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What visa options are available for a family of digital nomads moving to Chiang Mai, and are there better alternatives than Iglu for starting a business?

Sep 18, 2017
9 years ago
Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
We are a family of digital nomads trying to move to Chiang Mai for a long term stay.

Have been studying different options - Retirement visa for my Dad or Education visa for me and then 'O' visa for all the rest.

Also exploring Iglu - both as service provider as well as for starting up new projects - but 30% haircut seems a bit on the higher side - not to mention their conditions to join - they need a college degree and we have all been home-schooled - I have a certificate from FreeCodeCamp - hope they will accept that.

Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated :)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A family of digital nomads is looking to relocate to Chiang Mai and exploring various visa options including a Retirement visa for the father, an Education visa for the poster, and a Non-O visa for the rest of the family. They are also considering using a service provider named Iglu to help start a business but are concerned about their high fees and restrictive conditions for joining. Other users in the comments discuss the limitations of the proposed visas regarding work, alternative visa options, and perspectives on Iglu's business model.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement 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.
MasterMeals *********
make sure you get pre approved for Vietnam before you come...

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MasterMeals *********
My bad wrong link
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Terary **********
That website is owned by a company in Colorado -- Unless Vietnam has moved --- it's not a the Vietnamese government website. Further, I just went through that process and I am pretty the government will not assist in getting the letter, you have to pay some agency. .... It's spam
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MasterMeals *********
@Terary *********
its the vietnam gov website, not an agency... so if you think it's spam...you need to find a hobby
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Terary **********
Is this spam?
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Jeremy ********
I think that's just for some countries like the USA
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Jeremy ********
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Ron *******
I wonder if you can share a visa like you can a beer?....Just saying.
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Terary **********
Iglus 30% seemed high to me as well.. If I understand correctly they also want the money to flow through them. In effect your clients become their clients. And the money relationship becomes between client and Iglu, I think asking a little too much. I just skip over the boarder every 90 days. I looked into other options and found it to be one of the better ones.. Who doesn't like to go to Bali 3 weeks? Vietnam was great. If you have the money look into the Elite visa. Getting married isn't difficult (you'll have to marry a thai), but that is costly and then also you'll be married. I think other 'options' meaning BS-ing the system are unwise.. Its not worth the headache
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Terary **********
I do have visa.. .Tourist visa -- good for 60days + 30 more days with extension. Many people do that, skip over the border for a couple of days then come back with new visa, 60 + 30 days.. I choose to leave the country for 3 or 4 weeks after 90 days and come back.. 3 months out of the country 9 months in (non consecutive) -- makes me a bonafide tourist
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David **********
If you don't have a visa then how do you stay 90 days?
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David **********
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Tobias ******
Iglus 30% can be capped to equate to only 600 USD per month by using an offshore entity. It includes health insurance and taxes, but still isn't cheap.
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Robert ********
Under the Thailand Elite program, you receive many more benefits than a tourist visa, but a work permit is not part of the deal.
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Ivan ************
@Tob***
@Rob***
Thailand Elite doesn't allow working though, Iglu does, they employ you and get you a work permit. With Elite you are basically on the same terms as a tourist visa, you just don't have to do the dance. They are two very different things.
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Robert ********
As a member of Thailand Elite, you can remain in Thailand for the long term, yet never have to leave the country to extend your stay.
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Tobias ******
No. It's a visa for people with big wallets. You have to pay a hefty sum and get a multiple entry visa valid for 5 or 10 years
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is that an Iglu competitor?
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tobias *****
Thailand Elite?
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Tobias ******
It is still more expensive than Thailand elite
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Tobias ******
also accesses to coworking spaces in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
didn't know that - that still is far too much
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Nickunj ********
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Jeremy ********
All those visa you are not allowed to work in Thailand on
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Jeremy ********
I've only been in hcmc but I heard Hanoi is nice
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
Which city would you recommend in Vietnam that is tranquil and peaceful with high speed internet and good food?
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Jeremy ********
Good luck
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
thanx a lot for your valuable inputs - much appreciated :)
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Jeremy ********
Vietnam has fast internet, free wifi everywhere in Ho Chi Minh, cheap living, and visas are super easy to obtain
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
next option would be Vietnam - as I said we are NOT back packers - so we no worries :)

We will just have shell out some more money for air tickets - no problem about that :)
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Jeremy ********
@Jordan *******
looking into and traveling are 2 separate things
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Jordan ********
Okay good luck 🙂
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jordan *******
no worries - we are coming for 14 days to explore if we like the place
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Jordan ********
@Jeremy *******
Indians cannot
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Jeremy ********
Look into 🇱🇦, 🇰🇭, and 🇻🇳 while you're in 🇹🇭
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Jordan ********
Nickunj Chopra I would not advice as you can not extend your tourist visa and no consulate will accept Indian passports.
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jordan *******
we have a 14 day visa on arrival - the whole family travelling early next month - booking made - we will come and explore the best possibitliy
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Jordan ********
So no consulate you can make the second tourist visa only your own country.
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Jordan ********
Your not good. Indians can only apply from a consulate in their own country
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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Jordan ********
Then your good
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Jeremy ********
USA
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Jordan ********
Where are you from though?
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Jeremy ********
In the modern digital era the lines between work and holiday are becoming more and more skewed everyday....
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jordan *******
best advice thus far - thank you so much :)
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Jordan ********
So you want a tourist visa, only way you can do it bud 2 tourist visa equals 180days then move on.
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Robert *******
Where is the word working is the definition of vacation: an extended period of recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling.
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
backpackers have all their belongings on their backs - we have our home and cars and stuff - :D
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jordan *******
we are no back packers - just visiting different countries with extended vacations :)
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jordan *******
I'm on my desktop with messenger window maximized - so didn't remember the name - :D
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Jordan ********
Backpackers love to spoil such a beautiful country
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Jeremy ********
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jordan *******
hahahahaha
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Robert *******
If you're on VACATION your are not working. Those words do not match.
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Jordan ********
It's the title of this Facebook group lol
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Jordan Harris is that a FB group or a website url?
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Jordan ********
ไม่ใช่ประเทศปารีส
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Jordan ********
*thai visa advice*
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
On a side note - every tourist with a laptop is working illegally - even if they are working for their parent company in their countries - how is that a logical explanation? We have our legit businesses registered in our home country - and we were on a long vacation working for ourselves - can it still be deemed to be illegal?
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
other option that's popping up is Bali - any thoughts about that?
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
that sounds enticing - thanx :)
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Jeremy ********
Look into Vietnam 1 year business visas run $450 and you are not illegal in working
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Robert *******
Most of them illegally. But that is not what we advice. Why, well just because the fines are high. Between 10.000 and 100.000 Thb and/or maximum 5 years in jail, if also a Visa Prohibited Working a deportation on your own cost to your home country.
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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Jeremy ********
Illegally most likely...
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
so how does other DN work in Chiang Mai?
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Nickunj ********
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Mark *******
Suggest you join the Chiang Mai Digital Nomads FB group.
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Mark *******
PM sent
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Mark *******
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Robert *******
So you have 2 options, for those who want to work need a Non Immigrant O visa base on marriage with a Thai National, or a Non Immigrant B visa. You can set up a company of which 51% must be Thai share holders and max 49 % foreigners, for each work permit you need 2 million bank guarantee and 4 Thai staff. For the rest, if they younger than 20 than can ask for Non O immigrant Visa depending on dad or their husband/wife visa as dependent.
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you :)
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Nickunj ********
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Robert *******
Based on which law is that? For working in Thailand you need a Work Permit,
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
sorry - i guess I was wrong about the work permit
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Nickunj ********
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Robert *******
If dad is over 50, he can apply or a Non Immigrant O visa based on retirement, if you go to school you can apply with help from the school for an Education Visa for all the rest depends if they all meet the requirements. Without info hard to give advice.
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
got it :)
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Robert *******
This is the definition of a Nomad: "a member of a people having no permanent abode, and who travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock." . That your livestock is inside a laptop does not change the law in Thailand.
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Nickunj ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you
@Robert ******
for your prompt response.

Dad will be 50 in March next year - have been in touch with a Muay Thai institute.

But trying to find a cheaper and better solution, which doesn't involve visa runs or immigration office runs - perhaps starting a business - anyways we don't need a work permit - as we are digital nomads :)
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Nickunj ********
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