Is moving to Thailand on a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) a realistic decision?

Nov 7, 2024
7 days ago
I would like to ask for everyone’s opinions on this. I know there will be many different answers,but I am interested in hearing about what everyone thinks about this.

Do you guys think it is a realistic and good decision to move to Thailand, I mean pack up all your things and go on a DTV visa? Or do you think that this visa is still too new and can’t be trusted this much. I mean at least to move to Thailand for the next 5 years, obviously will be doing the boarder bounce every 180 days. I am sure many are wondering about this. Has anyone made the big move to stay for 5 years coming in and out?
3,614
views
6
likes
100
all likes
50
replies
2
images
22
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
This discussion revolves around opinions regarding the decision to move to Thailand using the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV). While some participants express confidence in the DTV's reliability for long-term stays, highlighting its simplicity and flexibility, others raise concerns about its potential volatility and encourage careful consideration before making such a significant move. Several contributors emphasize the importance of first experiencing life in Thailand through visits before committing to long-term relocation. Additionally, the conversation touches upon the practicality of undertaking border runs every 180 days as part of the visa conditions.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Oliver ********
You should live in Thailand if you believe you will be happier here than in other countries. Visa conditions shouldn't be a major factor in your decision-making process.
Anonymous ******************
This is want I am in the middle of doing now.

Got my DTV in July after a week there earlier in the year.

Just got back again from almost 3 months while on my DTV.

I'm now back in the U.K. to make arrangements for a one way trip back there, using my DTV to stay settle there.

I will just time border runs when needed every 6months to visit other countries for short holidays or weekends away, so no messing around with extensions.
Nin *****
🙋🏼‍♀️
Andrew *********
I have done exactly that - been here 8 weeks 😁
Jimmy ******
im going to! Ive never left the US and actually wanted to go back...

Was quite happy in jamaica and the bahamas. Im gonna love Thailand!
Robin *********
He most important question is, have you lived in Thailand for a few months before and are you sure, you want to live there longterm?
Xavier ********
Just make sure you can still do business / maintain an address in your home country as you most likely won’t be allowed to use Thailand for that.
Elías ********
I moved with his new visa, out of the blue (has never visited or lived in Thailand before) and I'm loving it. I didn't packed all of my belongings, just stored everything safely at home and came with some basic clothes, my computer and that's it.
Andi ***********
@Elías *******
Your reason to come to Thailand was the DTV ?
Elías ********
@Andi **********
I had always wanted to visit and/or live for a while since is near to my "home" country (Korea), but people from my country (Costa Rica passport) were not allowed to enter Thailand, so I couldn't visit before. In the July 2024 Immigration reform they opened visa on arrival (not visa exemption, but the visa on arrival which yo pay for at the airport and can stay for up to 15 days) for us, so I came to visit for 10 days in August, and as I liked it, I applied for the DTV. As for the visa, I'm very open to live in different countries as long as they offer a visa to stay, and in this regard the DTV was just perfect.
Andi ***********
ok, interesting... Thailand seems to attract many for the long term, from their first visit. DTV, very useful for you.
Ibrahim ******
Me and missus have done exactly that with our 4 pets! We were in Spain previously. As long as your income doesn't require you to work for a Thai based business, this Visa is crazy good!

Yeah the 180 hop for the next 5 yrs could be seen as a headache by some, but for us its good excuse for a break from our work and forces us to be organised with all that.

5 years to figure out if Thailand is indeed the place to be, is a good length of time!

We're not sweating it, if we do decide to stay, which seems quite likely as we absolute love it here, then we'll start looking into things more seriously after a year or so.

But for now enjoy enjoy and enjoy some more.... We haven't cooked a meal in over 2 months 🤣 Loving that ease, and it so fun to mingle with folks here, Thai people are amazingly friendly.
Anonymous ******************
@Ibrahim *****
the 180 day doesn't really bother me. Plenty of countries close by for weekend breaks. Just a bit of planning if that.
Ben **********
@Ibrahim *****
love this answer! Wife and I are in the process of doing the same thing from Australia with 7 of our pets, can’t wait to be there!
Ibrahim ******
@Ben *********
get in mate 🙌
Ling *****
I think that the DTV will be honoured to all those that have purchased it. Whether they stop issuing it in the future is anybody's guess. If there is one thing I do is to always be prepared for a quick exit from Thailand should something go pear shaped. I may be a little negative on this but like anything else in life, enjoy the present but prepare for the worst should something go wrong. Good luck.
Anonymous ******************
@Ling ****
what's in your go bag 😉
Ling *****
Anonymous participant 557 same as what I came with, a case that holds 30 kilos. Take the essentials until I hit 30 kilos, give the rest away and I'm gone.
Anonymous ******************
@Ling ****
that's a heavy go bag, and doesn't allow for a quick exit 😉

I was hoping for more like... 5 passports with matching currency, gun, torch, first aid kit etc 🕵️‍♂️👀🕵️‍♂️👀
Paul *******
@Ling ****
Good comment. I think, depending on your circumstances, it should also be possible to convert to another visa type, rather than have to skip the country altogether.

However, as you say, chances are, you'll be fine to use a legitimately issued DTV for its entire length, with just a 6-monthly vacation/holiday to another country for a few days or so in between.
Andi ***********
@Ling ****
True, always have a Plan B..................or C
Helen ********
Every country can change visa types, entries, requirements at any time and there is never a guarantee that they will honour prior visa conditions. From when the visa first started in July to now, embassies have tightened requirements and it entirely depends of where you apply and what category as to what you need to provide. No one has any real idea of what potential extensions will look like, or even cost, at this point so all the comments regarding that are just pure speculation. You also need to consider if how this will impact any potential tax situation, if your country has a tax treaty, etc.

If you want to move to Thailand, or anywhere really, those are things you need to accept and work with. So can you trust it? Meh impossible to say 🤷‍♀️. Can you work with the potential of changes? Up to you...

Would highly recommend that you live here for a while first before you totally uproot your life.
Kimberly ********
We got the DTV visa and up and moved our entire life over here. It’s been a straightforward and easy process for us.
Anonymous ******************
@Kimberly *******
out of interest what have you done about medical cover
Kimberly ********
Anonymous participant 557 We just pay out of pocket. I’m not entirely sure what health insurance is like over here. A friend of mine who has lived here for awhile, told me some hospitals have “plans” where you can pay a certain amount and they give a discount for every visit.
Anonymous ******************
I guess it's more if something big happens like in an accident and need surgery or something else that's major or costly.

I did find a couple of times I needed to go it was very cheap, but more in the event something bad happens I'm thinking about now, and what I've taken for granted being in the U.K. and everything is free.

I've been impressed with the service and cost so far
Andy ************
What exactly do you define as "the big move"? If you mean sell up everything in your home country and sever all ties, I'd never suggest this on ANY visa
Ryan *******
@Andy ***********
, well, that's probably sound advice, but then again, in for a penny, in for a pound
Andy ************
@Ryan ******
I've managed to "live" in three countries for many years, but I refuse point blank to sever ties with any of them because of the advantages they each bring.
Ryan *******
@Andy ***********
, fair enough, mate, reasonable, as I mentioned, but people are wired differently. I have lived around too, but feel now is the time to go all in. After 15 years abroad
Christopher *********
The visa is good for 5 years that's not going to change.
Christopher ***********
For those aged 50 and over or of any age married to a Thai the DTV really isn’t all that significant. Aimed at digital nomads (operative word being nomad) a five year visa seems a little contradictory to me. There have been reports of DTV’s being issued for what I would term ‘spurious’ reasons e.g. a single dental appointment. Possibly the intention is to make the DTV almost guaranteed to be granted. That has implications for the Thai Immigration Office and Thai Consulates. Five years visa fee ‘upfront’, less passport stamping at border posts and only one (or even zero) extensions per annum for immigration offices to issue.
Andy ************
@Christopher **********
It may have been aimed at "digital nomads" but many retirees are taking advantage of it's more flexible operation when compared to the non-O retirement visa, and are "reinventing" themselves as digital nomads. I will be taking this option when my current non-O expires
Anita ********
@Andy ***********
no-brainer. If you are older, it’s less money to put in the account.
Andy ************
@Anita *******
It means not having to put one single baht into a Thai bank account
Anita ********
Jim ********
@Anita *******
You're off the mark! I used proof of funds from my superannuation account in Australia. Way way way different to non-O visa criteria!
Andy ************
@Anita *******
Not in a Thai bank account!! 😂😂😂
Christopher ***********
@Andy ***********
I like it Andy! Of course it depends upon what suits you. My Thai Mrs runs a shop so we can only have short breaks and are content to remain inside Thailand.
Andy ************
@Christopher **********
Yes for those who are happy to just remain in Thailand the LTR is probably a better option for retirees. I'm an avid traveller, travelling 3-4 times every year, so for me the DTV is much cheaper and more flexible, and the big plus is never having to visit an immigration office to endure their pedantic nuances!
Greg ********
@Christopher **********
It somewhat "Breaks the rice bowl" of Immigration though. The DTV was a Ministry of Foreign Affairs idea and it is they who issue it. It is Royal Thai Immigration who own extensions and re-entry. When the Visa Exempt was increased from 30 to 60 days the same day border crossing "Fee" doubled from 500 THB to 1000 THB at some crossings. They like to make sure their rice bowl is not broken. :-)
Jim ********
@Greg *******
In the pre-insurance days of the OA visa, I did several border bounces but never once paid any fee on the Thailand side. Has this changed?
Greg ********
@Jim *******
Chiang Mai to Laos they started insisting on a 1 night hotel stay outside Thailand recently - that came from the Thai side. Somebody is getting a fee :-)
Greg ********
@Jim *******
It depends on the crossing. I do not know which ones the guys I know go to but they drive themselves from Jomtien and told me the cost had doubled. I think when you go on an organised bus it is included in the total price. I had to do one last year going from a BOI "B" to a O Retirement as needed a Visa Exempt in between. It was pretty obvious tea money was in play both sides of the border.
마리오 ***
Well, technically it’s a tourist visa. If you want to move here long-term you really should get an appropriate visa.

That being said there has always been ways to stay in country for long periods of time (ED visas, agents, whatever) - the tricky part was getting back in if you had to leave. At least now with DTV that issue seems to be resolved.

Moving overseas long term always involves a bit of risk regardless of the visa you obtain. Look at what happened during COVID for example.
Greg ********
@마리오 **
Just as they could make it "Tricky" for an ED to re-enter ie talk to us in the Thai you have been learnig for 2 years. Could Immigration not ask for ongoing proof and DTV qualification ie show us your medical appointments, where is your receipt for your next course?
Anonymous ******************
@Greg *******
this is why am I am staying away from the 180 extension and happy leaving for a weekend and come back in. When I spoke to U.K. embassy they gave the impression all your DTV paperwork could likely be checked again.

Not that would be an issue for me, I just rather limit the chances until a good amount of others have gone through the process and still it might just be easier to do a weekend away in many of the capitals in neighbouring countries I want to see.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant 557 I this a few days away is the best option. UK has visa exempt entry to Vietnam and flights are cheap. Been twice myself already this year and will be doing same or more next year. Interesting the Embassy mentioned checking again in the future. With Thailand it is impossible to predict what will happen. The DTV was the baby of the Foreign Minister and PM in the last government.
마리오 ***
Sure, they could do that or they could maintain the status quo of not asking anything. Individual immigration offices might also add on their own requirements for extensions asking for the same type of info. Or they may just smile, collect your baht and stamp an extension into your passport without verifying anything. As the saying goes, “This is Thailand” - consistency and logic don’t always apply.
Greg ********
I am talking about under 50's as once you hit 50 the current retirement visa is easy. Many have lived here longer on various visa types. They used a mixture of various tourist and Ed visas etc. I remember when people would do monthly visa runs from Bangkok to Poipet. The DTV makes all of this easier.