Answered2 years ago
What steps did you take to successfully apply for a DTV visa as a freelancer in the UK?
I applied for my DTV visa in the UK as a Freelancer, I rent out an apartment, let's say.
Firstly I did intensive research and read everything since June.
Applied on the 10th September via the evisa online and sent in-
1. Copy biodata passport page
2. Proof of capital
3. An overview of what I did and why I thought I would be a good fit for the DTV
4. Bank statements showing the income monthly over past 12 months.
5. Photograph I had taken and used at immigration in Thailand.
6. £300
Within a day I had a reply asking for 4 pieces of information -
1. Tax returns - no problem submitted.
2. A letter from an estate agent or if not an explanation- no problem submitted with tenant contract and explanation I ran things myself.
3. Upload my flight booking - although not part of the requirements it is a question on the e-visa website - no problem I'd read enough to know so I had a return ticket and submitted it.
4. A photograph close up - no problem uploaded.
Within a day, another request for 2 pieces of information-
1. A formal letter to the Royal Thai Embassy explaining what I do and why I wanted to spend time doing things in Thailand - no problem I wrote a very official letter.
2. Another photograph, they want your face to take up 70 - 80% of the picture - try again 😆
Then my application went to pending decision, few, I waited and I waited, I thought it wasn't going to happen, then on the 20th 2345hrs it came through approved. Celebrations yay.
Points I noted were, they asked alot more detail than everything I had read suggested, wanted full address and contact details of who/where I was staying.
I'm so overwhelmed, I've had a tough few years and this is life changing for me, a new beginning.
So if your applying, what I take from it is, read and understand everything, have everything and more ready, expect alot more than what the simple flyers say, maybe they are tightening up as more apply who knows.
Thanks to the Royal Thai Embassy
Firstly I did intensive research and read everything since June.
Applied on the 10th September via the evisa online and sent in-
1. Copy biodata passport page
2. Proof of capital
3. An overview of what I did and why I thought I would be a good fit for the DTV
4. Bank statements showing the income monthly over past 12 months.
5. Photograph I had taken and used at immigration in Thailand.
6. £300
Within a day I had a reply asking for 4 pieces of information -
1. Tax returns - no problem submitted.
2. A letter from an estate agent or if not an explanation- no problem submitted with tenant contract and explanation I ran things myself.
3. Upload my flight booking - although not part of the requirements it is a question on the e-visa website - no problem I'd read enough to know so I had a return ticket and submitted it.
4. A photograph close up - no problem uploaded.
Within a day, another request for 2 pieces of information-
1. A formal letter to the Royal Thai Embassy explaining what I do and why I wanted to spend time doing things in Thailand - no problem I wrote a very official letter.
2. Another photograph, they want your face to take up 70 - 80% of the picture - try again 😆
Then my application went to pending decision, few, I waited and I waited, I thought it wasn't going to happen, then on the 20th 2345hrs it came through approved. Celebrations yay.
Points I noted were, they asked alot more detail than everything I had read suggested, wanted full address and contact details of who/where I was staying.
I'm so overwhelmed, I've had a tough few years and this is life changing for me, a new beginning.
So if your applying, what I take from it is, read and understand everything, have everything and more ready, expect alot more than what the simple flyers say, maybe they are tightening up as more apply who knows.
Thanks to the Royal Thai Embassy
Answer summary
The user shares their successful application experience for a DTV visa in the UK as a freelancer, detailing the documentation required and the unexpected additional requests from the embassy. After a thorough preparation and timely submissions, their application was approved after a period of pending decision. Users are advised to be prepared for more scrutiny in applications, as requirements may have tightened. The discussion also touches on tax implications for digital nomads in Thailand.
36 repliesnewest first
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Bob ********
Well done, I think it's a learning process for embassy staff as well, as most of them have only processed on fixed requirements, this visa they are making decisions, a very unusual thing for most public service employees
Sophie **********
@Lee **********
congratulations! did you apply online or through your local embassy?
Lee ***********
OP@Sophie *********
on the e-visa systemYung ***********
Congratulations! Questions: They wanted you to show proof of your new Thai rental property for the paperwork? And they wanted you to show proof of your tickets to Thailand (and that you had a return ticket bought just in case)? 😅 I’m still a novice at the process and not moving until June 2025… so these extra clarifications are helpful
Lee ***********
OP@Yung **********
yes part of the application asked for the full contact details of where I was going to be staying. I had a return ticket because I was going regardless, but the flights are asked for on the application and then they asked for the actual pdf of the booking.Yung ***********
@Lee **********
thank you!
Judas *******************
What’s difference between Non-B Visa and DTV visa? What’s advantage of Non-B visa compare to DTV? Thanks for your advices!
Ian **********
@Judas ******************
Non-B visa is for ppl who will be employed in Thailand and a DTV is for ppl who work remotely and will not work for any Thai company but wish to spend time in Thailand. It is much more complicated than that but these are the basic differences.Judas *******************
@Ian *********
may I ask, ppl who owned DTV visa could open Bank ACC còn Thailand? Rent a house … as Non-B visa?Lee ***********
OP@Judas ******************
people have reported being able to open an account, but you may need a residence certificate from immigration, so I've read.Tim *********
I can feel your absolute relief, Lee. Thailand is a wonderful country. Enjoy it
Steve ******
Well done and best wishes for your future in such a fantastic country.
Tony ********
Well done on the visa, but on a sour note, you've told the government you intend to live off rental income which means you supposed to file 2 tax returns each year if you stay 180 days or more instead of 1.you shouldn't actually owe any tax as you can credit off the tax paid in the UK as per the DTA.
Lee ***********
OP@Tony *******
yes fully aware of tax requirements over 180 days and the double tax treaty, that's if I stay longer that 179 days !Tim *********
@Lee **********
Remember it's cumulative days in the year, Lee. If you leave on day 179 of (say) 2025 and returned on 31 December, you would become tax resident the moment you enter ThailandJoseph ****
@Lee **********
Et al.Question on what exactly is triggered by the 180 days in Thailand. It's then income tax on all funds brought into Thailand during that tax year? Not any income earned regardless of location, right?
Joseph ****
@Tim ********
At this point, I'll take that! 😅Tim *********
@Joseph ***
ha ha you're just a youngster then 😉Joseph ****
I probably have close to a decade to go if I can put off claiming US Social Security for a while. I plan to continue working for the foreseeable future, anyway. But I just "retired" from teaching in Vietnam and am at a fork in the road, livelihoodwise. Working on a new project as I try to figure different things out, including tax implications. At least the US has a USD124k exclusion for her tax persons if they are domiciled abroad. I won't be seeing that much soon. 😅
Tim *********
@Joseph ***
It's worth understanding the impact. And you've probably done this for yourself already. I'm from the UK. I have state and private pensions, none are exempt from Thai tax under the DTA with Thailand. If I transferred 65k a month, the minimum required to extend my stay each year, and that happened to be my only income in the UK, I would have paid £1,060 tax in the UK. If I have no other income in Thailand, Thai income tax due would be £1,500. This is mainly due to the higher personal tax free allowance in the UK. If I brought in much more (or if the proposal to tax all global income became law in Thailand) the higher UK tax rate of 40% would mean I had already paid more than the Thai income tax due, so no more would be payable. For most people it's a storm in a teacup.Joseph ****
@Tim ********
Thank you again. I haven't made the final decision yet, and I have some work in front of me if I'm going to be able to make this work, income wise. But tax implications are exactly the things I need to know, going into this.Tim *********
@Joseph ***
But do look up your country's DTA with Thailand, to be sure of your position. For example, many countries had all pension income excluded from Thai tax. But the UK only agreed to exclude government pensions, for some odd (infuriating!) reasonJoseph ****
@Tim ********
Thank you very much. So we are to keep an eye on the proposal to tax global income, but for now just income brought into Thailand. Minus taxes already paid at home. Much obliged.👍
Lee ***********
OPAll tax items can be discussed on the appropriate tax forum here on Facebook who I'm registered with.
Lee ***********
OP@Tim ********
like I say fully awareLee ***********
OP@Tim ********
aware and not a problem fully compliantTim *********
@Joseph ***
Staying 180 days in a year means you become a tax resident in Thailand. You have to submit a tax return showing income you brought into Thailand. (A proposal not yet passed into law is that you would have to declare all income globally, even if you didn't bring it to Thailand). You assess income tax according to Thai law to determine tax payable. Then deduct tax paid in your home country to determine if any tax is due in Thailand.
Tommy ********
Renting an apartment out classifies you as a digital nomad? Jeez they really are loose on this one.
Lee ***********
OP@Tommy *******
an or more is irrelevant, the point is I'm a Freelancer, I've not claimed being a digital nomad.
Mika ********
@Lee **********
a freelancer in Thailand has a very particular meaning 😂😂😂Mika ********
@Lee **********
all the best in your career here so 😀Lee ***********
OP@Mika *******
indeedLee ***********
OP@Tommy *******
loose?
Simon *********
Well done for getting the visa. I'm guessing your employment situation didn't neatly fit into a tick box. Timescales wise, I also applied on the 10th September in London and it was approved within 24hrs, I guess I did fit nearly into their tick box.
Lee ***********
OP@Simon ********
not sure on timings, I heard anything from your 24hr to my 10 days and anywhere in between, whether my flight on the 13th Oct made any difference or what Freelancer you are, but working for yourself and generating your own income in whichever guise ticks the box of Freelancer 😃 😊
Brandon ************
Congratulations on getting the visa!
I think your story will be a common one. So many people are applying for the DTV and it was so easy to get, that they will start tightening up the requirements. We already see it happening at some of the Thai embassies/consulates in SE Asia. They used to only require a bank statement, but now they are switching to 3 and 6 months of bank statements, etc.
I think your story will be a common one. So many people are applying for the DTV and it was so easy to get, that they will start tightening up the requirements. We already see it happening at some of the Thai embassies/consulates in SE Asia. They used to only require a bank statement, but now they are switching to 3 and 6 months of bank statements, etc.
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