What are the best visa options for a US citizen looking to retire and work on passion projects in Thailand?

Question

Moving to Thailand is exciting and rather anxiety inducing right now. And I could really use the help of this group. Here is my situation.

US Citizen, age 57, federal employee looking to retire in Thailand. Yes, I know the non-immigrant O visa is largely recommended. But here is the problem: I’m not retiring to never work. I’m retiring to work on my passion projects. I do have a Youtube channel that makes a little money, about $300 per month avg. There is a membership website. And after 3 yrs of grinding, it’s starting to take off. But it remains a passionate hobby. I’m also training to be a painter, so planning on learning .. and maybe sell some art. Maybe self publish a book on Amazon. Pursuing the dream, right? And I’ve read that the retirement visa means no work that gains income.

Now I know the DTV is also an option. I would be a ‘content creator’ (I hate that word). Also, I have questions about the DTV since it’s so new. I have build a nice nest egg, so money wise both the non immigrant 0 and DTV visa would be covered, no problem. However, the LTR visa is too rich for my blood.

Ideally, I would like to use the retirement visa and continue my online stuff. I did notice older gents in Thailand doing youtube too. How do they do it? Also, I do get a gov pension and healthcare at 62.

For those with current firsthand experience: would DTV be the cleaner choice while I actively operate a YouTube channel/membership site and potentially self-publish books, or do retirement-visa holders commonly continue small foreign-facing online projects without issue?

I am looking for practical experience feedback. Please, let me know what are my best options? Happy to answer questions. Thanks!

Ask Thailand · Answer

A US citizen planning to retire in Thailand is seeking advice on the best visa options that would allow them to work on passion projects, including running a YouTube channel and selling art. The non-immigrant O visa is popular but does not permit income-generating work in Thailand. Alternatively, the new DTV visa allows for content creation without strict restrictions on income but may come with more complexities. Suggestions from the community emphasize that while technically the retirement visa prohibits work, many retirees engage in online activities without issues, as long as they do not compete with Thai nationals.

Adnan *********** · Answer

Better go for retirement visa , dtv will make more stress in the future

Dave *********** · Answer

If you have a retirement visa, which is fitted for your status, do can do your online YouTube’work’ as your hobby.

You will not be working for a Thai company and getting a salary. You cannot do any work in Thailand which takes away work from Thai people, not even voluntary work.

But earning from your YouTube hobby ….I’m sure you will be just fine.

IndigoG******** · Answer

I think DTV is better than retirement. 5 years, no cash locked up, less headache, no insurance requirement

Peter ******** · Answer

Contact Issa Compass. They have the correct answer for you

Greg ******** · Answer

Strictly, legally, the retirement visa does not allow you to do any work in Thailand or remotely. In practise, as you say you have seen people doing online content and getting paid by platforms - some even have paid memberships. While here on that retirement visa, they have YouTube channels and make a little money. I asked a Thai lawyer about this not so long ago, and she would not give a definitive answer. She said it would be a case-by-case situation, and the determining factor is "intent". The case I was asking about was acting as a business/management consultant to a company outside of Thailand, taking calls here on a retirement visa, and writing up reports, etc. No on-site work, no work with Thai companies, and no work within Thailand.

In practical terms, unless you were breaking the rice bowl of a Thai, taking away money from a Thai, you would probably be okay on the retirement visa. Selling art, even online grey area I would have thought, even if you were shipping from Thailand. This would be true on the DTV as well, though. There was a guy recently arrested here in Chiang Mai because he was dealing in Buddha amulets, buying in Thailand and selling from Thailand.

In practical terms, unless you were breaking the rice bowl of a Thai, taking away money from a Thai, you would probably be okay on the retirement visa. Selling art, even online grey area I would have thought, even if you were shipping from Thailand. This would be true on the DTV as well, though. There was a guy recently arrested here in Chiang Mai because he was dealing in Buddha amulets, buying in Thailand and selling from Thailand.

Ali ************* · Answer

Get an Elite visa and done !

What are the best visa options for a US citizen looking to retire and work on passion projects in Thailand?

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