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What are the visa requirements and financial guidelines for relocating my family to Thailand in 2026?
DTV visaVisa requirementsFamily relocationHomeschoolingIncome requirementsFinancial guidelinesVisa application assistanceJob remote workEducation in Thailand
Jul 11, 2025
10 months ago
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, I am seeking expert advice on relocating my family to Thailand in June 2026. My children will be 17, 14, and 13 years old, and I am unsure about the specific visa requirements. Chat GPT suggested that the DTV would be the most suitable option for us. I plan to homeschool my children initially and later explore other educational options. As a remote federal employee, I anticipate continuing in my role abroad, but I am also exploring alternative employment opportunities. I am currently pursuing TEFL and Cybersecurity certifications. Although I do not have substantial savings, I expect to receive $100,000 to $150,000 from the sale of my house and additional funds from selling our belongings. However, I am concerned about meeting the income and asset requirements, particularly if the necessary funds are not available in my account at the time of application. I wont be able to sell my house till around March when it is closer to the time we leave. The price for a monthly rental here in PA will run us at least $5000 which is a lot so if i can stay here as long as possible I will. Can someone explain the financial guidelines to me? Will my current job count as income or my house as assets? Can anyone recommend a professional in Pennsylvania who can assist me with the visa application process? Hopefully I am making sense. Thanks in advance!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is seeking advice for relocating to Thailand with their family in June 2026. They have inquiries about the DTV visa and its adequacy for moving a family, as well as concerns about the financial requirements, specifically the need for liquid assets and proof of income for visa approval. They are also interested in homeschooling initially and later schooling options for their children, and express worries about managing their finances during the move. Community members highlight the importance of having a sufficient amount of cash in a personal bank account and suggest that the DTV may not be the best long-term solution for family relocation.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Remote federal employee? I suggest you double check with your manager about working remote from overseas, especially if you are talking about the American government.
Luit *****************
Keep in mind that DTV is just a visa for tourist use.
It might not be the best to relocate a complete family.
For instance you cannot open a bank account, and when relocating you might get complications with a bank account in your previous home country.
Also most employers don't accept remote work full time whole year long.
When you need he money of selling your house for visa requirements, how are you planning to live in Thailand.
It might not be the best to relocate a complete family.
For instance you cannot open a bank account, and when relocating you might get complications with a bank account in your previous home country.
Also most employers don't accept remote work full time whole year long.
When you need he money of selling your house for visa requirements, how are you planning to live in Thailand.
Anonymous ******************
@Luit ****************
I agree. DTV is only tourist visa not a nice the whole family. People do it but it’s for digital nomads who travel around not a 5 year residency. You don’t if know if they will continue the programReply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
Mark ********
Then go to an expert not FB😂😂
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark *******
Maybe if you want to be a comedian you should go to a comedy club. Experts are on FB thats how they promote and network their business. Next time maybe you should comment on a post with actual helpful advice. Stay blessed! 🤣🤣🤣Jef ********
@Chasity **************
contact Issa visa consultationJef ********
***************************
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jef *******
Thank you!!!Jef ********
@Chasity **************
I worries 🙏🏽 good luck 🤞🏽Reply to
Jef ********
Reply
Mark ********
@Chasity **************
Moving children in that age range of their education and "home schooling" them will surely work great for their futures👍 How much time have you actually spent in Thailand?Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark *******
I see that you delusional so this is my last response. You do know that homeschooling is all over the world. If you had any sense you would do research and know that homeschooling if very helpful and give your child/ children the opportunity to learn and have a curriculum that better suits them as an individual. With that being said stay blessed! 🙌🏽Mark ********
@Chasity **************
Delusional?😂😂 You are the one who keeps deflecting and not responding to topics. Good luck,you are going to need a lottery winning amount becasue anybody dumb enough to think that taking their kids out of an education system at that age and depriving them of qualifications can't survive otherwise.Reply to
Mark ********
Reply
Mark ********
@Chasity **************
Maybe if you want a reall expert pay for it. Listening to chat GPT😂😂😂Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark *******
Maybe you should learn how to read and last time I checked you dont listen to chat GPT.Mark ********
Remote federal working from your favourite chatbot "This requires approval from both the employee's agency and the Department of State" is this something you have done?
Mark ********
@Chasity **************
As with most septics you fail to understand the nuances of the English language. Also your technical skills must be very poor if you can't actually "listen" to it in the most basic term of the word. I read English perfectly it is my mother tongue not a bastardised version of it😁 But anyway your comment is simply deflection,the mark of someone who realises they are wrong and attacks on a completely unconnected subject. So you have spent little to no time in Thailand? Have you checked if your remote working position is actually allowed to be outside the USA?Reply to
Mark ********
Reply
Greg ********
Just a thought. You talk about properties bringing 5k a month rent. Why not keep your property and rent other out. Even if you still have a mortgage to pay out of the rent you will still have that asset for the future?
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
Someone asked this question in another group and it didnt sit well with me but because you were so helpful im going to answer your question and be nice about it. 😁😁 Monthly rentals are not the same as yearly rentals here. Monthly rentals are only done through Airbnb, Vrbo ect which they price the rent extremely high. If I was to rent my house out for a year or more at a time I would only get around $1300 a month max which is a big difference. Now I could list my property on those sites like air bnb and things like that but that would require me to put more money into this house to fix up and then I would have to pay a property manager to assit with the monthly rentals which would be too much. I just want to move and focus on all the barriers I will have where I am physically located vs worrrying about issues in the States. I also dont have a mortgage I own my house however I dont plan on coming back unless it's to visit. Thailand is my first stop not my forever place. Me and my children already travel and I want them to experience the world and know that the US is not the end all be all. I also am not going to just blow through the money from selling it I will be investing so prayers 🙏🏽 that will make me a millionaire. 🤗🤗Greg ********
@Chasity **************
OK. I get it now.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Greg ********
The first thing to look at is the cost of a decent school for your children - you did say you might send them there in the future. The costs are often a nasty surprise to those that do not know the system. This is especially so if you want them to follow a particular country curriculum for University entry etc
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
Yes schooling was one of the first things I looked into. I explored the schooling options when I was there and I met up with a school coordinator that assist with homeschooling. Her program will allow the kids to do half in person and half online. I feel comfortable with that for now.Greg ********
@Chasity **************
I only know the school costs at international schools are high. At my last company they were covered for my colleagues kids but they were not cheap. They still complained about cost of extra curricular activities which company did not pay for.Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
Thank you for sharing your experience and yes I seen they could be very pricey.Greg ********
@Chasity **************
I worked for a large Japanese company here. All the Expats kids went to NIST in Bangkok which was close to the office. Would need to check but I think fees go up to 1 Million Baht a year. The extra curricular was expensive. A Japanese colleague complained about all the birthday presents he needed to buy for parties every week. He had two daughters there and he said the parties were weekly. Almost crying into his beer lolReply to
Greg ********
Reply
Kyle **********
you can apply for the dtv first and then your kids as dependant. Don't forget that a lot of embassies will require the money to be seasoned in your personal bank account for over 3 months, some embassies will also require your kids to show 500k each
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kyle *********
Thank you for this information. Just for clarity, they want to see the actual funds not just them knowing I have a house that I will be selling for the funds or my yearly salary won't count either? Also would it be easier to move first on our tourist visa then apply for the DTV after that? In the event I cant sell my house 3 months before we leave??Bradley ********
@Chasity **************
a dtv is a tourist visa and can only be obtained outside of Thailand. Keep in mind that a dtv visa will not work to open a bank account in Thailand and they have gotten very strict about that due to large scale money laundering. You can explore all the different visa types on the official Thailand evisa website thaievisa.go.th and find what works best for you but relocating with a family for extended period I would say the dtv visa is not going to be the best and safest option for you. A final thought to remember is once you enroll your kids in school they will need to obtain a education visa for the school to accept them into classes but most international schools in country can help you navigate that processGreg ********
@Chasity **************
If you come on tourist visa apply for the METV (Multi Entry Tourist Visa) while in USA. With good planning and "Safe" border crossings it can give you over 8 months in Thailand.Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
This is something new I haven't heard of. This option would definitely be very helpful and give us a little cushion in the event something goes wrong or we have to go in and out of Thailand. Much appreciated 👏🏽 😁Greg ********
@Chasity **************
Yes, it gives you a cushion. The METV allows multiple entries into Thailand for 6 months. Each entry can be extended for another 30 days in the country at an Immigration Office for 1900 Baht. If you left Thailand just before the 6 months up and entered right away that gives you over 8 months with the extension.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Kyle **********
@Chasity **************
they want to see your PERSONAL bank account and they want to be sure the money has been sitting there for a few months. Your house won't work. Bitcoin won't work. Shares/stocks won't work. They want to see cash and they want to see you've gotten that cash for awhile.Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kyle *********
Thank you for all your advice so help and appreciate. 🤗🤗Reply to
Chasity ***************
Reply
Anonymous ******************
@Chasity **************
you need liquid money in your bank account ready to be used (500k for each), your house will not work. You can only apply for the DTV outside of Thailand, but yes you could come as a tourist, then leave somewhere next door (eg Vietnam) and wait until you get the DTV. I just got approved and the 500k was in my account for less than a month.
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 981 Also congratulations on your Visa. I know that took a little weight off of your shoulders.
Chasity ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 981 I see now, thank you for sharing your experience. I really wanted to have everything already in order before I moved but that just might not be possible and its good to know if have other options. 😊
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Chasity ***************
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