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What are the pros and cons of switching from a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) to a retirement visa in Thailand?

Dec 10, 2025
a day ago
Has anyone made the switch from dtv to retirement? Any advice? Pros? Cons?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers around the transition from a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) to a retirement visa in Thailand. Key points include the financial requirements and restrictions of both visa types. Pros of the retirement visa include a more stable status with no need to leave the country regularly, while cons involve strict financial conditions and annual renewal requirements. Conversely, the DTV offers flexibility to leave and re-enter without annual renewals but requires maintaining fewer ties to Thailand. Concerns about the DTV's future stability and restrictions on working remotely are also highlighted.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Marianne ********
Are you working remotely?

Then keeping the DTV is the only option.

Non-O and extensions of stay based on retirement does not allow you to do work online.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
I am the spouse of someone working remotely.
Marianne ********
Anonymous participant And you are 50+ and are aware of the financial requirements of the retirement visa?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
yes absolutely
Ian **********
As far as I know, no one has managed to cancel a DTV
John **********
@Ian *********
there should be no need to cancel a DTV, what you should do is speak to your immigration office about CONVERTING the DTV to a retirement visa inside Thailand. According to the announcement of the DTV in the Royal Gazette this is the way to do it
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ian *********
oh I didn't consider this. I didn't think I would need to cancel to switch. I realize I wouldn't have dtv anymore but didn't realize it requires to be canceled.
Anonymous ******************
Why DTV feels like a ticking time bomb? I live on soft power DTV 8months in Thailand, should I be scared of something or what?
Volorymyr ****
Open a US company remotely, do it workation. You can bill yourself or clients legally for invoices. You can get a workcation DTV so you won't need to prove you'll attand a muay thai or cooking course for 5 years.
Ian **********
Anonymous participant 771 I don't think you need to worry about your visa being cancelled but I doubt you will be able to renew it. I suspect the DTV will be changed into a digital nomad visa and the soft power will change to a
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month visa
Ian **********
Cons for retirement visa: you have 800k wasting in a bank for 5 months then 400k wasting for 7 months. You have to renew every year. Pros: you never have to leave but you can if you purchase a re-entry permit, but you must return before your renewal is due or you have to start again. Cons for DTV: You can only stay 6 months unless you do a very difficult extension, but them must leave every year. Pros for DTV: You can leave and come back at will, with no cost. You do not have to renew every year as the visa lasts 5 years. You have very little dealings with immigration and do not have to keep any money in Thailand at all.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ian *********
thank you for this. I prefer to not travel so often and it's becoming a struggle to not have a bank account and such.
Anonymous ******************
Pros: it’s a real established visa compared to DTV which feels like a ticking time bomb

Cons: none
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 106 yes I'm feeling this a bit right now. So easily subject to change with the political climate.
Happy **********
Anonymous is it a con to have the money tied up perhaps, in a Thai account.

Where as DTV has no such requirement other than initially.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Happy Thailand I don't mind having savings in an account, be it here or elsewhere. And it's a risk to take out the dtv bank requirement right now anyway. At any time they can ask to see it and if you don't have it, you don't get the 6mo stamp.
Luit *****************
Happy Thailand DTV also officially ties up your 500K, but can be anywhere in the world.

Some people here say it is only an approval requirement, but both MFA and Immigration tell it is a visa requirement when you ask them about it.

It can be checked anytime if they want.

Sounds logical to me because the 500K requirement is foreseen for emergency situations in Thailand, so why should it only be there at the moment you did not even arrive in Thailand and should it be allowed to disappear when you are in Thailand. That completely does not make sense.

The fact that the normally do not check anything might make it for some people a risk they want to take.