What are the key features and requirements of Thailand's new DTV - Destination Thailand Visa?

@Sean ********

and you can do this for 5 years?

@Gert ******

that’s my question because that’s what I’m reading

@Kurt ****

Yes, check their websites for DTV and requirements

@Frank-Steven **********

Prayer that some enrollment requirement are very low. I don't mind cooking class once a week I've always wanted to do it anyways, lol!

@Frank-Steven **********

ETA nevermind, i re-read and i think what you’re saying is that there will still be bargains/value available in some of the less-popular , lesser known areas of BKK .

@Frank-Steven **********

If that’s happening in popular parts of CM, then wouldnt the same type of effect happen in BKK (?) Why might it be different ? Im already looking for a place in BKK that’s ‘a little further out’ when i return, since Phrom Phong, Thonglor etc seem a little steep .. but yes i agree that the popular islands will feel the brunt .

@Frank-Steven **********

Changes in taxes when and how do they prove it? If you never receive money in a Thai bank account how can they know and tax you (asking for a friend).

@Maxim **********

good point, it'll be hard to prove income if it doesn't pass anywhere. But other countries also have this problem and are somehow dealing with it. Not many have decided to just waive taxation to prevent its residents from committing tax crimes, like Thailand did.

@Maxim **********

if you do not submit a tax return you will be exposed to risk, if you submit an untruthful one you are committing a crime, they will assume that foreigners here are not living on food bank donations. Ask yourself whether you want to live under that cloud - if you are single easy to jump ship, those with family and commitments will need to consider non compliance very carefully.Comes down to personal choice, many will ignore and hope for the best. TIT

@Frank-Steven **********

I'm Canadian, there no IRS or people going after you over there.

@Maxim **********

are you a non-resident for tax purposes with CRA? If so, they can’t go after worldwide income. If you still are CRA tax resident, they sure can

@Maxim **********

also, let's face that you have to prove employment or income through some portfolio working as a freelancer to get the visa. Although it will require connecting a few systems, e.g. the employment/income data (submitted to an Embassy), people's entries and exit dates, etc, some level of enforcement could in principle be possible. The existence of the possibility of that would at least deter many to withhold taxes, and comply with the submission requirement.

And lastly: as a digital nomad, should you really aim to not pay taxes here? In your home country the taxes would be higher.

@Bart *************

We're all in different situations. Some of us have money invested, passive income, on computer a lot, and so on. I'm obv not getting into details, it's been like this for 30 years for a lot of people and this is giving another option to everyone. My gut feeling is that the 500k baht is the most robust criteria, the rest is not super difficult as in I don't think it's gonna be hard to confirm that you are self employed.

@Maxim **********

could be. People will find tricks.

Also considering the cooking or boxing classes. Like... really?? Are they giving 5 year visas for that? 🤔🤣

@Bart *************

It's ed visa replacement. That's probably why they were rarely giving it anymore, it's all gonna be group in that new visa. I expect a list of like 10 to 20 things you can study or do.

@Maxim **********

it's super generous. But the number of years is just so strange...

Also, like Frank pointed out: the 500k requirement applies to visa application and probably extensions, but the extensions can be entirely avoided. Just exit and re-enter, the visa allows it for 5 (!!) years. Are they going to check proof of funds at the border now? That's not so likely; you can't expect people to carry this amount in cash (or any amount for that matter, anno 2024). Although you may be required to have 500k for the application, is it straightforward they'd require to keep it banked just so you could travel between countries? Maybe not so much, then you'd not be spending it. So once the 500k is spent on your cooking class, a few beers on Khao San, and a full moon party, you have a visa that is valid for 5 more years and that doesn't come with any burden. How cool is that 😅

@Bart *************

You say that it's too good to be true, but if you look at Cambodia, Bali, Vietnam, etc, its all been like this for a while. I was living in Cambodia before and could extend 1 year at a time. Foreigner could easily work, everything was super easy. So Thailand is simply catching up to what his neighbors are already doing.

@Maxim **********

oh I didn't know that actually. Thanks 🙏

I think what may have lead the government to do this could have been the crackdown on the YouTubers by the labor department. How on earth did it reach anyone's mind that that was a good idea. The reason behind the law being supposedly taking away jobs from Thais. Errr, what jobs? Are Thais now gonna make YouTube videos about staying in Thailand as tourist or as digital nomad? And now these people have to leave the country, guess how the country would be portrayed in the next YouTube video. Extraordinarily dumb decision.

@Bart *************

Crackdown on Youtubers? There no such things. Again, I won't get into details but I don't know a single foreign Youtuber in Thailand with a Thai address linked to their ad sense.

@Maxim **********

I don't know any but in this group there was talk about an actual crackdown on YouTubers. They supposedly intended to crack down on any form of digital nomading as it was supposedly the worst, but the YouTubers were the only category they could find any leads to (duh 🤣).

@Bart *************

It's often angry old foreigners not in that space who fear monger. There is no crackdown on digital creator, even more so with that new visa option.

@Simon ***********

Don't blindly trust those english info leaflets.

You don't know who wrote it, you don't know how accurate they are, you don't know their source.

It is just a leaflet which may or may not have mistakes.

I already spot something very suspicious : that you must leave Thailand "for minimum one day". That seems to be incorrect, there is no minimum requirement mentioned in the original Thai law.

Also "after" 360 days is incorrect : that would be an overstay.

@Frank-Steven **********

Good, so I can just ask my parents to transfer the $ for a few days, go to Savannakhet, get the visa, then send the money back to them. But I would need to enroll in a cooking class or something else in the list which is yet to be finalized (about what you enroll to).

@Frank-Steven **********

Well, it would still give me 5 years. I don't think they will cut the visa half-way for those who are already on it.

@Maxim **********

according to this you have to be able to show your 500k even when make the extend

@Simon ***********

What about if border run for 1 day every 180 days, do you have to show the 500k baht at border? I've never seen such requirement at any border on any visa, so that would be a first. Also, the proof of employment is only if you don't attend a course, muay thai, etc, correct?

Believe it will be like ED Visa, since they use words like “Participants” & “attend the activity”

But we must have patience, and get the details in the following days / weeks.

If the “activity” has ended, then they probably won’t let you extend efter 180 days, since the purpose had ended.

It’s validity is 5 years,

It’s period of stay is 180 days.

Comparabel with multi entry tourist visa:

has 6 month validity

and 60 days permit of stay.

If you were enrolled in a 2 month cooking class, they will know that the purpose of your stay, has been fullfilled, thus not extending after 180 days.

@Henrik ****

It's a 5 years multi entry visa. You don't have to extend, it's just an option. It's like a Multi Entry tourist visa but 5 years instead of 6 months. You can in and out 20 times per year if you want.

@Frank-Steven **********

I've use Mukdahan and Nong Khai border for 12 years, never been asked to show cash or anything else. That's why I had my doubt that suddenly they will ask 500k baht for DTV, lol! Especially that they don't have the time to check everything on their computer who don't have as much stuff as at immigration. And the lines can be already long it would be a nightmare logistically.

@Ivan ******

Clarifications from Thailand? What does that even mean? Spouse or Children mean that if you have a Thai wife and/or Thai child, you still have to show the 500k baht but don't have to show that you work for a company, is a freelancer, remote worker, or that you want to learn muay Thai, cooking, etc. There are 3 options: Work, Hobby, Family, if you fit one of the 3 and have the 500k you can get that visa.

@Frank-Steven **********

What does that even mean? That if one work in Thailand, the other still need to show 500k but don't have to work? What kind of logic they are throwing out there?

@Maxim **********

it's about spouse or children of DTV holders. That's also how it was announced in communications so far.

From the conditions shown here, you can deduce that spouse and children also need to show 500k in the bank. That's also in line with previous communications. But, it may be waived for those, or maybe just for children. We'd have to see. For now, expect it to be required.

If a foreigner couple over 50 want to retire in Thailand, they both need to have 800.000 in a Thai bank.

So it will probably be the same on DTV, 500.000 each.

@Frank-Steven **********

They are getting a pretty nice discount. You don't spend the same 500k alone vs as a couple, but whatever.