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

The 10,000 is the bonus, it's not the core. Governments are generally very short-sighted. It's all about NOW. If 30,000 people apply for this visa in the first year that's over 300 million Baht, and it's likely to be a lot more than that. From what I can see embassies and consulates are being swamped with applications.

@Ručman **********

Why shouldn't people take advantage of a better visa? That's not abusing it at all. I'm not paying an agent to meet the criteria by paying bribes like many people do with other visas. If I can meet the criteria, I'm entitled to apply surely? What is a "digital nomad"? Someone who uploads meaningless videos onto YouTube, and sits for hours in coffee shops playing on their laptops? Jesus, anyone can do that with half a brain cell! The more people get this visa the more successful it is. That's its whole point

@Ručman **********

What are you talking about? How am I destroying it? If I meet the criteria, am I not allowed to apply for it? It's a better visa for me than the non-O, so I'm going to take advantage of it.

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

Yes that's true, but the criteria for the DTV is such that to make it accessible for remote workers, means it's also available for non-O retirement and non-O married to a Thai (except for those who need a work permit). Can't see how they're going to be "high and dry", the basic conditions of five year ME and 180 day stamps won't be changing as that's what appeals to digital nomads. You seem convinced it's going to change, I'm equally convinced it won't. The advantages for the government far outweigh any disadvantages

@Rogerio *****

It's dependant on each individual's personal situation. I'm on non-O at the moment and I travel frequently out of the country, so the DTV is a far superior option for me. I don't know who does visa runs every 90 days? That's a new one on me, but the Elite and LTR visas are just about done, other than for people who just want to stay in Thailand year after year. Each situation is different

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

Correct. The 10k is not the deal clincher, but bumping up the number of longstayers by creating a visa which allows this, is the winner. Sure, there's going to be the Cheap Charlies, but there's also a lot who are happy to spend and to travel around Thailand at their leisure, rather than under any time constraints. The DTV was designed to bring people in, and it looks like it's achieving that

@Walker ********

For someone who stays in Thailand the whole time the non-O is still the best, but for frequent travellers, the DTV wins hands down

@Ručman **********

I'm on non-O retirement visa but I'll be switching to DTV next year. The DTV suits me better. I'm in and out of the country times a year, and with 180 days each entry, I reckon I'll never have to visit an immigration office again. Plus the DTV is cheaper which is an extra bonus

@Steven ******

Why would they do that? The visa was brought in to get people into the country, to stimulate the economy. It's achieving that.

Doubt it's going to stop. Everyone's getting one. It's achieving its goal of getting people into the country and the government is picking up 10k baht for each one.