Digital Nomad Visa Query

[themanwithnoname]

Hi, hope I find you all well, glad I stumbled across this forum, can someone please assist with the below queries, thanks.

 

I have a query regarding the digital nomad visa and its requirements, in relation to:

 

Earnings; I’m a freelance/contract project resource by trade and as such own and run a UK limited business, who’s company’s earnings exceed the threshold, and where I haven’t taken those earnings as salary. Will this meet the requirements for earnings if publicly available accounts are provided?

 

Working as a remote employee; As I am a contract resource, I’m not directly hired through multi nationals, nor has my current client exceeded the $150million earnings. Is this a strict requirement for application?

 

Failing the above what would be the suggested route for the visa with the longest available term, on the understanding that I would like to continue with a remote working,  and / or look to work, or setup an online  business entity locally upon arrival.

 

All help and suggestions welcome. 

 

Thanks for your time.
 

[FritsSikkink]

It is about your earnings, if you didn't take the threshold you don't qualify. Company revenue is nice but says nothing about your salary. Your company's client revenue has nothing to do with it.

[ubonjoe]

I think what you're writing about the LTR visa. 

It is being discussed in this ongoing topic. 

 

[BritTim]

Assuming you never do work for Thai clients, and are aged under 50, I suggest you look into getting a visa through the Thailand Elite program. Officially, a Thailand Elite membership does not allow you to work in Thailand. However, as long as you do not have a Thai employer, or have Thai clients, the Thai authorities tolerate you working as a remote digital nomad.

[Neeranam]

The nomads I know just don't tell anyone official here. They pay agents 20k a year to get their visa for one year. Technically illegal but many do it, as it is got through the police. 

 

[BritTim]

13 hours ago, Neeranam said:

The nomads I know just don't tell anyone official here. They pay agents 20k a year to get their visa for one year. Technically illegal but many do it, as it is got through the police. 

If they are aged under 50, which visa/extension are the agents offering?

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

If they are aged under 50, which visa/extension are the agents offering?

I don't know, maybe education. As you know, these are got fraudulently. 

 

[themanwithnoname]

On 12/7/2022 at 5:49 PM, FritsSikkink said:

It is about your earnings, if you didn't take the threshold you don't qualify. Company revenue is nice but says nothing about your salary. Your company's client revenue has nothing to do with it.

Thanks for coming back to me. Thought it might be, but worth a punt. Wish I took it all as salary now. I'll explore alternative paths.

 

Thanks.

 

Lee

[themanwithnoname]

On 12/8/2022 at 12:37 AM, ubonjoe said:

I think what you're writing about the LTR visa. 

It is being discussed in this ongoing topic. 

 

Thanks for coming back to me, I'll pop over and check that out.

[themanwithnoname]

On 12/8/2022 at 9:16 AM, BritTim said:

Assuming you never do work for Thai clients, and are aged under 50, I suggest you look into getting a visa through the Thailand Elite program. Officially, a Thailand Elite membership does not allow you to work in Thailand. However, as long as you do not have a Thai employer, or have Thai clients, the Thai authorities tolerate you working as a remote digital nomad.

That looks doable, although the working situation could prove a challenge overtime; contract availability allowing. That would be my only concern if work should dry up in the following years. Oh and I'm 50 middle next year, not sure how this would affect the ability to attain this type of visa.

[themanwithnoname]

On 12/8/2022 at 9:51 AM, Neeranam said:

The nomads I know just don't tell anyone official here. They pay agents 20k a year to get their visa for one year. Technically illegal but many do it, as it is got through the police. 

 

Thanks for this, but my earnings are based on company earnings, not salary, so doesn't appear that nomad is the right entry point for me.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, themanwithnoname said:

That looks doable, although the working situation could prove a challenge overtime; contract availability allowing. That would be my only concern if work should dry up in the following years. Oh and I'm 50 middle next year, not sure how this would affect the ability to attain this type of visa.

There is no age limit for Thailand Elite visa.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, themanwithnoname said:

That looks doable, although the working situation could prove a challenge overtime; contract availability allowing. That would be my only concern if work should dry up in the following years. Oh and I'm 50 middle next year, not sure how this would affect the ability to attain this type of visa.

If you are going to be shortly reaching 50, the Thailand Elite program still has merit, as it insulates you from changes in the preconditions for extending your permission to stay based on retirement. The 20-year membership, in particular, provides excellent peace of mind. However, the Elite membership is quite costly.

 

After age 50, you can get a Non O visa with the intention of retiring in Thailand (initial 90-day stay) followed by one-year extensions. This is very cheap (in principle) though you need to be able to either keep 800,000 baht on deposit at a Thai bank, or show 65,000 baht per month income (sometimes, trickier than this seems). These retirement extensions can be acquired through agents without showing financial proof, dubious but showing a fine willingness to integrate yourself into Thai society.

 

If you want to avoid the costs of the Elite membership, and just need ways to stay for the next half year or so, this is definitely possible. Let us know.

[themanwithnoname]

On 12/13/2022 at 12:18 AM, BritTim said:

If you are going to be shortly reaching 50, the Thailand Elite program still has merit, as it insulates you from changes in the preconditions for extending your permission to stay based on retirement. The 20-year membership, in particular, provides excellent peace of mind. However, the Elite membership is quite costly.

 

After age 50, you can get a Non O visa with the intention of retiring in Thailand (initial 90-day stay) followed by one-year extensions. This is very cheap (in principle) though you need to be able to either keep 800,000 baht on deposit at a Thai bank, or show 65,000 baht per month income (sometimes, trickier than this seems). These retirement extensions can be acquired through agents without showing financial proof, dubious but showing a fine willingness to integrate yourself into Thai society.

 

If you want to avoid the costs of the Elite membership, and just need ways to stay for the next half year or so, this is definitely possible. Let us know.

I'm looking at circa 8 years.

 

That's all very interesting. So with the Elite visa you hand over 1million bht - non refundable vs refundable 800k bht on the non O visa. Has anyone successfully withdrawn their 800k when they leave, or does this become an impossible mission?

 

Neither allow for work, but if that would happen you're better going for the Non O visa option, then applying for the applicable work permit (if I understand that correctly?)

 

I'm over for an initial 2 weeks in BKK in early Feb, with a review to returning longer term later in the Spring. Happy to meet and discuss in face if any locals would like a beer or 3.

[Peterw42]

3 hours ago, themanwithnoname said:

Has anyone successfully withdrawn their 800k when they leave, or does this become an impossible mission?

You just plan ahead and spend the 800k up until the day you leave. If you renew your visa/stay today, and you know you wont be renewing next year, start spending.

If you do want to send money out there are private companies like Deemoney.

[themanwithnoname]

On 12/22/2022 at 12:31 AM, Peterw42 said:

You just plan ahead and spend the 800k up until the day you leave. If you renew your visa/stay today, and you know you wont be renewing next year, start spending.

If you do want to send money out there are private companies like Deemoney.

Ah right so you can draw down from that account, thought it was a holding amount.