What are the experiences and processes for obtaining the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Thailand?

Oct 14, 2024
a month ago
It's official. The DTV worked.

The immigration officer was smiling and giggling when he saw my DTV.

He said they are rare to see.

He said enjoy the 180 days 😁

Thanks for everyone's help in this group. I'm a happy DTV'er!
10,185
views
173
likes
311
all likes
71
replies
1
images
30
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The recent experience of a user reveals a successful application for the DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) in Thailand, praised by an immigration officer for its rarity. The discussion includes various aspects of the DTV, such as the ease of application, the 180-day stay it allows, and the extension process. Many expressed interest in quickly obtaining this visa and shared their timelines and tips, while some raised concerns about the need for bank accounts and visa regulations. Comments highlight the mixed experiences and speculations around extensions post the 180-day period, indicating that future clarifications from immigration authorities are anticipated.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Jason ***********
i cant wait
Ray ******
Which country is the easiest to get it from?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ray *****
not sure, but it was quite easy from USA
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant it was $400 USD.

Only showed one month statement with beginning and ending balance over requested amount. Ok also attached 401k statement showing significantly more, not sure if that was necessary but why not. I redacted account numbers and personal info
Ray ******
Anonymous participant are they strict with balance??? My statement shows I've only had a balance of over 500k for about 5 weeks....
Ray ******
Anonymous participant how much in USD? It's $600 AUD from here
Paul *******
Was the officer wearing a mask? If so, how would you know he or she was giggling?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
no mask
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
******************************************************************


Here is my original post about the application process.
Lee ***********
Congratulations I have exactly the same stamp today, other than the airline lost my case 😉 all good. Enjoy
Craig *********
People the DTV is a visa designed for a certain clientele not retired farang hanging out in Pattaya walking street blowing money until the end.
Anna **********
Congrats, enjoy
Jonathan *******
I want the DTV!
Janine *************
@Jonathan ******
it’s a straight forward process can apply online! I got mine approved in July!
Hans *******************
Good luck to you. I wish you all the best.

I try to receive the allowance for working from my company since 2,5 years now... but the result is alway no. Only a wonder could help me now. 😱
Wanidtha ************
Sorry but don’t you have something like this ??
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wanidtha ***********
I have a separate paper copy of my e-visa that I carry with me

It has same information on it..
Yoni ****
@Wanidtha ***********
not if you applied online.
Kieran *******
What happens after the 180 days? I thought it was 5 year ? Can you just extend ?
Pui *****
@Kieran ******
it's a 5 year visa that grants 180 day stay periods each time you enter. You can extend each stay one time for 180 more days before you need to exit and reenter for a fresh 180 day stamp.
Lyle *********
Well, this group has 9.2k members.

And the general Thailand tourism group has 772k members.

So I would imagine this visa is far less common than many people in this group think lol
Pui *****
@Lyle ********
probably that has more to do with the fact that this is still a very new visa and the group was started not long ago, compared to other Thai tourist or visa groups that have been around for many years and have had members joining for years.
Lyle *********
@Pui ****
I imagine this visa will never be as popular as it is right now in its first few months.

The number of people that can live in another country for 6-12 months is very, very small.

90% of people take two week to four week vacations once a year.

In fact, I don’t know anyone in real life that can easily move away from home for 12 months - only the people I meet online in nomad style communities.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lyle ********
I’m very glad it is unpopular and easy for me to obtain. But I think it will become more popular as the shift to nomad style economic arbitrage becomes more well known.
Pui *****
@Lyle ********
it is by far being used as a long term stay visa since it is easier to get than most other long term visas. Not really being used by tourists or frequent visitors but by people to live in Thailand.
James *******
Giggling? Maybe your fly was undone.
Adrian *******
After 180 days what then..?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Adrian ******
just travel. Leave and re-enter.
Adrian *******
@Andi **********
extend? At a cost of..? Or leave at the cost of a train/plane ticket and return for no entry cost..?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Adrian ******
I heard it is 1900 baht to extend, same as tourist Visa extension, but cannot confirm.

Yes just little plane ticket back and forth, but with so many places to explore, why stay more than 6 months straight?

Re-entry is new 6 month stamp for free as far as I understand
Andi ***********
@Adrian ******
The 180-day extension cost at immigration is unknown at the moment as no extensions have taken place yet. Maybe more expensive to cross the border and return but you will not have to supply the paperwork needed at immigration.
Paul *******
@Andi **********
Benjamin Hart from Integrity Legal claims no extensions are possible, but what actually transpires will only be known in January.
Andi ***********
@Paul ******
Extensions are possible.. He saying you can only stay 6mths?
Paul *******
@Andi **********
That's what he's claiming, but he may be wrong. I think we'll know what actually happens come early January or so.

I also think it's possible there may be a halfway solution - what may actually happen is that they'll grant only 30 or 60 day extensions and then require you to leave the country. Speculation on my part though.

We simply don't know what's going to happen in this regard at this time.
Andi ***********
@Paul ******
Very wrong and would mean people have been misled. A lot of his posts are off and a passive aggressive way of drumming up business. Siam Legal confirm extensions will be 6 months. I imagine the end of year should see formal clarification of the extension process.
Paul *******
@Andi **********
And yes, I think by early January we should know more about the extension process. I don't want to say more on the matter because much of it is speculation, until the immigration bureau weighs in.
Paul *******
@Andi **********
Yes, I agree that he may be drumming up business. I like him, but I feel that a lot of his videos on a variety of immigration related topics have been pure fear mongering and misleading.

Even before the advent of the DTV, he constantly went on and on about how remote work was supposedly "illegal" but the reality is, there was in the past never really a law that explicitly stated what the legality of it was.

In practice, you could almost always work remotely as long as you didn't have Thai clients or work for a Thai company and even those who were mistakenly picked up by immigration authorities for apparently working illegally were let go after investigations determined they weren't working for a Thai entity in any way (referring here to a notable case in Chiang Mai back in 2018 or 2019).
Andi ***********
@Adrian ******
you extend for 180 days at immigration or leave and return, get stamped in for 180 more days.
Werner ************
Very common
Benjamin ********
Did you go soft power option .
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *******
This is what I did:

******************************************************************
Kyaw *********
The same went for me in August. The immigration officer even shut down the lane to consult with her neighbor booth on how to process it lol. I guess it was really an unusual visa back then as it was just announced.
Dante **********
id really like to get mine in as little time as possible. I have a little over $20k in checking, and have cash to pay for the visa itself. Where do i go and how do i make it happen? i know i must leave country and this might sound like a redundant question, just would like a step by step for the easiest experience possible
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dante *********
******************************************************************


How I did it
Andi ***********
@Dante *********
Taipei is same day approval, submit by hand in the morning, pick up next day. Recent posts of 24-hour approvals in Phom Penn and Hanoi for online applications.
Bom *********
Ohh How long did it take ? It started a few days ago only
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bom ********
I applied in mid September, received Visa 3 days later!
John *******
@Bom ********
visa started July
Bom *********
@John ******
I meant online application
James *******
@Bom ********
depends how quickly you type.
John *******
@Bom ********
e-visa for DTV has been in place in many countries since July. Only Cambodia and Vietnam and a few others switched last week
Bom *********
@John ******
I got it. Thanks
Stephan ***********
@Bom ********
You don't know where he/she/it applied... eVisa has started long time ago in many countries, about 3 years ago.
Aung ************
Yeah, like that, the same, but worse thing is it can't open Bank acc. haha
Joe **************
Bom *********
@Aung ***********
seriously? How to live for 5 years without bank account ?
Luke *******
@Bom ********
I certainly could with mine. I currently have a 0% commission fee for any international purchase. Not all banks do it though. I have 2 banks and the other one has never given me the option.
Luke *******
@Bom ********
I don’t really need one, I pay everything with credit card and withdraw cash 1-2 times a month from an ATM. You just need to negotiate a good international commission % with your bank.

l’ve read you can easily open a bank account through an agent even with a DTV though
Paul *******
@Luke ******
You can't negotiate fees with your bank. You can only negotiate repayment terms if you're struggling with credit card debt. You can always choose another bank if you don't like their terms.
Werner ************
@Bom ********
Only 6 month visa renewal for 5 yrs
Bom *********
@Werner ***********
but gov allows up to 5 years. If we really want to stay 5 years , how to stay without bank account ?
Aung ************
@Bom ********
yeah, their policies are really complicated 😅, but if you want to a bank Acc it is so easy to get here.
Shay ******
@Aung ***********
can you please explain without bank account?
Aung ************
@Shay *****
I have bank account already.
Chris ********
@Aung ***********
I have a bank acc I opened on a 30 visa exemption 😅
Aung ************
@Chris *******
yeah I have too, but not by DTV.
Agnes **********
Amazing congratulations
Graham *******
you made every single word of that up!
Janine *************
@Graham ******
what? It’s a straight forward process. I got mine approved in July. All done online.

I’ve now got a 5 year multi entry DTV visa. 180 days per time to stay in the country.
Sean *******
@Graham ******
Why would they do that?
Roberto *********
@Sean ******
Sounds like a lot of crap to me too!