangkok first would be worth it. Sometimes it is, other times it isn't, because the price difference might only be the cost of that ticket to Bangkok.
10 days ago
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Michael ********
@Paul ******
 if you book more advance it might be cheaper too. But I booked today for Tuesday.
10 days ago
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Paul *******
@Michael *******
 Ah, that's Air Asia.

For EVA Air, even with advance bookings of 1 month it was 25,000 return/round-trip from CNX. From Bangkok, as little as 9100 (in economy class) and also on EVA Air. THAI starts from around
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(ex BKK).
10 days ago
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Michael ********
@Paul ******
 I see. I just used google flights and then after seeing that air Asia was the cheapest booked directly through them. Lucky to have a cheap daily flight
10 days ago
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Paul *******
@Michael *******
 Cool. Yeah Air Asia ex Bangkok (probably Don Muang now) may well be cheaper but like I said earlier, the price difference may not be worth coming down to Bangkok for.

I think you got a good deal, as it's obviously a lot cheaper than EVA Air.
10 days ago
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Michael ********
@Paul ******
 definitely.. it’s a big waste of time to fly south an hour just to end up flying that same distance back up. Good luck !
10 days ago
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Paul *******
@Michael *******
 Yeah I agree with you, I prefer direct flights too where possible but depends entirely on where you're going. Chiang Mai doesn't get very many international flights, but it's good that you can fly to Taiwan direct.

It's a marginally longer flight than from Bangkok, but obviously if you had to fly down to Bangkok first, it would end up being a lot longer, taking into account the time in transit.
10 days ago
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Michael ********
@Paul ******
 it makes going to North America easy but indeed for going through to Europe I think a stop in bangkok is necessary!
10 days ago
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Michael ********
@Paul ******
 it wasn’t pricey at all. About 9,400 baht for 2 people booked via AirAsia chiang mai to Taipei direct.
10 days ago
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Michael ********
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Eric *******
I was going to leave Thailand next month. It now thinking I should go soon before places go to online
12 days ago
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Stephen ********
@Eric ******
 I agree. As soon as possible.
9 days ago
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Cameron ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric ******
 I heard Taipei will still be walk in although you need to book your appointment online
9 days ago
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Cameron ***********
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Eduardo *********
Im Uk resident and im applying via an agency here in Thailand, it costs 10k for the service , but sometimes is better to get it right.
12 days ago
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Stephen ********
@Eduardo ********
 Who is it? And what are they doing for you? Are they taking you there or..:
9 days ago
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Stephen ********
I agree with the sentiment totally. Is a 5 years visa people were paying 900,000 baht for only 6 months ago, so worth a little extra to make sure it’s done.
9 days ago
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Stephen ********
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James ********
@Eduardo ********
 And it's not wise to get the DVT visa from a Thai Visa Agent. You must Apply for it outside of Thailand.
12 days ago
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James ********
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Cissi *********
Hi Cameron,

you can use the search funtion in this group to read about other peoples experiences at the embassies/consulates in neighboring countries. Unfortunatly information as to how long it took from application to approval won't be of much use to you, since most of the neighboring countries switch to e-visa October 8. The processing time for applications in those embassies/consulates will be posted on their websites, but I'm sure it might change/vary over time since the process is new to them.

As others suggested you should consider Taipei or Jakarta if you want to apply in person and have it done in a few days.
12 days ago
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Mo ******
@Cissi ********
 hold on? We can apply outside of our home country?
8 days ago
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Cissi *********
@Mo *****
 yes, not everywhere, but in a lot of countries they accept applications from anyone who is actually within their country. To know for sure, you need to check the policy for the specific country you would like to apply from.
8 days ago
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Mo ******
@Cissi ********
 thanks! I did not know about that. I don’t want to take the plane back to Paris only to come back again after…. 🙏
8 days ago
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Mo ******
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Andi ***********
Taipei is friendly and efficient, walk in, same day approval next day pick up. Jakarta is another good walk in option, 3 days approval. You would ow taxes if you spend 180 plus days in Thailand. Tax can be reduced via UK double tax agreement and business expenses
12 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 where did you go to do it
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Eric ******
 im doing it with Taipei, have been in touch with them via email and know several who got approved there. They are very responsive to emails.
12 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 we’re you able to show them documents over email and they said they were good
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Eric ******
 No i asked them what docs needed. le.g is one month statement ok?. They answer questions. When you submit docs they tell you if they are ok or not, that is what they said in the email. If you need to resubmit any docs it can delay the approval by 1-3 days
12 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 think Jakarta is the same so I’m thinking which place to go to
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Eric ******
 Jakarta is also very good. Taipei is just quicker approval, you know the same day.
12 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 are appointments easy in both Do they accept walk ins also
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Eric ******
 Taipei and Jakarta are walk in only. No appointments needed.
12 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 I want to be able to walk in with all the paperwork and then say I’m good before paying
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Eric ******
 Taipei takes your docs then email you to say you approved and then pay, Jakarta will go thru docs while you there then you pay. If you want to be 100 per cent sure of not paying until approved then Taipei.
12 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 so Jakarta won’t tell you that everything looks good before you pay 😔
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Eric ******
 They can say it is ok first time but then it is looked at again, if something is totally wrong you lose the money. They may ask you to resubmit at no charge. I not heard of anyone being rejected at Jakarta. i would say 99 per cent chance of being ok in Jakarta
12 days ago
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Cameron ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 have you heard of people being rejected in Taipei?
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Cameron **********
 No, i have not seen any postings of rejection there.
12 days ago
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Cameron ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 appreciate the help 👌
12 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Cameron **********
 Taipei just emailed me they are scheduled to go online Nov 19th.
8 days ago
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Cameron ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 perfect was planning to go between 10th and 14th, thank you for letting me know
8 days ago
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Eric *******
@Andi **********
 awesome thank you.
12 days ago
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Eric *******
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William ********
I am getting mine through my gym
@Muay ************
 speak to
@Derry ********
 he will help you, he's from the UK and has arranged mine and he's done 50+ visas. I'm off to Hanoi next Sunday to do it.
12 days ago
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John **********
Firstly the DTV is a version of a tourist visa, it does not allow you to live permanently in Thailand. It allows you 180 days at a time.

As to taxes it depends, if you spend 180 days or more in a tax year (calendar year) inside Thailand then you automatically become a tax resident. Whether or not you will have to pay tax will depend on whether you transfer income to Thailand in the year, how much you transfer, the source of the income and how much credit you can claim for tax already paid on the income transfered in the UK
12 days ago
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Cameron ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 thanks and I'm guessing this would require a thai accountant? If I withdraw taxable allowance each month from uk business to my English bank but spent it in thailand, would this be taxable in thailand? Given it is technically assessed for tax in the uk but none is due
12 days ago
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John **********
@Cameron **********
 it being assessed in the UK is irrelevant. It would be assessable in Thailand under the Thai rules & if you don't pay tax on it in the UK you obviously would have no credit to claim so pretty straightforward in Thailand. You just take the amount of income transferred, subtract any allowances, and the rest is taxed depending on the tax scale

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12 days ago
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John **********
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