@Brandon ***********

The big traditional companies, if they still offer “home office” at all, don’t even allow their employees to work from outside their respective countries. The criteria here are a total mismatch and shows once again, that some Thai uniforms invent wishful things here, they don’t know anything about.

@Brandon ***********

If they want steady income, all they should ask for, check and enforce is steady income, then. But this way, they exclude the vast majority of remote workers, like highly skilled developers and such, mostly working for high venture capital funded startups and the like.

@Brandon ***********

And on the following page there they detail again that “current employer” needs to be either. I am hoping I wrong - but experience tells me, they are going to make this visa once again applicable to nobody in the end.

@Brandon ***********

Even in the document linked in this post, the requirements say that the “current employer” needs to be either a or b. Employer suggest a work contract. A relationship with that company as an employee. So even if people have regular freelance clients amongst that sort of companies, I doubt it will suffice. I wonder what documents they will require for evaluation anyways. I guess we will see.

@Brandon ***********

If only that were true. If only proving sufficient income and experience alone would be sufficient. But the details circulated everywhere regarding the LTR suggest that remote workers must have a work contract with a “well established company abroad”, which they define as either a) a publicly (stock exchange) listed company or b) a company with at least 150m USD annual revenue over the recent 3 years. That excludes the absolute vast majority of remote worker that otherwise would easily meet the income and experience requirement.

This visa is an utter joke and a big, big disappointment. A failed opportunity, once again. It will not attract even "remotely" the amount of people desired - maybe with the exception of retirees (who already had it easy coming to Thailand before, by the way). All the other LTR categories have been messed up and made inapplicable or unattractive in the details. I mean come on! A "digital nomad" remote worker visa, where remote workers may only work with a fixed work contract with publicly listed companies? Not that 99% of those high income nomads work on freelance basis with multiple companies, mostly startup-businesses with high venture capital funding. Give me a break, guys! Who makes shit like this up all the time? Why not include and ask people that actually belong to desired target group for once, when defining new visa criteria? What a mess! Or take the "Wealthy Global Citizen": Sure, I'd be willing to come as a millionaire. But NOT if you force me to invest half a million into some government bond or what not! Trust me on this: millionaires like to choose where (in the world) and into what assets we invest money! And why bother at all? Be happy about every new millionaire citizen, irrespective of where he or she invests their money - as long as they spend well on their life in Thailand. And why make different criteria for wealthy people below the age of 50 and wealthy pensioners again (the latter not being forced into certain investments)? And final word on investments: As long as I cannot even 100% own a Thai Limited company, but being forced in sharing it with two Thai nationals with me being reduced to a minority shareholder in my own company: Dream on about attracting millions from abroad. Man! What a mess. Always! #RantOver

@Stéfan *******

No your TAX-ID, but that of the landlord renting you a place. But here comes the fun fact: 90% of Thai citizens don't have a TAX-Id, as they are below the income threshold of requiring one. Another indicator that the STV was solely made for friends of the ruling class and their luxury resorts.

@Stéfan *******

The embassy / consulate required that, when I suggested I would have a rental / lease contract provided by a Thai national to fulfill the STV requirements. Ok, would not be the first time Thai authorities mix / make things up on the go when it comes to visa / immigration. But made me go the traditional TR route that time (which with COVID extensions worked for a stay equaully long, at less restrictions).

@Stéfan *******

Sure, but WITH a valid Thai Tax-ID number. I tried to outsmart them like that as well. So no easy constructing some sort of rental contract on the fly. Either way, a stupid requirement that does not meet most visitors reality!

@Stéfan *******

BUT, and that is a big one, you need to show pre-booked, pre-paid accomodation, and that is even with every extension. A no-go in my eyes for the STV.