Okay, I'm someone who decided not to use an agent after living here for 3 years using an agent. Here's my advice...

If your not in Thailand, apply at the Thai embassy in that country which is usually done via the thai evisa website. If your in Thailand, get a flight to Vientiane, Laos. Once you arrive simply goto the evisa website and make your application. Upload your evidence. Ensure that includes bank statements showing $15k for a minimum of three months, proof your able to work remotely in Thailand and with a cover letter confirming that's the case and that you won't work for any Thai countries/companies in Thailand. Also include proof of your entry stamp into Laos and a hotel document to prove your in Laos. Once submitted the next morning goto the Thai embassy consular section and pay the 10k baht fee (about £150-200) using the receipt/document provided by the website for your application.

Then wait, within about a week youl get an appointment for an interview at the embassy. Goto the appointment and theyl ask you what you plan to do in Thailand, how you will support yourself while there and youl have to show them your online banking app so they can check it themselves. Then youl be approved and get the visa the same day.

If your unsure just do it in Laos as the interview gives you a better chance of getting it if you missed something they need.

Checklist:

Plan for four weeks stay in case it takes a while to get the interview. Hotels are cheap in Laos, about 500-800 baht a night for a nice hotel.

Bank statements showing income and the minimum savings of 500k baht.

Proof of income and employment

Cover letter from your employer saying you are authorised to work for them remotely from Thailand and won't be dealing with any companies in Thailand.

Proof of entry Laos stamp

Proof of hotel your staying in

CV or job portfolio, linkedin profile, website anything you have that shows what you do.

Tenancy agreement in Thailand if you already live there and tm30 if so.

Cover letter from you explaining you won't work for any companies in Thailand and you plan to integrate and respect the beautiful Thai culture.

Your can only upload one file per section and it has to be like 15mb in file size so join your pdfs and use an online pdf file size compressor to make the size smaller.

Maybe visit vang vieng on the train while your waiting for the interview as it's a funner place to stay than Vientiane.

Wishing you a warm congratulations and an even warmer welcome to the land of smiles from Phuket, Thailand. 🙏 Print it out, send it to family so you have more online copies in case you lose it & make sure they stamp you in for 180 days when you land in thailand. You have the current golden grail of visas...enjoy the next 5 years 🙂

I just did it all once I arrived as had to show visa stamps and other stuff that proved I was in the country I was applying from.

Cheers guys :)

@Andi **********

thanks for your advice here :) you've been very helpful.

I keep seeing reels and shorts of little skirmishes happening at the border so it looks like tensions may still be a bit high and I'm guessing the borders are still closed. You can probably get a flight however as that isn't

@John ********

I paid on Monday and my interview is next Friday that's literally 9 working days. Ide rather come to a country where I can speak the language also.

I don't think it's gone that badly tbh. Either way should be home Friday next week 🙏

I appreciate your insight however so thankyou.

@Paul ********

I've been to Vietnam and Malaysia etc. had way more fun here in Laos than I did there lol. Perspectives vary

Tomorrow off to vang vieng for a few days while I wait. That will be even better.

I can speak near fluent Thai so being able to actually speak to people here (laotian is isaan and very similar to Thai) has made a huge difference...such as this amazing night we had two nights ago with the locals lol. I'm just super home sick and want to get back to rawai.

In high sight if ide gone to Vietnam or something for it ide probably be home by now however.

@John ********

because an interview could be the difference between you getting rejected over incorrectly understood paperwork evidence or getting the visa. It's worth the extra wait

AuthenticPassionfruit644 I offered to pay for an earlier appt and they said that isn't an option and did it for free. Whereas I agree with you re: se Asia corruption my experience in Laos has been quite the opposite.