Answered10 months ago
What tips do expats have for applying for a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) as a self-employed spiritual coach in Thailand?
I’m a spiritual coach based in California self employed. I make a pretty consistent income but payments I receive are usually done through PayPal, sometimes through patreon. I have a community on discord but no individual website.
I meet all the requirements except I haven’t formed an LLC or a EIN. I’ve heard they consider it important so I’ll most likely go through the process making one although I’m not sure how much it will help if I apply for the DTV right after.
I’m curious if anyone in a similar line of work or situation has gotten a DTV and if so can share some tips in regards to showing proof of work.
I was thinking of doing a soft power DTV cooking class for 6 months which would be fun but if there’s going to be issues with re-entry or things like that I’ll have to reconsider
Thanks for the help
I meet all the requirements except I haven’t formed an LLC or a EIN. I’ve heard they consider it important so I’ll most likely go through the process making one although I’m not sure how much it will help if I apply for the DTV right after.
I’m curious if anyone in a similar line of work or situation has gotten a DTV and if so can share some tips in regards to showing proof of work.
I was thinking of doing a soft power DTV cooking class for 6 months which would be fun but if there’s going to be issues with re-entry or things like that I’ll have to reconsider
Thanks for the help
Answer summary
The original poster, a self-employed spiritual coach in California, seeks advice on obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) for Thailand, particularly around proving employment without an LLC or EIN. Comments provide varying experiences and insights: while some have successfully obtained a DTV without formal business registration, others stress the importance of showing proof of income, such as invoices and tax returns. Some suggest applying through a U.S. embassy for better understanding of freelance business practices, while advice regarding the viability of a cooking class as a soft power option is mixed. Concerns about re-entry issues are addressed, with reassurance from those who successfully navigated the process.
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Daniel **********
All the spiritual coaches go to Bali, not Thailand
Shandy ********
I'd recommend applying for a U.S. embassy, rather than the ones in SE Asia because the U.S. embassy would be more familiar with business practices. For example, I've heard of the foreign embassies requesting business registration for freelancers, which is a common requirement in foreign countries but not in the U.S. Also, hope you have your tax returns up-to-date, in case they request this. If you do want to apply abroad, you might want to search for American freelancers who've been successful there without LLCs, but this would be a very specific case, so it may be hard to find precedents.
Dany ********
and a „spiritual coach“ works 100% remotely?
Anonymous ******************
Go soft power... But I have seen a lot of people getting a harder time on cooking classes.. just choose a good school
Mercy *********
my work is online and self employed, no LLC or anything. I created a thorough portfolio and got accepted in Hanoi within 5 days, with no extra docs requested. search my name in this group for the post I made about what all I included in the application.
Khun ******
Apply soft power a DTV is a DTV.
Arun ***************
You are right that under the Workcation category, applications without a registered company definitely get rejected more often. We can assume the approving officers already have to vet through a good amount of dodgy applicants related to grey activities, so they would likely want to play it safe.
Of course, being a cooking program provider, we have an interest in this, but to answer your question, we have not encountered any of our students that faced issues with re-entry.
Happy to share that we've had over 350 successful students who obtained their DTV visa through our cooking programs, so we're quite familiar with the process. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions :)
Of course, being a cooking program provider, we have an interest in this, but to answer your question, we have not encountered any of our students that faced issues with re-entry.
Happy to share that we've had over 350 successful students who obtained their DTV visa through our cooking programs, so we're quite familiar with the process. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions :)
Anonymous ******************
@Arun **************
Your company doesn't have to be registered. Sole proprietors are fine.Stop misleading people who fit under workcation fine because you want to advertise on here.
I wish they would ban people doing this.
John **********
If you can show invoices and corresponding income then you can supply that along with a written description of your work, queries online etc. Even better if you can show tax returns. If you intend to continue working remotely from inside Thailand then you need to use the workation option. Soft Power doesn't provide permission to do so.
John **********
@Khun *****
sure but not all DTVs allow you to workKhun ******
That's your opinion and not a fact. Luckily you're just a bored pensioner and not an Immigration Officer 😆
John **********
@Khun *****
here is the relevant text from the official publication in the Royal Gazette:(1) Foreigners who wish to reside in Thailand for tourism and remote work include foreigners who wish to travel to Thailand for long-term tourism, foreigners who wish to travel to Thailand for remote work, such as highly skilled groups, self-employed groups, remote work groups, or foreigners who wish to reside in Thailand for other activities such as learning Muay Thai and martial arts, learning to cook, learning and practicing sports, medical treatment, training, seminars, art and music performances."
John **********
Pay particular attention to OR
John **********
@Khun *****
interesting that you chose to omit the bit where it says you can apply for one reason OR the otherJohn **********
@Khun *****
there is. Soft power, workation and familyKhun ******
@John *********
If you had a DTV you'd know Immigration don't want anything to do with it. Maybe if they did then there would be 3 separate DTVs. And not just one.John **********
@Khun *****
really? Try going to immigration and trying to extend a DTV issued for one purpose for a totally different purpose and see how you get on.Khun ******
@John *********
Maybe your DTV knowledge will improve when you've actually applied for one John. And then entered at Immigration.John **********
@Khun *****
no my friend. OR doesn't mean you can pick and choose at some point in the future as you wish. It means you apply for ONE purpose and your DTV gets issued for THAT purposeKhun ******
@John *********
Yep, just like I said a DTV is a DTV.Pete *******
@John *********
nope, zero evidence that soft power does not allow remote work.Khun ******
@Pete ******
He's getting confused with Non O visas which have have clear categories. And is unaware that the DTV is a simple tourist visa.Khun ******
Anonymous participant 867 Correct ✅
John **********
Anonymous participant 867 just like it's not written for any visa other than those specifically created to allow remote work, the DTV Workation option and the LTR Remote Worker Option. Why on earth do you think they created these options?
Anonymous ******************
@John *********
There isn’t a specific written law from Thai Immigration or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly stating, “Remote work is allowed under Soft Power DTV.” However:• Visa guides and community discussions note that you can continue remote work while on a Soft Power DTV — as long as the work is for foreign clients and your income is earned outside Thailand.
Khun ******
@Pete ******
He's also a pensioner so his mind isn't that sharp anymore.John **********
@Khun *****
while the DTV is classed as a tourist visa it certainly isn't a "simple" tourist visa. It's a *special* tourist visa that allows you to apply via 2 routes, workation or soft power. It doesn't allow you to apply via 1 route and do something elsePete *******
@Khun *****
no, he certainly knows the difference but chooses a position that as far as I am aware is not supported by evidence.Khun ******
Anonymous participant You should know that John Stanners doesn't have a DTV. Which means he has no application experience and entering on a DTV experience.
Khun ******
@John *********
Stop spreading your misinformation on my posts. I'm having to delete it.
Bob **********
Soft Power doesn’t require proof of work
John **********
@Bob *********
but it does mean you can't legally workPete *******
@John *********
nope, zero evidence of that.Khun ******
@Bob *********
You missed an r Bob you must be grade 1 or drunk already.Bob **********
@Khun *****
I can see you Intellect has stayed at grade 2 levelKhun ******
@Bob *********
Stick to the Pattaya ladyboys Bob and leave the visa advice to the experts.Bob **********
@Pete ******
Your incorrect if that were the case they wouldn’t have categories everyone would be on the same categoryPete *******
@Bob *********
in your opinion, nowhere in any official statement does it state that a soft power DTV holder cannot work remotely….Khun ******
@Bob *********
Wrong. That is not stated anywhere official.Bob **********
@Pete ******
they are different categories you cannot work on a soft power DTV you haven’t submitted any documents showing what it is you doJohn **********
@Pete ******
please show me anywhere official that says a DTV issued for one purpose also includes permission to use it for a distinctly different purpose. It's very clear that you apply for the DTV for a given purpose and it gets issued for that purpose.Pete *******
@John *********
Once a DTV is granted it enables the holder to legally work remotely, there is nothing that prevents a soft power applicant from doing so, if there is please demonstrate it with factual evidence and not opinion.John **********
@Pete ******
when you apply for a DTV you apply for a purpose and the DTV is issued based on that purpose. Why do you think you can apply for either soft power OR workation and its not just a simple application that covers everythingPete *******
@John *********
it does not say you cannot work remotely on a DTV issued via a soft power category. You are projecting your opinion and interpretation and not facts. You are implying that workcation only allows remote work. That is without evidence. There is nothing that prevents a soft power application from also working remotely.John **********
@Pete ******
it clearly says that you can apply for a DTV for either soft power OR workation. You can't apply for both and the visa is issued for the purpose you apply forPete *******
@John *********
reference anywhere in the Royal Degree that soft power applications are prevented from remote work….John **********
@Pete ******
you mean other than the official announcement of the DTV published in the Royal Gazette?Pete *******
@John *********
correct but there is no evidence that someone applying via the soft power route cannot also work remotely.John **********
@Pete ******
you apply for the visa based on the route you choose, either soft power or workation and the visa is issued for the purpose you apply
Andi ***********
Some online therapists/counsellors have been approved for the DTV. Kind of similar?? The threads should have a few posts. You work remotely anyway so you meet the Workcation DTV criteria. Many are approved without an LLC, its' importance may depend on where you apply. Submission of tax returns helps overcome lack of LLC status.
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