@Bill ****

just be careful!

If you are planning to actually retire and live in Thailand with dependents, with a DTV (soft power option), all of you will either need to do border runs every 180 days, or extend your visa after 180 days.

If you extend, then you'll need to justify why you are there (remote work or 'soft power', AND proof of funds).

Even if you extend, you'll still all need to do a border run after 360 days, because the DTV can only be extended 1 time per entry.

DTV is simply a 'glorified' tourist visa and is not intended for full time living, even though that is 'almost' possible.

DTV is awesome, but there are requirements and limitations that won't suit many people.

I hope you find the right solution for you and your family. 🙏

work (even unpaid/voluntary) in Thailand requires a work permit and an appropriate visa. These are two separate things.

In the context of this group, it is definitely NOT possible with a DTV.

@Greg *******

Thailand now participates in the global 'Common Reporting Standard', so it's potentially just a matter of time until they decide to look into one's financial activity offshore. :-(

@Elías *******

gotta follow the rules!

500k needs to be in 'liquid assets', aka cash in bank. This is not just an emergency fund, it's the funds required to support oneself. They don't actually care about your income.

If a freelancer can't provide either concrete information about what they are currently doing (remotely), or a portfolio of work that they have done, then they are probably a 'wannabe' digital nomad or 'influencer', who is just 'having a crack'. There's no issue with folks having a go, but Thai DFA and Immigration need to be satisfied that the applicant is not going to try and work in Thailand.

@Greg *******

'over the year'. They'd probably be ok if they don't go to immigration for an extension. In that case, border runs every 180 days are necessary.

seems like only the South East Asian consulates who do it 'in person' are looking for history, and in most cases, those folks seem to be applying on the 'soft power' basis. Australia has no requirement for balance history and from observation, neither does UK.

@Packard ******

this is my only concern. That the chancers (and those consulates who sign off so easily) will result in some 'distaste' of the DTV and ruin it for the rest of us. I'm really trying to not be concerned, but posts like this are frequent and disturbing!

@Roberto ********

not to be taken as gospel, but in the youtube interview by RWFU, it is mentioned that and in-country extension will be subjected to the same scrutiny as the initial visa application:



That's fine for me, but others who are there, without solid reason for staying in Thailand, will probably need to do 180-day border runs, which is still a good deal.

@Roberto ********

"why would anyone risk it?" - This is Thailand! 555

it'll sort itself out. :-)

#3 is the issue, as you mentioned. There may be others, but this one is a problem.

There's a very fundamental fact that cannot be ignored:

The money in your company bank account is not yours.

A company is a 'legal person' in it's own right, despite you owning it 100%.

The company needs to pay you, into your personal account, for the funds to be yours.

It is very common for single-person company owners to do what you do, but it's really not legal and is technically 'embezzlement', until it's 'squared up', before tax return time.

Most folks just leave the mess to their accountant to sort out, which is fine, but this is a different type of scrutiny.

I understand that tax might be a driving factor for why you're doing what you do (US company - UK residency) but that's a separate issue.

I would also caution against trying to use a personal Wise account as an alternative, because Wise is not a bank.

Good luck!