The not uncommon mess. But these are the things one occasionally has to endure when dealing with Thai buraucracy. Take the last one for example: Why would they even ask for monthly income. The underlying law of the DTV does not even ask for any specific monthly income, but a lumb sum in savings. Just do as they ask and never ask why or why it makes sense. It mostly doesn’t. Welcome to Thailand.

Work permit is dependent and bound to the employer. There is such things as umbrella companies to achieve work permit for the sake of visa. But with the DTV and the like I don’t really see the need for that anymore.

@Luit ****************

Well, it is a 5 year visa (fact), multiple entry visa, that gives you 180 days on each entry. If they wanted it to be only fit workation purposes, they would have made it a single entry visa - with maybe only one possible extension. But the way it is designed now allows people to stretch it for 5.5 years.

@Elías *******

Well, glad you are happy with your current arrangements. I personally just appreciate the fact of being able to pay with PromptPay / QR Scan everywhere and also to easily pay my bills and rent.

Anonymous participant 172 Again, I take a other perspective on this. The DTV might not be flawless, but it is the first visa that does not unnecessarily overcomplicate things - like the failure the LTR visa turned out to be. And people aged 50 or older had it so very easy for a long time before, just putting little money on some Thai bank account and practically being allowed to stay forever.

@Ben *******

I don’t think that at all. Why would I think they don’t want me here? I think the remote work category of the DTV makes total sense. People making western kind of money spending it here long term (geo-arbitrage) is attractive to stimulate the economy. The soft power category of the DTV was an unnecessary part.

@Ben *******

Let’s try another perspective: Why would a 5 year visa like the DTV that is aimed at attracting people to stay long term for remote work even be in the category of tourist visa. That is the actual mistake.

@John *********

Not how the internet works. 🙃 But I hear you.

@Stephan **********

Residency (and proof therof) should not change even when in Thailand (for a vacation) at the point of application. So, initiating an application on said website and selecting the Thai embassy or consulate correponding to your home country / country of residence should not cause any issues. Never heard of an interview required for DTV. But yes, when in doubt, short answer is yes: like every other visa, get it abroad, then use it to enter the country.

Officially, yes. Practically: yes and no. Since application process is fully electronic on you might technically be able to apply while in Thailand. However, you cannot change to a DTV within Thailand, so you would have to arrive from abroad in order to acticate it, anyways.