What visa options are available for Australians moving to Thailand who don't qualify for a digital nomad visa?

Apr 12, 2023
2 years ago
Jay **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys, just after a little advice or steering in the right direction. The wife and I are thinking of moving to Thailand for a bit of a lifestyle change. We are Aussie, not retirement age, we have master's degrees but do not work for stock exchanged companies so we do not qualify for the digital nomad visa option per se. I recently started a business in Thailand with a Thai mate out of Phuket, it's still early days and has just started taking off, so I was looking at what visa we or others similar to our situation would fall under. Thanks in advance and any advice is much appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An Australian couple is considering moving to Thailand and seeks advice on visa options since they do not qualify for a digital nomad visa. Various suggestions surfaced, including applying for a Non B visa to get a work permit, an Ed visa for studying, or exploring the Thai Elite Visa which has no age requirements. There were discussions on the high requirements for the ‘Work From Thailand’ visa and frustrations about the challenges faced by expats due to strict employer requirements. Additional commentary on cultural references to spouses highlighted different perspectives on expressions used in the expat community.
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Umami *********
This one rather new phenomena to TH
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Michael *******
Jay **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Cheers everyone for the many answers, it's given the wife 🤣 and I some great places to start and go from there. Always appreciated and if I offended anyone with my Aussie reference of my better half, sorry about that, it's just a pet term we use in Australia for our spouses.
Kerry ***********
@Jay *********
Farkin stupid is all I've got to say. Imagine living with the thing! haha
Elly *******
@Jay *********
so many people got their knickers in a knot about you mentioning the wife! It is a very ozzy thing to say, being an aussie myself.
Tony *******
Invest $1 with a "friend's business" to try to scam the system. Shameful
Anthony *********
Pretty sure a non B business visa is the way to go, or you could ditch the Mrs and and marry a hot Thai chick as that's a much easier and less stressful visa to have 🤣
Paul *******
@Anthony ********
Yes his story is unusual. He has an Aussie wife but is investing in a business with a Thai friend. Hmm.
Alistair ********
Mark ********
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This will list the visa options you are eligible for based on a few inputs.

Depending on your Thai company, a Non-B would be best legal option.

But you will need up to 4 Thai staff and 2M THB registered capital per work permit needed, if your friend is here and working too then will need double that.

If you get a valid long stay visa then your wife can follow as a dependant, no need for her to have a work permit, unless also working here.

Other option is Elite visa since it doesn't sound like you qualify for the LTR visas.
Jeremy ********
just buy the elite visa then trade on the Aussie Stock exchange or other and make money on trading options/day trading/swing trading/etc....use your degree in finance to your benefit
Jo **********
Giorgio ******
I'm always so shocked when guys talk about : THE wife !!!

in civilised cultures and languages we talk about the dog , the house , the flower the tree . .

I myself respect and love MY wife too much , to mention her as "THE wife"
Paul *******
@Alistair *********
Thais have mask issues. You think putting a mask on a 4 month old baby is normal? It's a symptom of mental illness.
Alistair **********
@Paul ******
I've worn a mask once in the last 3 months, it literally has no effect on my life, I give it no thought at all each day. I DON'T CARE.

You seem to be obsessed, maybe you can find someone to talk to about it who cares. But it isn't me.
Giorgio ******
@Alistair *********
the guy is obsessed by himself his own me myself I

I like you have been wearing

a mask ,recently , as in previous years when pollution was so bad .it didn't bothered me . the pollution did !
Paul *******
@Giorgio *****
I'm not judging the Akha culture you live in, but concepts of "trees", "land" , "dogs" etc being equivalent to a wife are not shared by more sophisticated and modern cultures, including the mainstream Thai culture, any western culture or Chinese, Japanese cultures.

What you describe is more similar to indigenous cultures such as the Australian Aborigines and Canadian/American Indians.
Thomas *********
@Giorgio *****
I think "the" is "the" word. "The" is a definite article so "the" can do what "the" other lesser than "the" words cannot achieve in "the" same way.
Albert *******
@Giorgio *****
its generally a term used when men talk to each other about their wives . Quite popular and harmless in the USA and you’d never really say it in front of other women. Usually with men who want to sound a bit cool and relaxed . Hey at least he’s INCLUDING her in his plans and post . Some men don’t even do that
Elly *******
@Giorgio *****
"The wife" is simply a cultural expression that many Australians use. It is completely normal to Australians to speak like this. Just as you have seen strange or heard strange things from your time in Thailand and Asia. Whether a country is "civilizsed" or not - each country and the people who come from there will continue to shock people who are not from this place.
Jody *******
@Giorgio *****
Is your wife & he or a she or a they/them?
Giorgio ******
@Jody ******
if such a question comes to your mind , you certainly are directly concerned . a psychiatrist might be useful to solve your deep problem
Jody *******
@Giorgio *****
Speak for yourself...
David *********
In absolutes , it's a tiny slip ..

" My wife and I " maybe would be better ..

But certainly NOT " Me and my wife " , extremely poor grammar . The OP is from Australia , and there are many who would express as he has , it's use of the word " The " .

The Australian expression that annoys me far more is.." I stopped for a feed " , plus of course the cringe worthy chant , but none of that relates to this example .
Ruth *******
@Giorgio *****
you’re absolutely right and thank you. The way in which the men in this group speak about women (see Anthony’s comment below) as if they are simply an accessory is disgusting. No, this is not a “cultural norm” for a given country. It’s misogyny and it sadly exists in every country amongst a limited group of individuals. Unfortunately, it seems, many of them are expats.
Thomas *********
@Ruth ******
dem sheilas is ok
Albert *******
@Ruth ******
you’re right , and I never called her, “the wife”. Instead I referred to her as “ATM”. Always taking my money ! And it was funny …
Anthony *********
@Ruth ******
what are you doing out the kitchen love, haven't you got washing to do and sandwiches to make 😅
Andy *******
@Ruth ******
lol .. simplistic and narrow way of looking at it .. the OP was not misogynistic, it was asking a question and framing it in a way that is different to yours, but now you find it easy to label others ... I think maybe the hot weather makes people jump too quickly to conclusions and judgement without evidence, but hey.. it's Facebook and everyone has an opinion .. my view on Australian cultural norms is very different to yours, but hey, I only lived there, what would I know 🤣😂🤣
Giorgio ******
@Ruth ******
thanks so much to appreciate my comment . anybody can choose the words he uses . and the choice of words shows who you really are ! and in this case who chooses

" me and THE wife " instead of

MY sweetheart , or my darling and me or more simple for gross people :me and my wife just shows who they are and , trying to hide behind a local culture and pretend whatever , is just take the reader for an idiot who've never been anywhere . it happens that people in this group have been around for a few decades , and know the difference between a rag and a towel .....

and yes I've seen the comment of this disgusting Anthony , makes you feel like throwing up ..
Thomas *********
@Giorgio *****
there are so many medications to relieve nausea
Frank **********
@Giorgio *****
oh please, get over it. You sound like one of those Snowflake liberals.
Ruth *******
@Giorgio *****
I actually don't even mind "my wife" as it sounds like a pairing. "The wife" is distancing and very much sounds like an accessory. You hear women refer to "my husband". You never hear a woman say "the husband". The difference should be a signal as to the meaning behind the words.
Andy *******
@Ruth ******
lol.. my wife .. then would be seen as controlling a possession, the wife is different in that it signifies the most important person, not a possession, it is someone of shared power ... But again ....cultural differences 😋😅
Ruth *******
@Andy ******
Does your wife ever call you "the husband"? People do say "the dog", as Giorgio points out. Enough said.
Andy *******
@Ruth ******
cultural differences through different lenses, but you both keep your little group think on what you perceive as right or wrong ...people also say the mother in law, and the doctor, and the police.. is that somehow disrespectful.. enough said 🤣😂🤣
Ruth *******
@Andy ******
referencing "the doctor" or "the police" is not referring to a particular person. I've never heard someone say "the mother-in-law", but I'm curious to know if one also says "the father-in-law", since you've chosen to give that example :-).
Jody *******
You can make a small fortune in Thailand if you start with a big one...

"Investing with a friend"... yikes... sounds like the beginning of another sad ending of which Thailand is famous for...

Good luck..!
Jody *******
@Ruth ******
Have you actually got a husband though?

I pity him, if so...
Andy *******
@Ruth ******
yes, the mother in law, the father in law, the brother in law, the sister in law.. treating people as significant without stating they are possessions or beholden to you .. non possessive and respectful .. thanks for asking "the question" .. at any point have you answered the OP posts question, or do you just like the intellectual debate about the phrasing of part of his question that you don't like when looking through your cultural lense.. I actually have contributed to answering his question whilst also listening to your view on how the world should fit in with your feelings on the words "my" and "the" ... Can you follow your own words now and "...Enough said". Or would you like to continue to educate me into your group think concerning Australian culture and how you find it lacking ... Maybe send further replies to the Australian Embassy so you can address your concerns straight to the Australian Government to address this cultural issue nationwide ... Go to the root of the problem ... I am sure your view will be appreciated in helping address the Australian misogynistic cultural norms ... Good luck with that 😁👍😊
Andy *******
@Giorgio *****
yet you fail too understand the cultural norms of others countries that can use references that may seem disrespectful to your ways but be perfectly acceptable to theirs ...
Giorgio ******
@Andy ******
sorry people who've been around for decades know the cultural norms in different countries

it would be very interesting to know in which country or area it is a cultural norm to name , wife ,ladies , girlfriends with the same words that are used for animal, plants and objects .

so ladies can be aware also
Alistair **********
@Giorgio *****
Thailand has both formal and informal words for like สามี and ผัว.​
Giorgio ******
@Alistair *********
every culture has formal and informal . grown up culture elegant culture use the formal way when writing .

the " we don'y give a s*** " culture use anyway , it shows the inelegance of their culture . and some people brag about it , and carry their vulgarity as a trophy . I don't
Alistair **********
@Giorgio *****
that's not accurate in any sense. The language people use is determined by the environment they're in. Facebook is not the "elegant" environment you seem to think it is...

"Grown up culture" is understanding cultural and socio-economic differences as well as the environment you are in. You are not better than someone else because they don't act the way you do.
Alistair **********
@Giorgio *****
you're way to hung up on choice of words. As someone who's presumably spent time living in Thailand, you'd be well aware of cultural differences. Plenty of things you'd do back in the west that are consider extremely rude and disrespectful here. Same way two people can have different ideas of what is and isn't disrespectful.

As a note, yes people do refer to "the husband" or "the kid".
Paul *******
@Alistair *********
And vice versa. Imagine if a family of Germans masked their babies even now, nearly a year after the end of the "pandemic" restrictions, every German granny would say something and accuse the parents of being insane and abusing their children. In Thailand, it's considered "normal" even though it's technically child abuse.
Alistair **********
@Paul ******
I don't care at all about your mask issues. Maybe consider seeing a therapist?
Andy *******
@Giorgio *****
lol .. try Australia where the OP came from, calling someone "the wife" has more significance than calling "the dog" or "the plants" .. again, you fail to understand cultural differences and keep trying to frame it in your own cultural perspective ... Celebrate difference in culture rather than trying to put down those that don't fit your world view ... it's a big part of being in Thailand to be able to understand and learn to respect differences 😅😅
Giorgio ******
@Andy ******
an australian man married one of my daughter , I can assure you he never called her THE wife . I'm happy he knew the meaning of words and never hided behind a so called cultural norm , because the norm in his culture is to use the word for what they mean ,

but I understand some individual cultural norm might be " I'm gross " some people will prefer to be subtil and delicate even when Australian
Thomas *********
@Giorgio *****
did you ever play "the" game called hide and seek?
Andy *******
@Giorgio *****
also, in what way have you actually tried to be helpful and answer the questions from the OP .. all I see is your rant about how you respect and love your wife too much to use the word "the" ... Yet you have no problem to put down a person who asks a simple question rather than stretching your delicate sensibilities to try and accept any possible cultural differences and be helpful ... Of course you just couldn't be wrong because as you say, you love and respect your wife too much .... Strange you have to make that sort of statement, it's like you need to prove it to her for some reason ... Me thinks thou doth protest too much .. 🤣😂🤣 ..
Andy *******
@Giorgio *****
you mean he never called her "the wife" to your knowledge .. but he might have used many cultural norms for your gross delicate self, such as blowhard, whinger, the old man, and the big bastard ... All of which have meanings you just won't understand, but it's ok that "your gross", I think your grouse, 😋😊👍👍
Bob **********
If you can get a multiple entry tourist visa you can stretch it to 9 months with border bounces
Andy *******
@Bob *********
I did it that way for a few years until I hit 50 during the covid lockdowns, then went retirement visa option. .. the multiple entry tourist visa option worked really well
Andy *******
I got 2 from embassies in my home country .. the last 2 I got 1 from Laos and 1 from Cambodia
Bob **********
@Andy ******
I don’t think there old enough for the non-o
Andy *******
@Bob *********
yes, I understand but the multi entry tourist visas can pad out a few years....
Jay **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy ******
sorry i am confused, if i understand it correctly, the normal visa is 90 days, how are you able to extend it out to 9 months and how many times can you do this? sorry to be a pain and ignorant, trying to get my head around the many ambiguous terms on the sites

EDITED: I have just read it was the STV extension but that has been discontinued.
Andy *******
@Jay *********
6 months multiple entry tourist visa, on that visa you have to leave Thailand every 60 or 90 days and you get another 60 or 90 days of valid stay up on returning before your visa expires (dependant on which country your passport comes from) ... I am from Australia so I had to leave every 60 days but got 60 days stay up on re-entry. The trick is to time your last leaving of Thailand to return just before your visa expires. I would return the day before the visa expires and it would then give me and extra 60 days even after the visa expires. This effectively turns a 6 month Visa into an 8 month Visa. I think other select countries can do the same but on the 90 day cycle, effectively turning a 6 month Visa into a 9 month Visa. At the end of the last stamp you need to leave Thailand again .... I was returning to Australia and would apply for a new multiple entry tourist visa and start process again .. when I no longer returned to Australia I went to Laos and then to cambodia and obtained similar Visa's that way. I hope that makes sense about multiple entry tourist visa's ..
Jay **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy ******
thanks mate
Alistair **********
@Jay *********
a METV is probably the best option. You also get 2 land border bounces per yesr. So you could stay here for a year with that method to give it a trial run. If you like it here and want to stay longer after that then the elite visa is an option or if you could get a work visa through your Thai company your wife could piggyback off your visa as a dependent.
Kenny *******
@Andy ******
you have to get from your home country right?
Deanna *******
Yes. The comment above is correct. If you work for a private company overseas, you must provide a financial statement from the company, which will most likely not happen. That's where we got stuck. A private Western company is not going to provide their financials for an employee.
Paul *******
@Deanna ******
Exactly. What's Thailand thinking with such absurd requirements. It's like a polite way of being able to deny the vast majority of applicants
Michael *******
For the ‘Work From Thailand’ visa, there is not a requirement to work for a public company, just that audited financials for the last three years show a total revenue to be at least $150 million USD - yes still quite a high bar.
Paul *******
@Michael ******
Thats an insanely high bar. Hardly anyone will meet that requirement and any companies like that won't be allowing their employees to work remotely.
Michael *******
@Paul ******
yes, they are probably after expats with tech skills that are being paid relatively well and working for well established companies - given these are multi year visa, they want to ensure stability in work and income for these candidates.
Paul *******
@Michael ******
I even know a tech worker who was reluctantly given permission to work in Thailand by his employer (he's from the US). 9 months later the company revokes his remote working privileges and he had to return to the USA to continue working (for now) without his family. He says he'll try to find another job and return to Thailand soon, but I think it won't be easy. He has a good income with that job and would theoretically meet the LTR visa requirements. However, he's on a supporting a Thai child visa instead,which is a lot easier.
Paul *******
@Michael ******
Yes but my point is, few such companies will allow their employees to work remotely from Thailand. What's in it for them? Besides, most employers back home (in western countries) seem to have a fairly dim view of Thailand in general. Lots of stereotypes associated with a stay in the country. Thailand needs to have more realistic requirements.

If you want to work in Thailand "properly" and on a high salary, try to get hired by a BOI registered company. That gives you at least a 2 year extension and work permit at a time.
David ********
Look at Thai Elite Visa - no age requirement but you may not be able to work in Thailand with it.
Kool *******
With master's degrees you can always teach. Quite a few people find that very rewarding.
Thomas *******
@Kool ******
, normal teachers wage is under 30,000baht a month.

My friend is a international sports teacher past 2 years in Phuket, he gets 120,000bsht per month,....he's got a fantastic life.

Go for it if you're qualified.
Bob **********
@Kool ******
unless your teaching at a high priced international school the wages aren’t worth it
Gabriel ********
@Bob *********
why do you say that?
Bob **********
@Gabriel *******
because it’s true I couldn’t live on a basic teachers wages
Kool *******
@Bob *********
you are missing one little detail concerning this couple. It is very easy to make it in Thailand when you both teach.
Bob **********
@Kool ******
I guess it depends on what a person vision of easy is,isn’t it?
Kool *******
@Bob *********
yeah, some people, actually many people, live outside their means. For them they never make enough, no matter how much they make. Others are happy just having the necessities, and saving the rest.
Gabriel ********
@Bob *********
international school teachers make 90k thb and up, it’s not great but hardly poverty wages
Gabriel ********
@Bob *********
my bad, I misread what you wrote…I agree w you, anything besides international school is for the birds
Stuart *********
Depending on the company set up and how many employees it has you may be able to apply for a Non B visa which would enable you to apply for a work permit. Once you had that your wife could “piggyback” off of yours.

If that’s not feasible then few options available for under 50s. Short term a Ed visa for studying a language or Muay Thai may work for a while.
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