Hello All..

Today I got my DTV (digital nomad) visa approved, and just wanted to share a few “takeaways” with this group.

First thanks to all the contributors on this topic over the last few months – from the many posts, I pieced together how to approach the visa application process.

Brief background: I reside in Ireland (Irish resident & passport); I have a small, limited company of which I am the sole director / shareholder & employee. I provide IT services to SME’s but always remotely (rarely on client site). I have a modest but active website.

Some lessons learnt: From the posts on this group, I was ready to (and actually HAD) prepare a document with lots and lots of documentation (client contracts / screen shots of code / invoices paid, etc..). BUT – you can only upload one document (PDF / JPG) for each “section” required. And the limit is 3MB. I prepared the document in MS Word, then saved as PDF. When it came time to actually upload, I had to edit the document twice to remove vast sections of the document to eventually trim it down to less than 3MB. In the end, I submitted the following (under the “Employment” requirements) in this order (all in the one PDF):

1. A letter addressed to the Royal Thai Embassy (as was requested). This was printed on Company Letterhead, printed and signed by me as Managing Director. In the letter I stated that Mr {my name} was the sole shareholder, director and employee of {Company Name}; that the Company was engaged in the delivery of digital services and that Mr. {my name} was required to work remotely. It was spread across a few paragraphs but that is the essence of the letter. I then signed it myself as the Managing Director and scanned it. Yes – it was a strange experience referring to myself as a 3rd party.

2. The rest of the document was as follows:

- Certificate of Incorporation

- Company Corporation tax summary page (23/24)

- Company P&L Screen shot (from online accounting software)

- Payslip for me for July 24

- Company Bank Account screen shot.

- Company Website screen shots and website address.

Needless to say, I am delighted to have this visa. I am travelling in October and had initially planned to do the TV with extension, and maybe leave mid January. Now I might stay until March - not sure, but I love having the flexibility.

The reason that I went down the DTV route is that, from reading “between the lines” in this group, I am not convinced that the DTV (in its current form) is set in stone – I suspect (just an opinion) that over the next 6-12 months it might get tightened up somewhat. So I felt it best to get on board while I can.

Thanks again – I will answer any reasonable questions that I am able to.

Hi everyone. I have non-immigrant ED Visa for study purpose and will expire on 8th Sept. Actually my study period will end on 31st August in Songkla Province but from 1st September I’ll move to BKK to start another study period. Since I’ll move from one province to another to continue my studies, how can I extend my ED Visa? Has anyone had this experience?

Hello. I’m almost 59. I’d like to test retirement in Thailand. The only way is to commit to 1 year and then make a decision. Is a retirement visa the only way to live in Thailand for a year?

I hope this can be answered in simple terms. I am moving to Thailand in a few months. A friend is coming with me for 29 days. She will fly back home then. I want to stay in Bangkok a few days them go to Hua Hin, and get an agent. I will open a bank acct. and deposit $26,000.00. I will look for a condo, with sea view that allows one domestic cat with in my budget. I plan on coming on a non-o visa. My friend will only have her passport . Is that expectable if she has a return ticket for 29 day back to USA?

I'll apply for some kind of retirement visa for October 2024 so I need to know how many MONTHS of statements I have to show the required monthly income/combined with pension in my US bank account because I'm starting a new online business venture and it will take a while to build up.

And I have read so many sites, including government ones, that are vague or contradict each other about whether it's JUST the monthly income that would suffice or if depositing $20,000ish USD is required ALSO?

So essentially is it AND or OR?

I'm really not interested in putting that much in a Thai bank when I have my business in the US and pay all my bills through my US Bank and I've heard many times it's a real hassle to even open an account before you have the visa, so it's a catch 22.

Apparently there are new tax laws too which I'm also confused reading. I have a small social security and some $ from my online counseling business which already gets taxed by California State and Federal so I definitely don't want to pay another country too when I'm already financially challenged for many reasons (no insults or preaching about that please).

Many countries change rules quickly, so I'm checking for 2024. And the majority of countries are making it increasingly harder to retire there. I've lived in Mexico and other countries and Mexico's income requirements are insanely high now!!

Any site links that are extremely clear and reliable would be helpful too, so I can stay updated. Thanks much.

Just wanting to clarify - am on a 60 day Tourist visa which lasts till 16th January - living in Rawai currently - can I go to my local immigration office to get 30day extension? Or do I have to go to Bangkok? And - when's best time to do it before my tourist visa time frame expires? And ( excuse the list) do I need to take a tm30 from my landlord?

Hi guys, I'm from Malaysia, above 50 and upon further consideration, I have decided to apply for the non-OA immigrant visa.

After downloading the visa application form online, I made sure I got all the relevant documents prepared. They are as follows:

1. Completed application form (downloaded from the embassy website);

2. Original passport plus copy of the photo page (my passport will only expire in 2026, so no issues there);

3. Documentary evidence I'm a permanent resident in my country. In my case, I showed them my house title (plus copy);

4. Certificate of good conduct applied and issued by my country's foreign ministry;

5. Bank statements certified by my home bank branch that I have at least 800,000 baht in my account;

6. Got my family doctor to examine me and certified I'm free from the 5 diseases stated in the form. ie. leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, 3rd stage syphilis and drug addiction;

7. I have a life and medical insurance policy in my home country which is more than the required 400,000 baht minimum. I got the insurance company to fill out the form which I downloaded online and got the manager to sign it; and

8. Passport sized photo with white background not less than 6 months old

I went online to book my appointment 2 weeks ago and I got scheduled yesterday at 11.30am. Arrived and submitted all my documents. The officer asked me why didn't I show proof of monthly income of 65000 baht? I told her I'm already retired, hence do not have this. I said the amount in the bank statements showed more than 800,000 baht which should be sufficient. She went to check with the consul and told me everything's fine. I can collect my passport with the visa the next day. She issued me a letter which I had to bring along when collecting the passport.

I felt very happy as the entire process took less than 45 minutes (including the waiting time) to complete.

When I got home, I received a call from the embassy requesting for additional information. She said the consul upon further review of my case decided that I need to show I have sufficient money to spend for my living expenses in Thailand.

I informed her I have a condo in Bangkok which is currently being rented out. She requested for me to furnish a copy of the title and the lease agreement via email. To be on the safe side, I also added an additional bank statement showing my fixed deposit too. Emailed the documents and didn't hear from them anymore.

I went to collect my passport today at 3.30pm. Took me less than 2 minutes since it was practically empty!

So now I have the 1 year non-OA visa in hand with multiple entry.

For the time being, I will be going in and out of Thailand on a monthly basis. ie. 3 weeks in Bangkok and 1 week in Kuala Lumpur.

My questions are as follows:

1. If I am not going to stay for more than 90 days, I guess I do not need to do the 90 day reporting, am I right?

2. Other than the TM30 form, what else do I have to do?

3. I'm also assuming that 1 month before the expiry of this visa, I'll go to the embassy again in Kuala Lumpur to apply for a new OA visa using the same requirements. Is this assumption correct? If so, there's no issue of renewal at all but a fresh application each time.

Thanks in advance for any sensible clarification.

Today we're going to resolve a contentious dispute that has been simmering on this group Brandon Thurkettle

My friend went to jomtien today to apply for his first one-year extension to his 90 day O visa based on 800k deposit, and it was approved. He then asked the staff about residual balance requirements and monthly transfers. He asked in English, then my wife asked in Thai.

Question: If I start sending monthly 65,000฿ international transfers today, what are the residual minimum balance requirements I must maintain in order to qualify for another extension next year based on 12 monthly international transfers.

Answer: 50,000 baht

Fifty thousand baht

NOT 800 thousand baht for three months

NOT 400 thousand baht for seven months

They will grant the extension next year as long as he has those 12 monthly transfers of 65k and his balance didn't go under 50k. They did say, however, that he has to send his first monthly transfer this month, in August.

So we now know, in jomtien at least, that you are not shackled to an agent forever and you can start sending 65k monthly transfers as soon as you get your one year extension.

In the future, let us all endeavor to temper our assertions with the caveat ... Ask your local immigration staff first. 😉

Pushing the everything else line because this group is generally not very toxic and I appreciate that... Is malaria like...a real thing here? I know that may sound silly but coming from the states it's sort of a romanticized disease and nobody there gets it. Is it a real thing here and do you just go into the doctor?

I'm a U.S. Retired Military Veteran. Full pension $4,400 per month. However I am only 39. I am wondering is the best way for me to stay there long-term, like indefinitely. Very frustrated that my pension is worth several million long-term net worth, but ageism.