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What are the challenges of applying for a workcation visa in Thailand with limited work days?
Thai visa rulesworkcation visaremote work ThailandDTV visavisa application challengesimmigration issues
Jul 7, 2025
10 months ago
Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTERNow i try to receive allowance for working in Thailand and my company say yes after four years fighting but only for 25 working days in a year. I try to contact the "Thai Konsulat in Munic" if they accept also a guarantee instead of the 500.000 deposit but i receive no answere. I try also to talk to them via phone but it is impossible to receive someone on the phone. And the risk that they deny my visa as a workcation and loose money is too high. And when it happen they don't give you the reason. So i will give up now. Sorry for try to work in Thailand. I will wait now for my retirement.
Lesson learn: sometimes you win, sometimes you loose.
Lesson learn: sometimes you win, sometimes you loose.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is experiencing difficulties in securing a workcation visa in Thailand after a long struggle with their employer, which has agreed to 25 working days a year. They attempted to contact the Thai consulate in Munich regarding the acceptance of a guarantee in place of the required ฿500,000 deposit but received no response. The conversation highlights the importance of fulfilling specific visa requirements, including having sufficient funds and employer permissions—conditions that may not be met given their limited work allowance. Various commenters discuss alternative options, such as using a tourist visa for short stays, the difficulty of getting clear answers from immigration authorities, and the need for a general employment certificate.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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Dany ********
Just get a very general certificate of employment that states remote work. it doesnt even have to specify thailand or how many days. this will be enough for the embassy.
Luit *****************
@Dany *******
That indeed can be enough, but when the employer only wants to make up a letter with specific rules ( in Netherlands we call this behaviour "Deutsche Grundlichkeit") then it might be difficult.Reply to
Luit *****************
Reply
Daniela ***********
I send you a Message
Anonymous ******************
My working hours say 0-160h/month and I got the dtv, but that was in august when dtv was new
Christopher ********
If only working for 25 days you can just come as a tourist. As long as you are not carrying out work in Thai market no one will care.
Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTERLong discussion, short answers: two partners, the Thai Konsulat for the working permit as a Digital Nomad and the company in my home where i work for. I am only interested in legal solutions for both sides. Thanks.
Christopher ********
@Hans ******************
i was here on a work permit. Went somewhere for a while and just came back on a DTV visa. Used Thai Visa Centre to help as I really didn’t have the time. Money well spent. Maybe reach out to themReply to
Christopher ********
Reply
Christopher ********
@Steve ******
indeed. But working in Thailand is normally defined as working with Thai entities or in the Thai market and being paid in Thailand. I was in a Thai Labour Department briefing a while back where it specifically was mentioned that global nomads working remotely was not considered working in Thailand. This was before the DTV launch so some time agoSteve *******
@Christopher *******
that's new information. For decades all kinds of work has been illegal on a tourist visa, including online work towards foreign clients and even gardening in your own house.But this latest government did seem to try to modernize the country before all the politicians started squabbling like children again.
Christopher ********
@Steve ******
and as always inconclusive. During a briefing on Thai Labour law at one of the european embassies there was a specific question on global nomads. The reply was that if someone was in Thailand temporarily and did remote work for an overseas entity this did not require a work permit shortly after the DTV visa came out. But then again this is Thailand… sometimes an answers are inconclusiveSteve *******
@Christopher *******
and every rule is enforced by whatever the specific immigration officer in front of you feels like. "Modern" Thailand.Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Steve *******
@Christopher *******
as long as you don't tell immigration*It's illegal to work here on a tourist visa. But the enforcement isn't a threat to someone working online for a month.
Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Biff *******
If you apply for the DTV as a remote worker, without the ฿500,000 in an accessible account, and without permission from your employer to work from Thailand (25 days is not enough to qualify) you will indeed lose your application fee.
James ********
@Biff ******
absolutely correct ✅Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER@James *******
thanksReply to
Hans *******************
Reply
Bob **********
Work FROM Thailand not IN Thailand
Luit *****************
@Bob *********
It is always a difficult definition where the work is done when you do remote work. Some say remote work is also work IN Thailand.Reply to
Luit *****************
Reply
Pete *******
And why have you not booked a qualifying cookery course? You can work for your company and learn new cooking skills at the same time.
Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
because my company want to see the workcation visa. They only only accept five weeks for working. When i make an another visa or stay stay longer than 90 days i will loose my job.Luit *****************
@Hans ******************
Most DTV visa don't show the category, then it can only be seen in the MFA/Immigration system.Pete *******
@Hans ******************
then it’s clear you cannot qualify for the DTV due to your employer’s regulations. Pointless contacting the embassy.Reply to
Pete *******
Reply
Tore *********
The Dutch embassy wanted a letter stating i was authorized to work full time/year around in Thailand.
The 500k should be in a current account in your name to ensure you have funds to cover emergencies you may encounter. It should be immediately liquid/available. They may accept sponsorship letter and bank statements from a legal spouse. Some embassies also demand the balance must have been above 500k equivalent for 3 or 6 months.
Based on your description, it doesn’t sound like you qualify for DTV based on remote work.
The 500k should be in a current account in your name to ensure you have funds to cover emergencies you may encounter. It should be immediately liquid/available. They may accept sponsorship letter and bank statements from a legal spouse. Some embassies also demand the balance must have been above 500k equivalent for 3 or 6 months.
Based on your description, it doesn’t sound like you qualify for DTV based on remote work.
Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tore ********
thanks, i have the money 20 times more but it is not on my account. I have it on an account for retirement.Kaye ******
@Hans ******************
then why dont you just apply for soft power ? Thats way much easier.Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kaye *****
because i want to work and my company only allow the official wayReply to
Hans *******************
Reply
Elías ********
They might very well argue that if you're working in Thailand only 25 days a year, the regular visa waiver entry (60+30 days) is more than enough for you.
Luit *****************
@Elías *******
Which in fact is a strange situation, because I think the average soft power DTV holder here spends less hours on the activity it looks like...Maybe when the company states he can work for 5 times a week spread troughout the year it might work.
Hans *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Elías *******
working with a 60+30 days entry as a tourist is not allowed.Abdulghani ******
@Hans ******************
the immigrant police won’t be checking your daily schedule:) it is up to you if you want to set behind your computer all dayElías ********
@Hans ******************
I think so too, but some embassies have told, in fact, to DTV applicants that they "don't need a visa" for short term stays, even when they applied as remote workers.Reply to
Elías ********
Reply
Roxana ******
@Elías *******
ofcReply to
Roxana ******
Reply
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