Should I choose the DTV visa or a retirement visa for living in Thailand after 50?

Are you currently in thailand and applying for the visa from inside Thailand?

@Alice *******

for the O non migrant 1 year retirement visa you need to apply to the Ambasy in your country, and not while in Thailand. They require 2 health insurance as I mentioned. I also have AxA thai insurance, but had to get one from Canada at $2k. Does not mater how healthy you are, one of the documents required is health check for 4 types of diseases listed in the embassy health report/document. As I said, not easy at all.

@Mac ********

The 800k is tied up for 5-6 months from 2 months prior to the application for the first 12 month extension then 400k for the rest of that extension while the 65k monthly deposits run in parallel "from the beginning"

@Graham *****

As I mentioned, it’s unwise to make absolute statements since there are about 30 variations of the same thing available online. Personally, I would recommend depositing the 800k and leaving it until you’ve made 12 installments of 65k. However, I just bring in money whenever I need it. Taking it out and putting it back seems like a hassle. It all comes down to personal preferences.

@Phil *****

a bribe to overlook the lawful requirements is a loophole?

@Graham *****

no a long time ago from Sunbelt Asia arranged a Non b visa and also helped with work permit. He did explain to me there are loopholes in visa laws here and this is why agents flourish.

Nothing has changed. So friends have sort agent help in Pattaya last year for non o based on retirement and they still have NON O based on retirement.

Look at some companies that advertise these services. I'm not saying right or wrong as I've never accessed these services and do it myself. Just making a comment to my friend David's post. There's lots of companies like Cambodia inter travel tik tok and mots that have operated for years.

@Alice *******

...perhaps you did not tell the visa agent you wanted to work in Thailand. Tell him that and the answer will be almost impossible...you can't work in Thailand. If you do you are likely to get deported...think again.

@Galenus *****

So people on rolling 12 months Extensions of Stay are stupid people?

@Graham *****

you think so? Then it is.

@Galenus *****

Not me. I love to travel so would never stay one year in one place without overseas trips.

@Ivan ***********

DTV was specifically created to allow people to work in Thailand with foreign based work. MFA said they do not need a work permit to do that on DTV. I don't like the whole DTV thing, but it is what it is.

@Ne**

@An**

right, but it's exactly the same on the retirement visa. People say you can't work on retirement because it says "employment prohibited" and you can't get a work permit. But this is EXACTLY the same as on the DTV.

They have already explicitly stated that a work permit cannot be obtained for remote work, and is not necessary.

I get the DTV was specifically for remote work, but it seems on the framework remote work may never have been prohibited, just work in Thailand.

What do you have that remote working is explicitly illegal on a retirement visa, other than these two things which are the same for the DTV? I totally accept it's less of grey area with the DTV as that's the point of the visa, but I'm beginning to suspect that "work" and "employment" as understood in Thailand do not cover remote work.

@Ivan ***********

The definition of ‘employer’ and ‘employee’ and ‘work’

according to the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998)

(Labour Protection Act), and the Foreigners’ Working

Management Emergency Decree, B.E. 2560 (2017)

(Foreigners Working Decree) are broad and do not differentiate

amongst employers based in Thailand or overseas.

DTV and LTR are both granted an exemption from the Decree. Retirement visa does not have such an exemption.

@Ne**

There is no reference to an exemption in the Royal Gazette posting for the DTV. The only reference is to the Immigration Act BE 2522, there is no reference to the Labour Protection Act or the Foreigners Working Decree.

.pdf

Indeed, Section 7 says "Aliens and their legal spouses who have been granted a special tourist visa (Destination Thailand Visa: DTV) and wish to work in the Kingdom, upon receiving permission to stay in the Kingdom, must apply and change the visa type to a temporary resident for work first, and then apply for a work permit in accordance with the law on the management of alien employment." (Google Translate)

So this is EXPLICITLY saying that what people are going to be doing on the DTV is not "work in the Kingdom", and that if they actually want to do this they have to change visa to one allowing work and also get a work permit.

I understand you can read the labour laws and come to the conclusion that it covers remote work because it doesn't explicitly say it doesn't. Every indication though is the Thai government does not interpret it that way as they DIDN'T see the need for an exemption.

Unless there's an exemption somewhere else that I'm missing, but my reading of the DTV it seems pretty clear they are saying remote work is NOT "work in the Kingdom" covered by those laws.

@Ivan ***********

the exemption is in the specifically referred to as a "special case" multiple times in that very announcement from the Ministry of Interior.

@Ivan ***********

"work" and "employment" as understood in Thailand do not cover remote work." Thai lawyer told me the same thing.

@Andi **********

read what I wrote. Work under the Decree doesn't state "in Thailand". It's all work. And, if you don't believe me, you can check the briefs written by the biggest law firms. I have also written one.

@Neil *****

I understand what you saying but there are other interpretations by big law firms.

@Andi **********

incorrect interpretations, because they are adding in the phrase "in Thailand" with the thought that it is implied. The law does not imply anything. It is as written. I don't know if you are new here, but for many years people have been playing mental gymnastics to try and justify remote work as legal. When LTR was released, BOI and MFA finally told us, at that time, only LTR holders could work remotely. They didn't wrongfully interpret that.

@Neil *****

What is the penalty for remote work with a non thai company on a retirement visa?

@Andi **********

criminal punishment is incarceration up to 5 years and/or fine up to 100k thb. Illegal workers are usually just deported from what I have seen. I've seen a small fine as well. Never seen incarceration, but I also don't know every single case that ever takes place. I only see some of what is reported in the news. Also, the news media doesn't report every single incident involving foreigners in the country, although it does tend to seem like it sometimes.

@Ivan ***********

That Employment Prohibited statement relates to employment in Thailand and with Thai businesses. You can work online with non Thai clients.

@Graham *****

yes by a unlawful action!!!

@Norbert *********

An unlawful action will include using a tourist visa as a way of living in Thailand. You keep replying to the wrong comment.

@Andy *********

unlawful use was not the question!!!

@An**

MFA have stated it's fine and expected to leave and come right back with no minimum time out, that this is an accepted use of the visa. Elite is also technically a tourist visa but it's promoted as residency and some people live here for decades on it.

@Jacques ****

varies depends on area, if you need money to be shown in bank account etc. Bangkok around 50,000 THB for first retirement visa Inc bank account . Pattaya around 25, 000 .

@Andi **********

$1500 usd? Lmao. I will do all my work myself at that price. Lmao

@Jacques ****

yeah, the agent does everything, funds the bank account, paperwork etc. Bangkok you can get visa same day. Many use as they don't want to bring the 800, 000 THB needed into Thailand. You can do yourself, for sure.

@Andi **********

im capable of walking in with $24,000 usd. No problem.

@Luke *********

he would be begging to leave right now

@Luke *********

The OP has online work and interested in the DTV. Their agent told them to do the retirement visa. DTV allows remote work, retirement visa does not. You can not extend every year but leaving once a year to a nearby country and returning for another 180 day stamp is no big deal.

@Willem *********

no problem, just suggested what a Moderator might tell you.

@Ni***

right, but people say working on retirement visa isn't allowed because it's stamped "employment prohibited" and you can't get a work permit. So what's the difference with the DTV?

@Stefani *******

why couldn't you get the extension (not renew)?

@Stefani *******

why couldn’t y’all renew it?

@Brenda ********

the type of retirement visa that we originally got did not require health insurance. My husband is in his late 80s and it is virtually impossible to get health insurance.

@Stefani *******

A Non Imm O('retirement visa') doesn't require health insurance nor does the subsequent 1 year extention

We can submit the application on our client’s behalf, and follow up with the consulate team to ensure everything is in order.

Alternatively, we can contact the bordering consulate and help arrange a visa run.

If we determine that there’s a high chance of the application not being approved due to the client's situation, we inform them and provide a refund.

In both cases, our goal is to assist the client in obtaining the DTV successfully.

@Todd ********

Thankyou warrior.

@John *******

ironic again, but ur welcome. One would hate to see idiots telling everyone what to do whilst failing miserably themselves. Just saving you some public humiliation 😂.

@Steve ******

Ok, so on that basis you can stay for a full five years? Just do a border bounce on day 360 each year. Which would be good, unless you came across an IO., who wouldn't let you in because you were returning on the same day as you left.

@John *******

There's no law/rule saying you can't return on the same day especially if you have a valid multi-entry visa

@John *******

no it doesn't work like that.

A multi entry visa allows unlimited entries.

You can bounce in and out 10x a year and come back and get 6 mths each time.

for some it's a great visa.

@Steve ******

do you understand the tax liability?

If you are in Thailand over 180days 'in a tax year' you are liable to pay tax?

@Nom ******

That makes no difference being able to enter the country.

@Steve ******

you are a tax resident if you return in a tax year

@Nom ******

It makes NO difference to the visa and the fact that you DON'T need to stay out of the Country for 5 days. You'll be here 360 days and tax resident anyway.

@Steve ******

you could spend eg 185 days in Dubai

@Nom ******

if tax applies to your circumstances yes. Personally, I won’t ever be paying any tax in thailand

@Simon ********

the answer to ‘why not’?

@Gordon ***********

here to help 😂

@Todd ********

It would be rude not too. Sir, I salute you 👍👍👍

@Shawn ******

what's your point?

@Chris ******

I thought you mentioned you can’t work on the DTV.

@Shawn ******

you can't worl in Thailand.

You can only work remotely outside ofThailand.

@Upasaka *******

yes I understand, but are you aware there is nothing new about the need to complete a Thai tax return?? after spending more than 180 days in Thailand?? That has always been the case for a long time, the Thai government just amended various rules regulations and laws, regarding tax reporting, mainly from what I can gather, it is aimed at wealthy Thai people, one example was if money was kept outside of Thailand, until the following tax year, there was no tax due, now it is irrelevant of when it is brought in, the tax will still be due, to sum it up in my opinion, all the expats that are not working, such as retirees, have never done a tax return, and will continue to not do one, unless forced to do so, by making it a visa requirement, or maybe the banks get involved.

@Galenus *****

how is the tax situation different if they get the retirement visa??? Considering that is what the original post was asking about dtv vs retirement visa...

@Alice *******

I'm also from USA and basically calling out his commentary lol

@Jared ********

Don't worry about him. He's just bored

@Galenus *****

that is the same if they stay on the retirement visa... 😅😅 stay longer than 180 days on any visa (except one special ltr Visa I forgot the name)

@Galenus *****

no thats not necessarily true either.

This has not been tested yet as to what effect it will have.

Too many variables such as DTAs with different countries.

It remains to be seen in the 2025 tax season how and if it will effect AND if it gets implemented at all.

At this point it's a voluntary registration for a tax number, if they'll even give you one.

@Chris ******

actually it's very clear and published already. But u can believe and do what you want. Not my business.

@Galenus *****

well your wrong.

Published and implemented are 2 different things.

Man you are wrong alot.

@Chris ******

and you should see a doctor?

@Mark *****

cause after being on this group it now sounds so complicated, lol! I have been there 3 separate times but just 2 weeks at a time.

@Brenda ********

not complicated at all. Go to immi, ask for list of docs required. Prepare docs, and submit!!

@Galenus *****

How much bullshit can you spread in one post??

@Greta ****

stay in your gutter, please

@Galenus *****

Rich, coming from someone who is spreading shit everywhere...I wonder how they haven't kicked you out from the group yet for misleading people .

and ‘he’ is a top contributor…. Ffs. Thank goodness for the block button.

@Greta ****

it's a bit like saying that an Australian can't get the Aged Pension while living overseas isn't it?

@John *******

No, he's not

@Galenus *****

Yes he is! And he's also talking about himself as third party which is weird by itself...

@Kace ******

maybe a left woke Democrat. BTW JFK , MLK and Malcom X were all conservative Democrats...very different than today