Answereda year ago
What is the process for changing from a retirement visa to a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Thailand?
Has anyone here in Bangkok changed from a retirement visa to a DTV visa? Im a 65 year old retired American. I’ve used the same agent every year to renew my retirement visa and he doesn’t provide DTV services. He downplays the DTV and calls it an inferior visa and would not help me nor refer me to someone else.
If you have changed visas how has it worked out for you and who did you use for the service and what classes did you end up taking? I have no problem leaving the country once a year.
If you have changed visas how has it worked out for you and who did you use for the service and what classes did you end up taking? I have no problem leaving the country once a year.
Answer summary
The conversation discusses the experiences of expats in Bangkok regarding the transition from a retirement visa to a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa). A 65-year-old American expat expresses frustration with their agent who dismisses the DTV as inferior and refuses to assist in the conversion. Community members share insights about the DTV, including the necessity of applying from outside Thailand and their personal experiences. Some believe that agents oppose the DTV due to loss of income from fewer renewals. The discussion also touches on challenges faced by expats with financial institutions and housing in Thailand.
31 repliesnewest first
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Mark *********
you're making yourself a second class citizen. you cannot open the bank account or do other common features that resident Visa AKA retirement Visa will allow. you also have to continually be taking classes. do you want to be spending thousands of dollars a year on cooking classes?
Mark ****
@Mark ********
Don't think you have the info right on the DTV. You only need to take a course once to get the 5 year visa if I'm not mistaken. And as for the bank account I'd rather just use wise and not have to put 800k into Thai bank that can just freeze your account for no reason.Mark ****
I'm in the process of getting the retirement visa one year extension but haven't done it yet. Dealing with shady landlords trying to get a condo, the problem with the banks, having to leave 800k in them. I'm now thinking of just riding out my 90 day Non-o, leaving the country, and coming back on the DTV. I just don't trust the condo owners and banks at all.
Frank *********
What is the reason for wanting to change?
Ronnie *******
OP@Frank ********
To not have to go to immigration each year to renew, and I already leave the country. 5 years versus 1 year. Cheaper than an elite visa which has some benefits but I am not a golfer. If I did not pay my agent annually I would save lots of money too.
Us *****
Of course agents hate it. They can only make money off of you once every 5 years.
David ***********
I changed from Retirement VISA to DTV (remote worker) and had no problems. I didn’t use an agent as you have to apply online and the process looked simple enough. I applied to Vietnam Embassy (Hanoi). You have to submit evidence that you are outside Thailand at time of application (copy of Thailand exit stamp in my passport was sufficient for me). Process took 5 days from submitting application online and receiving DTV as a PDF in email.
Mark ****
@David **********
So you proved your remote worker income and didn't go soft power right?David ***********
@Mark ***
Yes I applied as remote worker.Ronnie *******
OP@David **********
Sorry for extra questions. When I got my retirement visa it states you have to have a bank letter and prove your balance the same day of approval. The immigration officer did not require this because I used an agent. It was a couple of days old. I updated my passbook the day before and made a transaction at the bank atm at the immigration to prove current balance. In Vietnam how old was your bank letter and updated passbook for your DTV application in Vietnam? What did you use for proof of income?
Minimum Health insurance proof? I only have USA health insurance. What insurance company do you use and are you happy with them?
Online it discusses proof of employment or self employment for DTV. Unfortunately I’m retired. What did you use?
David ***********
Re bank statement: I just printed 6mths statement from my Thai bank A/C a couple of days before I left Thailand so it was probably about 4-5 days old by time I submitted my DTV application.
Re Proof of income: I am a UK Company director. I provided most recent Financial Statement & latest CT600 submitted to HMRC along with 6mths Company Bank Statement and a covering letter explaining how my company trades and how I remunerate myself.
Re Health Insurance: I don’t have health insurance - I self insure. I don’t recall Health Insurance being a requirement for DTV - probably because DTV is a tourist VISA.
Re Proof of employment: Company Financial statement (see above) declares me as a Company Director.
I applied for DTV as a Remote Worker. If you’re retired then I doubt this option would be applicable for yourself - but I’m no expert, I’m just telling you what worked for me.
Good luck 🤞
Re Proof of income: I am a UK Company director. I provided most recent Financial Statement & latest CT600 submitted to HMRC along with 6mths Company Bank Statement and a covering letter explaining how my company trades and how I remunerate myself.
Re Health Insurance: I don’t have health insurance - I self insure. I don’t recall Health Insurance being a requirement for DTV - probably because DTV is a tourist VISA.
Re Proof of employment: Company Financial statement (see above) declares me as a Company Director.
I applied for DTV as a Remote Worker. If you’re retired then I doubt this option would be applicable for yourself - but I’m no expert, I’m just telling you what worked for me.
Good luck 🤞
Ronnie *******
OP@David **********
so to go to Vietnam you needed a Vietnamese tourist visa there, a hotel reservation, a flight entering and leaving Vietnam. How long before your retirement visa expired? My agent said if my retirement visa expires the fees to renew it increases. Did you have to provide a lease in Thailand? Proof of self employment?David ***********
@Ronnie ******
, see my other replies above re expiry of my Thailand retirement VISA. I didn’t need a VISA to enter Vietnam. I did include hotel accom booking in Hanoi as well as entry/exit stamps from my passport for proof I was applying from outside Thailand. Not sure what your agent means when he says fees increase if your retirement VISA expires. All I can say is I didn’t pay any extra fees and my retirement VISA had expired when I applied for DTV. However I didn’t use an agent so maybe he’s referring to the agent fees increase.
Brandon ************
@Ronnie ******
the fees don't increase, unless you mean agent fees.Brandon ************
@Ronnie ******
Immigration does not have late fees. The only fees immigration charges is 2000 baht for a visa, and 1900 baht for an extension. The only "late" fee at immigration is 500 baht per day if you overstay your visa.Ronnie *******
OP@Brandon ***********
he told me there is more paperwork if the current visa lapses. Not sure if is only his fees or also late fees tooRonnie *******
OP@David **********
So you went to the Thai embassy in Hanoi and as far as evidence of being outside, a hotel reservation?David ***********
I didn’t actually need to go to the embassy in Hanoi. You have to apply online and as part of your application you need to state which embassy you are applying at - I stated Hanoi. If they want to interview you then you need to be prepared to visit that embassy. So I just took a short vacation in Hanoi, included copies of my Thailand exit and Vietnam entry stamps from my passport as proof I was applying from outside Thailand (but hotel reservation might work as well - I would advise you to check with the embassy what proof they will accept). In my case an interview was not required so I didn’t need to attend the embassy in Hanoi. As soon as I received the email with my DTV as PDF I printed it out and re-entered Thailand on my DTV.
David ***********
The other thing to keep in mind is when does your existing retirement VISA expire. You obviously can’t have 2 VISAs for the same country active at the same time. In my case I timed my short vacation to Vietnam so I could exit Thailand on my existing retirement VISA (British citizen I didn’t need a VISA to enter Vietnam for a short vacation), my retirement VISA expired the next day and then I submitted my online application.
Hope that helps, good luck. 🤞
Hope that helps, good luck. 🤞
Graham ******
You can't get the DTV inside Thailand so there is no conversion and not much to be made for the agent who would only upload documents for the online application in your name
Ronnie *******
OP@Graham *****
I was told there are companies that provide services in for example Cambodia or Vietnam for people already living in ThailandAndi ***********
@Ronnie ******
There are but you need to go to Cambodia or Vietnam during the process. Vietnam is quicker than Cambodia which can take a month or so.Andi ***********
That agent is thinking only of his loss of income not what is best for you. You should check the main DTV page on FB. You can find accounts of visa changers to the DTV Inc those formerly on retirement visas.
Ronnie *******
OP@Andi **********
went to DTV fb page and posted a comment. Want a reputable company I can trust that will handle this process for me. Someone who can provide documented positive reviews of satisfied customers.Andi ***********
@Ronnie ******
This site owners Thai Visa Centre are a reputable agent who can sort you out.Andi ***********
@Ronnie ******
I have corresponded a lot with them and was about to use them before the DTV launched. I decided to apply for it myself and succeeded. I would use them as they are professional and helpful as reviews show.Ronnie *******
OP@Andi **********
Thanks I have heard of them. They also do the retirement visa as well. Have you used them or know someone who has?
Roberto *********
Agents don't like the DTV because it's costing them money. They've duped mugs out of 20,000 baht year after year and that's going to be lost to them
Ronnie *******
OP@Roberto ********
I know. So have you changed and who did you use to get it?Roberto *********
@Ronnie ******
I've never used an agent in my life and never willActivity
10 joined10
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