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What are the best visa options for a couple planning to move to Thailand with one working remotely and the other retired?
Dec 25, 2025
4 months ago
JL ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, my husband and I are planning to move to Thailand in a couple of years, we both are over 50 yo, but I will still work remotely for US company, while my husband will be fully retired. What is the best visa in our situation? Any advice is much appreciated 🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
A couple planning to move to Thailand, with one spouse working remotely and the other retired, has various visa options. The Digital Work Visa (DTV) is suitable for the remote worker, allowing legal employment, while the Non-O Retirement Visa is a popular choice for retirees. The DTV can allow the working spouse to add the retired spouse as a dependent. Alternatively, both can apply for Non-O visas, with implications for the working status. Recommendations include monitoring evolving visa regulations and considering banking needs.
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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JL ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you everyone for the feedback and advice. Much appreciated ❤️
Dennis *********
You can get the DTV based on remote work, and add your spouse as a dependant... no need for each to have their own visa, cuts down on expenses, etc
Robert *********
You will be paying Thai taxes after DTA exemption of US.
Robert *********
Buy international health insurance now!! ...way cheaper and easier to get
Andrew ********
Who knows what the visa requirements will be in a couple of years...
Frank **********
Check back in about 18 months for the latest visa info.
Wannikea *********
In addition to Brandon's advice, be aware that opening a Thai bank account is beyond reach with the DTV. To qualify for a non-O based on being over 50(retirement visa) from your home country he'd just need to show 800k in the bank. Then use that 90 day non-O to open a bank account in Thailand. He can then switch over to a dependent DTV and hope the bank doesn't go all squirrely and close the account.
Jeff *******
Visas will change in "a couple of years." Two years ago there were no DTV's. Who knows what will be in 2027.
Scott *********
Watch him close with all the hot women there
Johan ***************
@Scott ********
Luckily most men are not like you.Albert *************
Johan E. Bengtsson Why? Do you have statistics at hand? Do you know if there are more man like him or not? He's not saying anything out of this world. Bottom line: Scott isn't saying anything wrong.
Scott *********
@Albert ************
other guy idiotReply to
Scott *********
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Bill *********
@Johan **************
The ones that choose to come to Thailand mostly are! And from what I've observed it's definitely an upgrade. Asian girls are super cool over Western.Reply to
Bill *********
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Tony **********
Legally, only the DTV but if you keep quiet about your remote work, all should be fine with a non-o.
Sissi *******
@Tony *********
non-o is legal as long as she works for an us company and has nothing to do with Thailand workers right?Graham ******
@Sissi ******
wrong, that's the DTVTony **********
@Sissi ******
don't believe there are exceptions in the law. Like many things here, enforcement is secondary.Sissi *******
@Tony *********
I believe nothing, i'm asking a question...Reply to
Sissi *******
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Brandon ************
@Sissi ******
it's a grey areaReply to
Brandon ************
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Mary *******
Retirement Visa
J **************
You don’t tell us
Anything to help you …
E.g. health, wealth, retirement income, have you been to Thailand and explored different areas before?
Anything to help you …
E.g. health, wealth, retirement income, have you been to Thailand and explored different areas before?
JL ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@J *************
Yes, we had been there multiple times. We are thinking of settling in Bangkok for the 1st six months and then decide where is the best place to settle down for good. We have Tricare (US military health insurance) but would explore more when we get to Thailand.Reply to
JL ********
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Jack *****
For husband a Non O based on retirement with subsequent annual extensions.
For wife can obtain Non O as dependant + annual extensions.
Or for wife obtain DTV online work
For wife can obtain Non O as dependant + annual extensions.
Or for wife obtain DTV online work
Jack *****
@Greg **********
the wife could enter on Non O (retirement) and after first extension based on over 50 could/maybe change to based on being a dependantGreg ***********
@Jack ****
that means she would need the financial proof both for her visa application, plus for the application to first year retirement extension, as she can only change the reason up from 30 days before the 1-year retirement extension expires. And the questions remains if Immigration will accept a change of reason to "dependent to a foreign husband on a retirement visa" - which I strongly doubt, because a "dependent" extension needs to have started on a "dependent Non-O visa" obtained outside of ThailandJack *****
@Greg **********
reports of that being possible previously. Certainly not a given however suggest an office such as CW would not have an issue. As per usual the very first extension would need to on the bases of what the Non O was applied for. In this case "retirement"
The important thing is the wife enters on Non O
Greg ***********
@Jack ****
she would not be allowed to change from reason "retirement" to reason "dependent" AFAIK . . . maybe the admins and moderators of this group can chime in ansd tell us what's whatJack *****
@Greg **********
no problem fact is there are "piggy back" Repentant extensions ongoing in Thailand. Granted not as simple as previously.
Reply to
Jack *****
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Greg ***********
@Jack ****
both of them are over 50 years old, so they will most probably have to do the financial proof EACH on their own. Many embassies won't issue a dependent Non-O visa for the wife. This is the big question they must ask the processing Thai embassy before they start to apply onlineGreg ***********
@Jack ****
The very first thing you need to do is find out if the embassy or consulate you'll be using allows applications for a "trailing spouse" visa based on you having a retirement or longstay visa.Many Thai embassies have discontinued issuing this visa.
If they do allow it then you would apply for a non-O or non-OA retirement visa, depending on where you want to show your proof of funds. You would also apply for your wife's non-O trailing spouse visa right after you got issued your O or O/A visa
If they do not allow it, then you're not going to be retiring in Thailand until your wife turns 50 as well.
This is because your wife will have to qualify for a visa on her own and she won't be able to qualify for retirement visa until she's 50.
She could stay in Thailand on another visa type, like a Non-Imm-ED studying Thai language or on a DTV, until she hits the age when she can get her own “retirement visa”.
You cannot get a trailing spouse visa inside Thailand, and no other embassy in SE Asia offers this any longer.
Reply to
Greg ***********
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Ester *************
May I ask what remote job you have. I’m also moving to Thailand but would like to get a remote job instead of retiring
JL ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ester ************
I work as medical coder and compliance officer for a facility in the US.Ester *************
@JL *******
Thank you!Reply to
Ester *************
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Brandon ************
The DTV will be the only one that will allow you work remotely legally. That's really not a huge concern for most people though.
I would say to see if you can qualify for the LTR Remote Worker visa. The LTR visas are some of the best in Thailand, but the remote worker one is pretty hard to qualify for. If you can qualify for that, you can add your husband as a dependent and then you'll both get the benefits.
Second option if you care about doing things by the book, would be you getting the DTV workcation visa. Then you can officially legally work in Thailand remotely. You could also get your husband a 5-year dependent DTV based on yours.
The other 2 options are you get the DTV and he gets a non-O retirement visa. Or you both get a non-O retirement visa and you just work on the downlow, which many people do.
I would say to see if you can qualify for the LTR Remote Worker visa. The LTR visas are some of the best in Thailand, but the remote worker one is pretty hard to qualify for. If you can qualify for that, you can add your husband as a dependent and then you'll both get the benefits.
Second option if you care about doing things by the book, would be you getting the DTV workcation visa. Then you can officially legally work in Thailand remotely. You could also get your husband a 5-year dependent DTV based on yours.
The other 2 options are you get the DTV and he gets a non-O retirement visa. Or you both get a non-O retirement visa and you just work on the downlow, which many people do.
Reply to
Brandon ************
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