What are the advantages and drawbacks of the DTV visa in Thailand?

@Eamonn ******

We're talking about Thailand not the rest of SE Aisia. Id rather leave my Thai licence as a deposit for a car or a bike than 3K+ baht or my very precious Passport. Simples!!

@Sam *****

can completely understand that as I said I'm lucky enougj to have not had that issue 🙂

@Pete ******

Correct. People bandy this 90-day shit around everywhere

@Mark *******

I prefer to believe the opinion of a Thai law firm before some shit posted on Facebook

@Cris *****

no, on the contrary, they wouldn't care less. They make you prove everything when you visit Immigration and apply for the extension. I suggest you join the "Digital Thailand Visa" Facebook group, they are specialized on this subject

@Greg **********

sorry you are correct, however the DTV is from foreign affairs not immigration... The point I was trying to make ( and incorrectly ) was that it is not issued by immigration but the IO had control over it at entry immigration.

@Christer ****

Many retirees have switched to DTV, and there are thousands on "soft power" categories. Bottom line is DTV is a tourist visa, so very unlikely anyone would be subject to tax. Digital nomads will probably also be paying tax in the country where they receive payment. So that doesn't work either

@Mark *******

Double taxation is a thing.

@Christer ****

Not if someone has tax residency in another country. DTV holders are tourists. Tourists are not taxed, otherwise tourism would fail

@Mark *******

A DTV visa allows you to stay 180 days. Staying after that makes you a tax subject. It's written in plain English on Siam Legals website as well as well as Thailand's various embassy pages.

"According to Thai tax law, anyone who stays in Thailand for over 180 days out of a calendar year will be considered a tax resident by the Thai government. You will be liable to pay Thai income taxes on your foreign income if you are a tax resident."

This of course depends on what agreement YOUR country has with Thailand regarding taxation. It is different from country to country.

Just try to Google it instead of spreading false information

@Christer ****

No false information. Article 4 is standard in every DTA. If a person fits into the tie breaker, they retain tax residency of their home country. I spend more than 180 days a year in Thailand but I'm not a tax resident here as the DTA tie-breaker has determined I'm a tax resident of Australia

@Mark *******

And you make the assumption that everything is the same everywhere. If you are a retiree from Sweden and officially stay in Thailand more than 180 days in a year, then you are considered to live in Thailand. The digitalisation of the whole VISA process makes it more likely that you will be "found out". You have then checked out. And no, that does not mean that you don't have to pay taxes anywhere.

@Christer ****

I only pay taxes in Australia as I'm certified as an Australian Tax Resident, and under Article 4 I'm "deemed" a dual tax resident, so the tie-break process is used to determine that Australia is the sole taxation authority. I don't know or care about Sweden but I don't believe the OP is Swedish

@Mark *******

But you still make blanket statements as if the rules are the same for everyone, thereby spreading false information. Now you retreat to "I don't know or care about..."

The rules are pretty much unified for Europe.

And you still haven't read the actual text about the DTV visa? The one that brings up the point about the 180 day limit with regards to the taxation rules? You believe they put that in the text for no reason at all. Stay in your bubble

@Christer ****

Also you're talking crap. The Swedish DTA is the same as all the others. Permanent Home or "closer economic ties" - that kind of wraps it up. You obviously never even read your own DTA! lol

@Mark *******

It's not in the DTA. The DTAs are just a general framework from the 80-ies setting a baseline. Actual laws in the different countries decides the real outcome. It's the European countries separate IRSs that say you are considered living in the new country after 180 days. The US has some pretty dense taxation rules as well.

This in turn affects your pension. That's not necessarily a bad thing as the tax is lower in Thailand. It also affects your right to healthcare, which could be bad. The DTV visa is just over a year old and they are tightening the rules on what is considered "soft power".

A clear breakpoint regarding length of stay is stated together with consequences if overstaying.

Maybe you miss out on the fluctuating different things the Thai government says?

"According to the new tax rules, effective 1 January 2024, Thailand imposes tax on all assessable foreign income brought into the country by its tax residents. Prior to these legislative changes, tax residents were taxed only on income remitted into Thailand in the same year it was earned."

7 Aug 2025

As in a Digital Nomad working remotely against customers in other countries.

You obviously have a bit of a problem seeing things outside "your box". That's ok. I've worked a few years as an assistant for people with special needs, so I know that you are upset that what you thought was a fact, turned out to be something else.

I'll leave it at that, but invite others to actually read the text regarding each different visa. The text has a meaning. Don't trust a random person on a FB page when it can affect your life in bad ways. 😉

@Christer ****

You've really no idea but that's fine. I don't listen to Facebook experts, I read the text of the Tax Code and the text of the DTA and it's all clear to me. I have zero "assessable income" being brought into Thailand, and the DTA text has ruled I am an Australian Tax Resident. I'm laughing and I always advise other people to investigate their own situations. I haven't seen any tightening of any DTV rules except by emotional snowflakes on Facebook

@Mark *******

From Siam Legal. They are also more restrictive when it comes to approval of Soft Power activities. Look outside your box or at least understand that what has been applied to you is not canon for others. It isn't even for you when legislation changes. It went from you claiming false information about DTV to your specific case. Are you even on a DTV?

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@Christer ****

The OP didn't even mention taxation. He was talking about leaving before the 180 day entry stamp. Nothing to do with taxation

@Christer ****

The DTV was also created for those undertaking cooking classes and getting dental treatment

@Roberto ********

Those undertaking cooking classes can still be tax resident. Whether or not that results in having to pay tax is an entirely different matter.

@Peter *********

Yep. 180 days, the DTA cuts in and then determines tax residency. People undertaking courses in Thailand as a tourist are not going to be taxed. Period

@Eamonn ******

I live in Thailand for around eight months of the year (240 days) and yet I am not a Thai Tax Resident. Do not listen to the fear-mongers, they have no idea

@Eamonn ******

I'm the same. I live in Thailand 7-8 months of the year, rest of the time I'm travelling. However, the point I was making is there's no value in counting days. For the last 15 years I've been in Thailand for more than 180 days a year, and yet I've never had to pay a single baht in tax on money I've brought in, and never had to file a tax return

@Marc *******

True, but then the DTA kicks in, which can rule tax residency in another country

@Roberto ********

The discussion is about the DTV visa.

@Christer ****

You introduced tax into the discussion which was totally unnecessary, so I thought I'd expand

@Roberto ********

The 180 day limit was by the OP said to be a good thing for those who like to travel. I clarified a real life legal reason why it's a good thing. If you think that is unnecessary, then you are probably not the type of person who cares much about rules and regulations. That in turn makes everything you bring to the table less interesting. Good for people partaking in the discussion to know.

@Christer ****

I do care about rules and regulations which is why I've studied the tax code and relative DTA and know for a fact that 180 days in Thailand does not affect tourists (which is what DTV holders are) if they retain tax residency in their home country. This is vital for people partaking in the discussion to know. Other people bring nothing but fearmongering to the table because they get some kind of satisfaction from it

@Roberto ********

Then you have misread. The Thai tax code doesn’t care whether you are tourist or pregnant woman or illegal alien or whatever.

When you are 180 days or more within a calendar year in Thailand, you are tax resident. Period.

@Peter *********

180 days is a starting point. That's when the DTA comes into play. The DTA determines actual tax residency. Period

@Roberto ********

The dta defines taxable income and location of the taxability.

But I’ll gladly get educated. Which dta and which article?

@Peter *********

All DTAs, Article 4

@Marc *******

No,it's not correct. Have you also read crap from The Thaiger? The Revenue Department is not after money from for example retirees and tourists. Have you for example heard about DTA's?

@Max ************

yes it is correct. On DTV visa you are subect to be taxed. Period don't spread fake news