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Is it advisable to switch from a Thai marriage visa to a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) for remote work?
Nov 11, 2025
6 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERHi, not sure if I complicated things for myself so just would like some information / sources of info.
1. I have a contract offer to work remotely for a foreign company as a freelancer.
2. I have a Thai marriage visa up for renewal soon. But the marriage visa alone doesn't allow for working in Thailand.
3. Is it a smart idea to move from the marriage visa to a DTV to be able to work remotely? Why or why not?
Thanks for any clarifications given.
1. I have a contract offer to work remotely for a foreign company as a freelancer.
2. I have a Thai marriage visa up for renewal soon. But the marriage visa alone doesn't allow for working in Thailand.
3. Is it a smart idea to move from the marriage visa to a DTV to be able to work remotely? Why or why not?
Thanks for any clarifications given.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on whether to switch from a Thai marriage visa to a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) to work remotely for a foreign company. Comments suggest that while a DTV allows for remote work, it may lead to losing a bank account and restrict work opportunities compared to a marriage visa with a proper work permit. The consensus leans towards maintaining the marriage visa due to its benefits, like face-to-face client work and easier bank access.
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 *****
Do not move from genuine long term visa’s with their benefits, to the inferior DTV tourist visa.
Get a workpermit, and you will be a lot better of for your future life in Thailand together with your wife.
And you will not be limiting to work with foreign customers only, loosing bankaccount etc.
Get a workpermit, and you will be a lot better of for your future life in Thailand together with your wife.
And you will not be limiting to work with foreign customers only, loosing bankaccount etc.
John **********
The marriage visa doesn't give you the right to work remotely, the DTV does
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
yes I know, Did I not pose the question correctly?John **********
Anonymous participant my point is if you want to work remotely you need the DTV
Luit *****************
@John *********
Obviously remote work is not seen as work.On the DTV it mentions "work prohibited".
Before DTV when I asked embassy when I applied for TR visa they told me remote working is not a problem, but obviously it still is a grey area.
Apart from that when I am sitting behind my computer, who is deciding what is work and what is private?
John **********
@Luit ****************
of course it's seen as work, have you bothered to look up the legal definition of work in Thailand? The DTV only mentions work prohibited to emphasise that it does not allow you to take a job in Thailand. Embassies are not the most reliable sources of information but I do agree that nobody knows what you are doing sitting in your own house, but if you are working without the appropriate visa you do need to keep it quiet.Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thanks for this, my question is more if giving up the marriage visa for DTV is a good switch. There's options, like the EOR, just wanted to know how DTV people would rate the switch to DTV from marriage visa. I read here you can't have a bank account on DTV. I'll review the pro's and cons.John **********
Anonymous participant EOR services are nothing to do with working remotely, they are about employing people in Thailand. You only have 2 options to legally work remotely, the DTV or the LTR Remote Worker and the requirements for the latter are very high. If you are purely evaluating the benefits of a DTV over a marriage visa there aren't many that I can see
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thanksReply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Wannikea *********
Everybody's talking about losing your bank account but that's not necessarily true. It depends on the bank, if you have Bangkok Bank I would definitely get another banks account before going off your marriage visa if you decide to go that way. It's definitely possible to work on a marriage visa with a work permit so it depends exactly how difficult it would be for the foreign company to acquire a work payment for you. Probably a no-go.
Jef ********
Give an take really , depends on how much you travel.
Moving to a DTV will
Potentially result in loosing your bank account.
DTV qualify once in 5 years, compared to marriage having to qualify every year.
If you are frequently travelling in and out id say the DtV will be better
Moving to a DTV will
Potentially result in loosing your bank account.
DTV qualify once in 5 years, compared to marriage having to qualify every year.
If you are frequently travelling in and out id say the DtV will be better
Greg ********
If you want to be strictly legal move to a DTV. I have pals who moved to a DTV and used their Ltd in the UK to do so. It was less hassle for them to use the DTV - here about half the year.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
there's travel to the foreign nation involved, difficult to estimate how much. I would like to be doing the right thing, now just in the process of figuring it out.Greg ********
Anonymous participant My pals did it due to hassle of being here for renewal and pics & visits to house. As they are in and out the DTV was easier. One has moved to a Retirement visa now though.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
just as a question from my side, do you have any info on Employee of Record services? It's perhaps a bit more expensive, but more solid together with a marriage visa? The company is supportive and would like me to offer suggestions as they are checking on their end and I'm trying on my end.Greg ********
Anonymous participant Ah just seen Empoyee of Record. No idea about them except they seem expensive for serviced supplied. A UK Ltd company is cheap.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant They actually had their own Ltd companies. They just showed company documents and wrote as Directors to themselves as Employees saying they could work remotely in Thailand, the work they woukd do and thst no business in Thailand. They got these in first months DTV started at UK Embassy.
Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
You cant have bank account if you flip to DTV visa.
Henrik *****
And get your bankaccount frozen, then closed.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 204 I've moved work permits /companies 3 times, I've yet to update my bank details, but I understand this will be an issue if they do check.
Anonymous ******************
Anonym deltagare buy Elite Visa instead
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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