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What are the best visa options for a remote worker and student looking to live in Thailand?

Visa optionsNon-immigrant visaDigital nomad visaDTV visaEducation visaMultiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV)Remote workThailand immigration rules
Jul 23, 2024
5 months ago
AnnaLena *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello everyone 😊

My boyfriend and me are thinking about living in Thailand for about 2-3 years. He got a really good job offer that could support us both financially but his employer would be in Malysia but we want to live in Thailand. So the first question is about his visa possibilities which kind of visa could apply here or if there is any visa that he meets the requirements in this situation.

Then the probably even more difficult question is that I am a student but I study completely remote and although I plan to do some internship or maybe also work later the baseline would be if I don’t find anything in this time that I have no job and would just „live“ there. I heard about the non immigrant visa and that you can do visa runs every 3 months that wouldn’t be any kind of problem because I will accompany my boyfriend to some of his work travels anyway and therefore leave the country from time to time. But then I also read stuff like that you can do this maximum to a period up to one year or it is even possible that they deny you the entry when they see that you re entry the country for the third time or something with just short interruption.

Then I also heard of the educational visa that I thought could be a solution but I also read here similar stuff like you can only prolong it up to one year or when you leave the country you first have to apply for a re-entry allowance so you can come back which also wouldn’t work because I will leave Thailand during the year for some time as mentioned above.

As you can see I am lost and my Google Research is just not answering my questions.

I appreciate any kind of information or experience. Thank you!! 🙏🏻 😊
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A couple is considering living in Thailand while working remotely for a Malaysia-based employer. The boyfriend might qualify for the new DTV visa, while the girlfriend explores options like a study visa or METV. Concerns include how to manage visas with frequent travels and the feasibility of living in Thailand given the complexities of visa applications and renewals.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
David ******
World wide tax
5 months ago
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Greta *****
Sure you can have a job in Malaysia and live in Thailand. If it's a digital nomad job. If it's not, so no you can not
5 months ago
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Mark *********
Note that the Thai Education visa disallows working. Generally note how simplfied the Malaysian visa system is around study, working, allowable business without a specifically business visa, etc, etc, etc. Bottom line is that the Malaysian system roughly fits with others in the region - eg Cambodia and Vietnam - whereas Thailand goes its own sweet way. Even volunteering is a no in Thailand, without a special volunteer visa, which don't seem to be much issued currently.
5 months ago
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Frank-Steven ***********
This group would benefit from some stricter rules on and enforcement of etiquette. Some comments are just embarrassing borderline plain sexist.
5 months ago
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Galenus ******
@Frank-Steven **********
 Yes, that's right. But also it's not necessary to read everything. Just scrolling down helps me a lot🙏
5 months ago
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Galenus ******
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Reece *******
Any new specific rules about dtv come out yet? I would like to know how they check if u have 500,000 what account it needs to be in and do u need to show them again and again? or only once ?
5 months ago
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Anmol *******
Get a study visa and multiple re-entry permit.
5 months ago
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Xjwhudkwhry ********
Why not just live in Malaysia? The climate is the same, the food is better, alcohol is expensive in both...
5 months ago
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Xjwhudkwhry ********
@Johnny ***
 aren't you supposed to be in Ukraine washing your sins off with blood of the russkiezz?
5 months ago
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Johnny ****
@Xjwhudkwhry *******
 I am in Ukraine. 🇺🇦
5 months ago
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Johnny ****
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Terary **********
So, your nationality and your boyfriend's nationality are factors in what visa options are available to you.

I am a US citizen, I have been in Thailand almost 10 years, most of that time has been on tourist visas.

A Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) gives you up-to 9 months in-country. You can get those back-to-back if you wish, I have.

Recently the Thai government have made available a few other visa options, which I am less familiar but may work in your case.

Google research will only get you so far. This group will only get you so far. Once you've been in Thailand for a little bit and had time to talk with people you will be able to find visa solutions to your visa problems.

My recommendation is make a plan to stay 9 months to a year. During that 9-12 months figure out your next plan (maybe stay longer or whatever).

An immigration officer once told me the Education visa isn't a great option for people 40+ (me). Also, I have read about people having problems when they have an ED visa and try to get different visas. I am sure there are those who had no problems.

I have a great deal of love for Thailand but honestly Indonesia or Malaysia make fine alternatives, come to Thailand, stay as long as you can then go to an alternative.

Welcome to Thailand - Enjoy
5 months ago
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Neil ******
@Terary *********
 you’re admitting to having stayed almost 10 years on tourist visas. You’re probably not the best example to others.
5 months ago
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Terary **********
@Neil *****
 "If it works"
5 months ago
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Neil ******
@Terary *********
 why don’t you save that mantra for behavior that isn’t illegal.
5 months ago
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Terary **********
@Neil *****
 So strange these people with opinions that no one cares about.. I am sure if the immigration department cared about your opinion, they would have asked you. In the end, its their opinions that matter, not yours.

But best to luck to you.. It sounds like you're enjoying life
5 months ago
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Terary **********
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Yahway *****
This ed visa you can do up to 3 years, open bank account and have multiple entry. Classes are online or in classroom.
***************************************
5 months ago
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HD *****
Malaysia is not that bad in comparison to Thailand. Penang is a nice city to live I used to live there many years ago. But there are also other nice places around there. Even langkawi island would be amazing. You can still come to Thailand and stay for a few months then head back. That's what I would do. Keep Thailand as a nice holiday destination but have a house closer to work in Malaysia somewhere you like there.
5 months ago
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Arnold *****
Can get the Elite visa (budget permitting) and it will be least troublesome.
5 months ago
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John **********
As everyone says your boyfriend should qualify for the DTV but after he starts work. A bit more tricky for you unless you sign up for something like learning thai with a school that can help with the DTV visa, an ED visa wouldn't be suitable as you will be coming and going and not studying full time. I'd suggest you either both come on multiple entry tourist visas to give you some time to look into your options, or even look at staying somewhere like Penang in Malaysia
5 months ago
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Leah *************
Education visa, apply for either online or in person Thai speaking lessons

Every 90 days make immigration office aware of your address of stay

Every yeah you can renew and they test your basic Thai, Orr you can leave and re do from the start
5 months ago
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Galenus ******
Embassy website will show you your opportunities. Don't be lazy😵‍💫
5 months ago
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Amanda *********
@Galenus *****
 what are you on this group for if people can't ask questions.. it's actually bloody confusing.. so much conflicting information.. what may be available to US may not be clear to UK and pose different rules. The UK is set on telling UK citizens if we don't abide by rules we will be locked up in Thai detention centers / imprisonment etc.. it's constantly scaremongering so we don't have the freedom to be free and travel and see how beautiful another country is.. hell.. people get sh*t for asking q's after researching.. what is the point in you here on this group or this group if you can't ask q's?? Miserable old unhappy gits - sick of it - draining 🙄!!
5 months ago
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Galenus ******
@Amanda ********
 well, I expected you to find out if you live in US or UK. Sorry 😂
5 months ago
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Galenus ******
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Bart **************
Look into the DTV.
5 months ago
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Damo ******
You can apply METV in your home country, will give you upto 9 months here. You will have to leave and re enter every 90 days. Will at least give you a chance to work things out a little more while you are here.
5 months ago
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Yuming *******
let me know if you need elite visa
5 months ago
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David ******
@Yuming ******
 how much are you selling yours for? You’re not going to get much I know other lazy show face dummies trying to sell. How much
5 months ago
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David ******
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Jo **********
Why you want to live in Thailand. I won't live in Thailand with my man. Too many hungry Thai women ready to snatch western men. You may find yourself in the street with no boyfriend 🤔
5 months ago
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AnnaLena *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I don’t feel offended 😊
5 months ago
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Chrissy **********
@Jo *********
 I’m not sure why people were offending by your comments ? There’s thousands of content on tik tok that validates what you said. Maybe it’s denial?
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Chrissy *********
 Thank you. I appreciate your understanding. I only said loud what many are thinking, or saying low. The truth can hurt sometimes. Many are in denial as you said. I repeat again, I wouldn't live in Thailand with my partner or even visit. There are so many other countries we can visit together.
5 months ago
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Jo **********
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Nigel *********
@Jo *********
 sounds like a "Me" problem to be honest. Keep yourself fit and healthy and stay off the pies and your man will probably stay faithful to you.
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Nigel ********
 I don't eat pie. Lol. I am fit, healthy and beautiful. Men cheating doesn't have nothing to do with women physical. Sometimes, a man will cheat with a ugly, unfit woman, when his partner is beautiful and fit. Men cheat, because they chose to. By the way, as far as I know, my partner never cheated on me, but I don't need to put him in a place of temptation. The Bible says, stay away from temptation.
5 months ago
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Jo **********
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Bart **************
@Jo *********
 very disrespectful reply.
5 months ago
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Laongdaodao *****
@Bart *************
 maybe She had an inferiority complex
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Laongdaodao ****
 Not at all. I am just realistic. I am sure I am better looking than you. People who know me, know that I have a very high self-esteem, but I have learned to not encourage my man to go to some questionable place Infested with H o r e s. No men are never too strong to fall when everywhere they go, the temptation is there. Women, grabbing on men just pasding by. We are humans. We choose our battles. I like Thailand, especially Bangkok, but I wouldn't live there with my partner. Smh
5 months ago
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Laongdaodao *****
@Jo *********
 ahhh I am sure the problem is your attitude !!
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Laongdaodao ****
 You found out I was right about the look, so now you are talking about attitude that you can't verify. Nice try🤣🤣. I am done with this chat. I have better to do.
5 months ago
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Laongdaodao *****
@Jo *********
 so bad why you delete that comment 🤭🤭🤭

Okay Bye
5 months ago
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Laongdaodao *****
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Jo **********
@Bart *************
 This is what I truly felt whenever i saw a couple walking down the street when I was in Thailand a couple weeks ago. I stand on what I said. I won't bring my man in Thailand, especially in Pattaya. There are so many other countries we can travel together. Not Thailand. I went alone, not with him lol This is a reality. I just say loud what many people maybe thinking
5 months ago
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Marc ********
@Jo *********
 Still not the right man for you if you have to be worried he will take off with some hookers🤷‍♂️
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Marc *******
 Agressive hookers who grab men who are quietly passing by. I saw it in Bangkok. Women grabbed men. They are really hungry over there for Western men, especially white men. Why put my partner in this situation. There are many other countries to visit. Nop
5 months ago
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Marc ********
@Jo *********
 Maybe Ladyboy yes but not lady
5 months ago
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Bart **************
@Jo *********
 even if it's what you truly felt, the problem is yours. You should maybe get treated for it. Suggesting to another woman that her boyfriend will cheat or even walk away from her, solely depending on the availability of other women, I find disgustingly disrespectful.
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Bart *************
 Treated for it🤣🤣🤣🤣
5 months ago
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Jo **********
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Michael **********
@Jo *********
 no worries, the boyfriend is rich enough to support her and the hungry thai women 😉 OP has already pointed out several times how generou$ he is
5 months ago
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Wayne *****
@Jo *********
 if your worried about women snatching your man you are with the wrong man 🤔
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Wayne ****
 No need to go swim in a water infested with sharks, even if you are a good swimmer 😅
5 months ago
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Wayne *****
@Jo *********
 if I am swimming with a shark I know well

it's not a problem 😁
5 months ago
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Wayne *****
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Sea *************
@Jo *********
 you scared her now 😱true that have many hungry Thai women’s but if her BF is good one for her he won’t take any girls. 😉
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Sea ************
 Why tempted the Devil 😅. She is forcing the circumstances to live in Thailand, when her boyfriend job is in Malaysia, like she have to be in Thailand. Sometimes, people are looking for trouble, they don't even know.
5 months ago
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Jo **********
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Duncan *******
Destination Thailand Visa is ideal for your situation
5 months ago
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Frank-Steven ***********
For your boyfriend it could be as easy as getting the new DTV visa. If he got a job in Malaysia and can work remotely from Thailand, that should be a prime use case for that. As for you (if you guys are not married), you would need to find another reason the get the DTV - maybe a recreational class of the Thai Soft Power category. There are many ways. Alternatively, you both could also be based in Malaysia and just travel to Thailand as tourists every now and then - either visa exempt or on tourist visa.
5 months ago
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Tracey ********
@Frank-Steven **********
 she said they don't meet requirements of DTV visa.
5 months ago
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Tracey ********
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Jim ********
DTV would work
5 months ago
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Ken *****
You could try , change of country. Cambodia.

Can get visa easily there.

And work visas.

So my friends tell me. Easy place to live. And good.
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
Don’t rig the system. Too many people doing it and government is cracking down.

If you want to live in Thailand, get a proper visa.
5 months ago
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Aaron ****************
@Tommy *******
 they've been cracking down for years, from the days when you and I were both back to backing tourist visas.....define "proper visa"
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Aaron ***************
 different we were tourists. Goes without saying. This is different isn’t it? She wants to work here.

DTV or if her partner gets a DTV she can maybe go as a spouse?
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
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Marc ********
Tommy Walker another 🤡
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Marc *******
 she’s asking about visa options. She’s not a clown
5 months ago
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Marc ********
@Tommy *******
 No but you are
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Marc *******
 you must have a few low IQ little man. Are you even in Thailand?
5 months ago
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Marc ********
@Tommy *******
 Not at the moment. But if somebody asks me what visa he should get and I answer him don't rig the system get a proper visa I would be a bloody moron indeed
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Marc *******
 there’s a lot that do it. And if you look at other comments, people said similar. Keep up you angry little boy
5 months ago
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Marc ********
@Tommy *******
 I didn't see anybody else that stupid telling them to get a proper visa after they just wanted to know what visa they should get.

Makes no sense at all. Just stupidity at it's best
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Marc *******
 it’s replying to the post based on the chaotic solutions she had.

It’s clear she needs to go on a spouse visa on her partners DTV.

You’re the only one triggered. And you’re not even in Thailand 😭😂

Keep commenting angry little man. Your turn next…👇🏼
5 months ago
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Marc ********
@Tommy *******
 Do I need to be in Thailand to determine an answer is very stupid?

I don't think so.

Hey I want to fly to Thailand. Where can I get a cheap ticket to fly to Bangkok?

Answer:

Very simply just buy a ticket and don't spend much money for it.🤦🏻

Oh what a good answer smart man

I give you an advise. Next time you want to answer a question.

Read the question carefully before answering.
5 months ago
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Marc ********
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Zac ********
@Tommy *******
 but she is actually asking about what kind of visa she should get
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Zac *******
 DTV
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
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Bart **************
@Tommy *******
 there's a new visa: the DTV. Sounds like that's what she needs.
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Bart *************
 exactly
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
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Jo **********
@Tommy *******
 she is not trying to rig the system she asking a question
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Jo *********
 I’m giving advice based on her question and her written scenarios.
5 months ago
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Bart **************
@Tommy *******
 She wants to live in Thailand she says of which you then say it's not possible but then next you say that she can do it on a proper visa. Technically you did indeed answer, but you did it twice and the answers are contradictory. Doesn't look like you are trying to help.
5 months ago
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Jo **********
@Tommy *******
 oh ok sorry.
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
@Jo *********
 no worries, she could get a spouse on the DTV if I read that right.

Expats in Thailand are usually a little snappy when it comes to others coming in, many are grifters or want to rig the system. Sooo many say they “live” in Thailand, but they are just tourists.

The DTV looks like it’ll open that door for some to temporarily work and live here properly. For now.

I understand some people in government are not happy at how open the DTV visa is. So there’s bound to be changes at some point
5 months ago
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Tommy ********
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Jeff ********
What you are seeking is just not feasible. Best to stay in Malaysia and not try to buck the system.
5 months ago
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Damien ********
@Jeff *******
 she’s not trying to ‘buck the system’…wtf are u on about ???

‘ not feasible’ u write ?!

Anything is possible in Thailand

Ur a negative Jeffrey !
5 months ago
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Jeff ********
@Damien *******
 riiiight
5 months ago
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Jeff ********
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Marc ********
@Jeff *******
 There is a visa specially for this purpous🤡
5 months ago
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Ken **********
@Marc *******
 what visa ?
5 months ago
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Ken **********
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Simon ***********
@Jeff *******
 what system is that Jeff
5 months ago
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Don *********
@John ********
 I agree: a welcome change that AnnaLena posted her real name, made an effort to describe her circumstances and had clearly made an effort to search before posting 👏👏👏
5 months ago
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Jeff ********
if you got married, that might grease the wheels considerably
5 months ago
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Bart **************
@Jeff *******
 there's a new visa for exactly this purpose: the DTV.
5 months ago
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Frank-Steven ***********
@Jeff *******
 Not sure what makes you conclude living in Thailand while working remotely in Malaysia wouldn’t be feasible. I would know plenty of ways to make this work.
5 months ago
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Von ******
@John ********
 harsh drug laws in Malaysia… could be the motivation 😉😉
5 months ago
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Von ******
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Michael ********
Look into new visa the DTV sounds like its doable for you two.
5 months ago
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Ken **********
@Michael *******
 what does DTV visa give and what does it mean ?
5 months ago
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Michael ********
@Ken *********
 5 years and about 50% of posts in group last two weeks have been about dtv visa
5 months ago
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Michael ********
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AnnaLena *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 thank you! I already read about that but as far as I understand it we not really meet the requirements :/
5 months ago
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AnnaLena *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yeah thats true I was also wondering about the DTV but nowhere found information what are the exact requirements? I mean I want a certain security that I can stay for 2 years although I might leave the country and re enter it from time to time which I would do anyways. It is also talking about sport training in the DTV but what is meant by that? I love sports and if there is just a way to attend the right course its fine for me haha
5 months ago
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Bart **************
@AnnaLena ****
 there are barely any requirements. As the visa is presented you can even get it for a cooking class.
5 months ago
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Bob **********
@Bart *************
 I saw a post that said no cooking or Muay Thai???
5 months ago
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Bart **************
@Bob *********
 yeah I've also read about embassies not accepting it, maybe it varies per embassy. But as the visa was announced, it should be acceptable.
5 months ago
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Bob **********
@Bart *************
 I agree
5 months ago
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Ladiina ********
@Bart *************
 maybe having
*****
0 baht in their account is a little difficult for some people
5 months ago
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Ladiina ********
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Jo **********
@AnnaLena ****
 is the reason that the DTV does not work is because you are not married? looks like it would be perfect for your boyfriend
5 months ago
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Jo **********
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