This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Is the DTV visa effective in attracting long-term foreign visitors to Thailand?

Jul 23, 2025
10 days ago
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
DTV is half baked Thai initiative to attract young and skilled.

It is all about the tax they pay. Their home countries would not let them go just like that, like on a cruiser in international waters, floating for years, where do not have to pay any tax.

I would not be surprised if DTV gets scrapped within months.
10,476
views
26
likes
267
all likes
102
replies
8
images
43
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The community is divided on the effectiveness and value of Thailand's Digital Nomad Visa (DTV), with some expressing skepticism about its long-term viability, while others highlight its benefits for attracting long-term tourists and remote workers. Concerns include taxation implications, operational restrictions (such as prohibiting work within Thailand), and whether it's appealing to genuinely skilled individuals or merely attracting those pursuing casual interests like martial arts or cooking. Ongoing debates touch on taxation agreements with home countries and the challenges DTV holders face compared to other visa types.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Back to Japan. Accomplished a lot within 22 days in BKK.

Thai Airways, great service, even on a red eye flight (departs BKK 00:05, just after midnight)
Alastair *******
Dtv is a visa to try and curb the visa runners. All you have to do is have a half baked reason for getting it and 500k baht in a bank somewhere.You still need to report your whereabouts in TL every 90 days. I have one and i think its a great idea. Think of it as a solution to a problem: visa runners using visa exempt.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alastair ******
You may well be right. It was taken as for digital nomands. Appears, it is a glorified tourist visa.
David *******
And I would not be surprised that you are completely wrong
@Jim ******
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ******
I would have been wrong had I listened to those like you.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
21 days in Bangkok. On non-immigrant 90 days.

What I have achieved?

Retirement visa 1 year in my passport, kicks in 25. July 2025 until 25. July 2026. Immigration knew, from my return ticket that I am leaving Thai today (24. July 2025).

Bank account, ATM card, bank passbook.

Yellow book, coming in 30 days from today.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yellow Book: Just back from the District Office Samut Prakan. A pile of documents, my attorney took and certified what was requested with MFA.

There was an interview, the officer said I am all clear with the District office, no more documents or visits needed. However, one thing remains, it is their procedure: they will inquire with the Australian Embassy in Bangkok about me. The timeline is 30 days. If no reply within 30 days (the office does not expect any reply), I can come with my wife and fetch the Yellow book.
Max *************
The DTV is like you said just about money. There's been discussions in the government about tougher requirements when applying for it.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Too young for Tai Chi...maybe, when I am 70, I'll get DTV to learn.

This shop next to my BKK home did not exist this time last year (2024).
Will **********
John *******
Totally Rubbish IAM 50 plus on medical soft power
Jared **********
Is this our new billy brown?
Lincoln *******
@Jared *********
haha i strangely miss his ramblings
Aaron *******
Jim makes it so easy to know who to block.
Todd *********
Are you drunk or not that smart Jim?
Randy ********
Old, over weight and mad at the world. That right there says it all about your sad life.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Randy *******
Still surfing waves...
Young ********
Jaded old farang syndrome
Benjamin *********
X *************
But it’s only attracted TikTok influencers not real talent
Jeremy ********
People forget the USA passport holders are taxed on the Citizen Based Taxation (CBT) model so they get basically no tax relief at all especially if they are a 1099 employee…if they are a W2 employee then they get a little bit of relief

So the USA passport holders are the anomaly in this
Steven ******
This seems like some drunken epiphany. The DTV appears to be working as intended. Attracting long term tourists to Thailand while allowing them to work remotely. If the person pays tax on their income outside of Thailand, their home country has a taxation agreement with Thailand and they spend less than 6 months in country I'm pretty sure they aren't required to pay tax, or at least that was my understanding. Weren't you posting about your retirement visa a a few weeks ago, why are you bothered by the DTV?
Andy ************
A lot of retirees have already switched
Paul **************
I'm from USA and 65 years old. 5-year retirement visa: $20,000 USD. 5-year DTV visa: $400 USD. It's not a difficult decision for me.
Scott *********
@Paul *************
you are comparing a bank deposit (which you may withdraw so long as you do not wish to renew) against a fee. The FEES for retirement visa are THB$1900 (US$59) per year, so for 5 years US$295 vs US$310 (fee for DTV). Or you could compare the deposits you must hold THB$800k vs THB$500k.

Either way, if you are retired here you should really be on a retirement visa if you wish to avoid issues. If you qualify for DTV and wish to go that route then you have that choice but do you really think they will keep renewing 5 yr visas just because you sign up to a cooking class?
Todd *********
@Scott ********
not really correct on the financial comparison as DTV is multi entry. If you want equivalent on retirement extensions, you need to add on 3800 baht per year also.
Lynnette *******
@Mark *******
that's what is required to be shown in a Thai bank account to qualify for 12 month extension for some visas.
Mark ********
@Lynnette ******
Yes,but thats not what the comment says...
Lynnette *******
@Mark *******
his comment says it costs $20,000 to pay for a retirement visa. It doesn't cost that.
Mark ********
@Paul *************
Confirmed then,all septics are dumb as F*** 20,000 for a retiremnet visa😂😂😂
Alastair ********************
People on a DTV do not generate income from Thailand/Thai busnisses. Any income made by a person on a DTV comes from overseas streams. Is it subject to tax regulations within Thailand, well that depends on a number of circumstances, firstly the person needs to be resident in Thailand for 180 days or more, the DTV currently permits the visa holder to remain in the country for up to 180 days. You post is difficult to understand, the DTV visa is a longer term version of a tourist visa and does not permit the holder to a work permit and potentially cannot be issued a tax number or be liable for tax in Thailand but of course certain circumstances will dictate that.
Pete *******
@Alastair *******************
“potentially cannot be issued a tax number or be liable for tax in Thailand”....unfortunately false, the opposite is true. DTV holders can indeed get TIN’s and attract a tax liability.
Alastair ********************
@Pete ******
Well it's not false as it's potentially true, as I say it depends on circumstances with tax paid at the income source and the income won't be generated within Thailand.
Pete *******
@Alastair *******************
Thailand taxes foreign sourced assessable income on remittance. Just because income is paid overseas doesn’t mean it won’t be taxed by Thailand.
Oliver **********
You should not drink and type
Michael ********
Sean *******
NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR HOME COUNTRIES
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
DTV is idiotic Thai idea, just look how difficults it is, the sad fucks on DTV can not even open a bank account.
Todd *********
@Jim ******
what were the reasons you got rejected for DTV?
Lynnette *******
@Jim ******
they don't need a bank account. It's irrelevant. Calm down. You're getting very worked up.
Sean *******
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Why are you yelling?
Marcel ***
Jealous grandpa's everywhere 👀
Mark ********
@Marcel **
Dumb Gen z's even more places...
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
You must be proud then. Say that to any Australian, you would laughed at.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
And? You have to go through all the humiliations with Thai Immigration?Every 90 days, every year, forever.
Todd *********
@Jim ******
not if you have LTR.
Lynnette *******
@Jim ******
humiliation? What on earth are you on about. You seem very wound up for no reason.
Marcel ***
@Jim ******
what humiliation? Going to the immigration for the report? Last time it's 2 minutes drive through before going grocery shopping 😉
Rok ********
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thai is my destiny, Thai wife, our daughter is a student in Australia.

We live half a year in Japan, half a year in Thai. Both places are our homes, owned by us.
Todd *********
@Jim ******
it’s great your wife lets you stay in her house
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Both houses (condos) are mine
Todd *********
@Jim ******
then if you can't qualify for LTR, or can't afford Thai privilege visa or not over 50... the DTV would seem ideal for your intentions
Darren ********************
Adjustments maybe but it cannot be scrapped unless they have other affordable options to allure non-retired people to Thailand longer-term. Currently there are none unless you get a non-legit "visa".
Bobby *********
Tourism is down. The only visa for young people with financial requirement isn’t going anywhere. Visa free and exempt however…being eyed closely.
Todd *********
@Bobby ********
lol. Being ‘eyed closely’ for what
Bobby *********
@Todd ********
the problem tourists are given these same visas more often than not.
Todd *********
@Bobby ********
yes, been the same for a few decades now. Border bounces and visa runs. Always fun
Andi ***********
The DTV attracts a wide range of ages and significant numbers of families and retirees. It is not going to be scrapped soon at all. Minimal tax implications for the vast majority of DTVERS.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
There is no minimum tax. There is TAX.
Lynnette *******
@Jim ******
who's being taxed? I'm not sure what you're on about.
Andi ***********
@Jim ******
Minimal tax implications does not mean minimum tax.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
DTV are useless to their companies. Imagine someone from IBM being allowed to work from Thai.
Brandon ************
@Jim ******
IBM has people working remotely all over the world. What does that have to do with anything?
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
No, it has implications with their tax obligations.
Todd *********
@Jim ******
you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. I’m a little embarrassed for you to be honest man. One becomes a 'legal' thai tax resident on day 181. Regardless of visa type.
Andy ************
@Jim ******
No connection between DTV and tax.
Andi ***********
@Jim ******
I said minimal tax implications not zero. Depends on situation, I have the DTV I do not need to pay tax in Thailand. People work online all over the world, it is not unusual for an IBMER to work from Thailand. Having a DTV gives you the choice to work a month in Thailand or 6mths to a year or longer. The flexibility of working online in Thailand is what is about, it is not that big of a deal
Wayne *******
Comment makes no sense at all seeing as any age can take advantage of the DTV and who needs to be skilled when its the DTV holder TAKING the classes? As in LEARNING
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne ******
Shit learning, Thai Boxing or Thai cooking.
Wayne *******
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just see what hussles DTV have to endure. For what? It is not if one is from Belgium and wants to work from Spain.
Gary ***********
Certainly hope they do something, needs tightening up or scrapping, the soft skills part is being abused to a ridiculous extent
Des *********
@Gary **********
are we not allowed to do cooking classes 🤣🤣
Gary ***********
@Des ********
doing 6 months of half a day a week classes for a 5 year stay? If they bother attending at all
Dennis ******
Do you have stats to back your statements up?
Jordan *****
@Gary **********
how about minding your own business. You don’t work for the government and you are aren’t Thai either
Jason ********
Jimmy just unhappy he cannot quality for DTV.😉
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Those going for DTV, are worhtless to their companies. Just see how many of them are going fot Thai Chi, Thai boxing, Thai cooking.

Most ofthem are not worth pissing on them.
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jason *******
Jim knows DTV are useless pieces of...If they were worth anything they would remain in their countries, whatever they do.
Jordan *****
Jim Davis who tf are you to judge?
Jason ********
@Jordan ****
you argument is mute son. You have no idea what you’re taking about and it’s all based on assumption. Obviously you complain for some strange reason, and could only be because you can’t afford it😉
Lynnette *******
Explain how it's about tax. 🤷
Jim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
I got my 1 year extension for what is called a Retirement visa. 800K THB in a Thai bank. A half passport page is for it, another half page multi entry.
Lynnette *******
@Jim ******
so what's that got to do with tax?
Travis *******
Well there a ton of assumptions pulled out of thin air there.

US expats are free to "float around" as many decades as we want, and we still have tax obligations unless covered under one of the many double taxation treaties.

Also DTV strictly prohibits working here, so "attracting talent" doesn't make any sense. Which is why I'm here on a work visa and not a DTV lol.
Bert *************
@Travis ******
just wait until the tarifs kick in 😎
Travis *******
@Bert ************
I mean, doesn't affect me a ton. I live here in Thailand, meaning I don't pay US import tariffs. Now how it affects my customers in the US is yet to be seen, that may affect my income. But not my personal tax rate.
Bert *************
@Travis ******
it was intended tot indicatie that thailand might change its opinion on hoe it trreats americans once the trade/tarief negotiations fail.
Travis *******
@Bert ************
doubtful, but it definitely depends which side of the isle you are on with that issue and how loud you are about it. If you are cheering on the destruction of the Thai economy while living here, probably deserve whatever you have coming 😅
Matthew *********
@Travis ******
it amazes me that americans don't understand american law when they move to another country. They are always obligated to pay tax to america first regardless of th 180 day rule as an American citizen. Very interesting article recently about the Pope owes taxes to america even though he is permanent resident of the Vatican. The US has tje right to give him waiver but its not know if that has been
Travis *******
@Matthew ********
the US doesn't have any rights to this guy to my knowledge, he is Australian 😅 (far as I can tell). I only used it as it is where I am from.

Yes, we have to continue paying taxes wherever we go. But we get to use our US taxes to write off towards other countries as long as there is a double taxation treaty.

There seems to be some confusion on the Pope thing. While churches don't pay taxes as non profit orgs, the employees still have to pay income tax on what they earn from working at the non profit. So yeah, it's completely reasonable that the Pope owes taxes lol. I doubt they will give him a waiver, the Vatican can afford it lol.
Matthew *********
@Travis ******
I watched 60 minutes or one of those programs about the debate but as now the Pope is still obligated to america first. He never gave up US citizenship. I don't know Australia's law on this matter just only stating americans obligation and being retired here in thailand I laugh when people are always scared about taxes. Thailand has not left the treaty on double taxation.
Frank **********
@Matthew ********
Clergy do not pay taxes just like Churches do not pay property taxes in the US.
Matthew *********
These are facts
Matthew *********
Matthew *********
@Frank *********
there was a huge article I tje US was going to exempt the Pope's salary and I know th churches in america are exempt as a business. You can easily look up the article s.
Matthew *********
And under its code 417 does state clergy subject to fica and medical taxes
Maksym ***********
Already one year passed from the first message like this... 🤷
Brandon ************
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
It is one of those days again, isn’t it? 😂
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else