5 year multiple entry DTV visa (Destination Thailand) from 2024-xx-xx

[El Matador]

I would say Siam Legal is better informed than those websites which copy-paste everything.

 

Actually a visa allowing a maximum of 180 days each year would solve the tax problem with the new law while legalizing properly online work for foreign companies. Seems an attractive proposition if Siam Legal is correct.

 

But let's see the confirmation on the 1st of June.

[GanDoonToonPet]

I would hazard a guess that the maximum stay allowed in a calendar year, including entry and extension, will be limited to 180 days.

 

If true then the only way to stay a full year would be to do the extension in the new year. 🤔

 

However it's done, it still amounts to a 5 year multiple entry visa that allows you to stay (about) 6 months each year. 

[Maestro]

1 hour ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

I would hazard a guess...

 

I see absolutely nothing in the information that has become available so far to indicate that anything of your guess is intended for the DTV. 

[Sigmund]

What about the tax ? If they give something now, it's obviously also a way to get it back in tax ? or not ? sure if you stay less then 180 days etc etc etc...but then would that imply having to file more paperwork and hassle and need to show again that one did not stay more then 180 days  ?

 

Retiree home owners who are the good spenders here,  are getting fed up with all the red tape, tax threats and paperwork asked by immigration and the bureaucracy, assorted with all the rules that change or are daily made up depending on the mood of the officer in his booth on arrival at Airport or behind the glass counter in some seedy office.

 

And also will those lovely boys at immigration maintain asking for absurd mentions on health insurance to cover a specific amount, despite the fact that all europeans have compulsory health insurance valid abroad ?

 

 

Edited May 30 by Sigmund

[ryxyz]

On 5/30/2024 at 3:57 AM, Pattaya57 said:

This DTV makes no sense as multiple sources say it costs 10k baht to get the one-time 180 day extension, so 20k baht to stay 1 year and then visa is used. So why have a 5 year validity? That only makes sense if you could get 180 days every time you entered within the 5 year validity period?

 

Compare two options for 180 days

(1) DTV - 10,000 baht

- enter and stay 180 days

- maintain 500k baht in bank

- plus cost of Thai course; or

- apply as remote worker (tax?)

 

(2) Visa exempt method - 7300 baht - no Thai course, work or bank funds needed

- Enter visa exempt 60 days - free

- get 30 day extension - 1900 baht

- do border run - approx 3500 baht

- Enter visa exempt 60 days - free

- get 30 day extension - 1900 baht

 

It's a multiple entry visa. You receive 180 days once a year on arrival, which means you can actually enter 5x5 yrs. It's like the US 10 years multiple entry visa which allows a stay of 180 days annually for 10 years.

 

However, Thailand is making it possible to renew for an additional 180 days within the country before you're required to exit the country and return. 

 

Edited May 31 by Maestro
Removed the part of the post that was about US regulations

[rumeaug]

Thank you for the post. However, i do not quite understand how the 5 years fit in this scheme, how it blends in with the 180 days?

[Maestro]

6 hours ago, rumeaug said:

Thank you for the post. However, i do not quite understand how the 5 years fit in this scheme, how it blends in with the 180 days?

 

Five years is the period during which the DTV is valid for an unlimited number of entries into Thailand. Upon each entry, the traveller gets permission to stay for 180 days and has the option of applying at the local immigration office for a 180-day extension of stay. That's what it looks like based on the currently available information. 

 

[Lizzy Duang]

In other words: Kind of a work permit for digital nomads for 20.000 Baht per year. 

 

Has anyone ever gotten a work permit "the alternative way" and knows how much that is/was?

[Everyman]

There is absolutely no useful information in this thread, it’s all uninformed speculation. 

[transam]

16 minutes ago, Everyman said:

There is absolutely no useful information in this thread, it’s all uninformed speculation. 

Well, do a bit of homework then, and get back to us.........

[Everyman]

20 minutes ago, transam said:

Well, do a bit of homework then, and get back to us.........

 

There is no information in this thread because there has been nothing decided yet by the government for how this visa is going to work. No amount of research will find information that doesn’t exist. 

[Liquorice]

4 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

Five years is the period during which the DTV is valid for an unlimited number of entries into Thailand. Upon each entry, the traveller gets permission to stay for 180 days and has the option of applying at the local immigration office for a 180-day extension of stay. That's what it looks like based on the currently available information. 

 

That just doesn't make any sense at all, though.

Visa validity 5 years, multi entry.

If each entry permitted a stay of 180 days, then with border runs you could stay for the full 5 years, so what would be the point of a one time 180 day extension?

And on offer for just 10K, it would undermine the LTR and O-X visa types.

 

We have to bear in mind the purpose of this new visa type.
Mr. Chai Watcharong, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, stated;

"Add a new type of visa, Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), for foreigners who have skills and work remotely through the digital system (remote worker or digital nomad) who wish to Will be staying in Thailand to work and travel at the same time, with employers and customers abroad It is also a destination for foreigners who want to do cultural activities and use medical services. However, Thailand does not yet have a visa that supports this group of foreigners. This is a group of people who have the potential and will be beneficial to the development of the country."

 

The key wording 'to work and travel at the same time, with employers and customers abroad'.

 

That suggests the visa will allow unlimited entries, but with a limit of staying in Thailand for only 180 days per year.
The one time 180 day extension then makes much more sense.

Of course, we could be both total incorrect, when the full details are revealed.

[muratremix]

If it was 20k a year, and ability to get a new DTV visa each year, where you can extend again, it would work out for most people.

20k a year is still much cheaper than work permit and the related costs.

if it is 5 year, 180 days a year (900 days a total over 5 years) then it is awful.

[shdmn]

What if we want to leave the country and come back in?  It doesn't say anything about this being a multi-entry so sounds like we would get dinged for another 10k if we did that.  

[persimmon]

Taken at face value , this sounds quite good for those who like to spend the Winter months in Thailand ( 5 years visa free access )and should be cheaper than the alternative ( ie. 5 x TV and visa runs etc ) .

Like many things though , if it sounds too good to be true then ....

[DonniePeverley]

1 hour ago, muratremix said:

If it was 20k a year, and ability to get a new DTV visa each year, where you can extend again, it would work out for most people.

20k a year is still much cheaper than work permit and the related costs.

if it is 5 year, 180 days a year (900 days a total over 5 years) then it is awful.

 

 

That would practically mean you are permanent resident then. 

[DonniePeverley]

Does this visa begin tomorrow ? Already looking on the Indian websites, and they practically see it as an apportunity to come to Thailand to work and live. 

[jacob29]

4 hours ago, Lizzy Duang said:

In other words: Kind of a work permit for digital nomads for 20.000 Baht per year. 

 

Has anyone ever gotten a work permit "the alternative way" and knows how much that is/was?

In the ballpark of 8-10x more to go through an employer of record where you receive a work permit

[Caldera]

45 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Does this visa begin tomorrow ? Already looking on the Indian websites, and they practically see it as an apportunity to come to Thailand to work and live. 

 

You've got to admire their optimism. 

[blorg]

2 hours ago, shdmn said:

What if we want to leave the country and come back in?  It doesn't say anything about this being a multi-entry so sounds like we would get dinged for another 10k if we did that.  

 

It is multi-entry.

Quote

Introducing the new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for long-term travel, digital nomads, and participants in certain cultural activities with a period of stay up to 180 days per visit, on a multiple-entry basis within 5 years;

https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/293120
https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/presscon300524-2?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c306000683e
 

Edited May 31 by blorg
fix URLs

[shdmn]

22 minutes ago, blorg said:

 

It is multi-entry.

https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/293120
https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/presscon300524-2?page=5d5bd3da15e39c306002aaf9&menu=5d5bd3dd15e39c306002ab1d

I don't see anything in there that indicates it is multi-entry with no strings attached.  For example, when you get a retirement visa, you have to either pay more for multi-entry ability, or fill out some form and pay a fee on each exit, otherwise I think you have to renew it again when you re-enter.

Edited May 31 by shdmn

[Maestro]

3 hours ago, shdmn said:

...It doesn't say anything about this being a multi-entry...

 

It does say that the DTV is a multi-entry visa, but yes, there are strings attached, criteria to be met to qualify for it. Definitely not for everyone.

[Maestro]

3 hours ago, persimmon said:

Taken at face value , this sounds quite good for those who like to spend the Winter months in Thailand ( 5 years visa free access )and should be cheaper than the alternative ( ie. 5 x TV and visa runs etc ) .

Like many things though , if it sounds too good to be true then ....

 

I have seen no indication in the currently available information that wanting to spend the winter months in Thailand does by itself qualify a foreigner for the DTV.

[shdmn]

12 minutes ago, Maestro said:

 

It does say that the DTV is a multi-entry visa.

It doesn't specifically imply multi-entry within the 180 day period with no strings attached and no fees.  I don't think the non-O retirement visa is multi-entry unless you pay extra for that option or fill out a form and pay a fee each time you exit the country.

Edited May 31 by shdmn

[shdmn]

3 minutes ago, Maestro said:

 

I have seen no indication in the currently available information that wanting to spend the winter months in Thailand does by itself qualify a foreigner for the DTV.

I was wondering about that.  They say for work AND tourism but they don't say for work OR tourism.  If I can't use it just as a tourist then that would count me out. 

Edited May 31 by shdmn

[Maestro]

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

Does this visa begin tomorrow ?...

 

No, there is nothing to say that it does. Only the changes regarding visa exemption and VOA.

[humbug]

On 5/30/2024 at 7:40 PM, Antti said:

It is probably similar to multi-entry Schengen visa in EU. The days stop counting when you exit EU and then it restarts from the same number of days when you come back. So if I'm correct, with this new visa you get 180 days (or 360 days if you extend) that can be used during a period of 5 years.

Exactly, it states everywhere, 180 days within a 5 year period and one more extension of 180 days

 

The 5 year is a red herring for those hoping, wishing, it will be somehow different

 

it's 180 days and one moe allowable 180 days, that's it, it's a short term visa

 

If it is used for 5 years not for only 360 days out of 5 years, then it will kill every visa class, retirement, marriage, elite, ltr, eec special visas, boi visas, education visas, it won't just kill elite and ltr, but everything

Edited May 31 by humbug

[humbug]

14 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

Five years is the period during which the DTV is valid for an unlimited number of entries into Thailand. Upon each entry, the traveller gets permission to stay for 180 days and has the option of applying at the local immigration office for a 180-day extension of stay. That's what it looks like based on the currently available information. 

 

Where does it say unlimited 180 days multi-entry

 

Everwhere it states one 180 days and one more 180 days, maybe you mean come for 1 week, cone again for 3 days etc, unlimited entry until 180 days is used, then re-apply for another 180 days, they be no other visas left, if everyone could get a 5 year multi-entry 180 day extension, it will be the only visa people will want or need

 

it's 1st June now, let's see the announcements, got a gut feeling the 5 year visa will be changed and delayed, and the others officially announced today

[TheFishman1]

I guess the government of Thailand is trying to figure out any way to make money. Sounds like a weird bad idea to me TIT.

[transam]

13 hours ago, Everyman said:

 

There is no information in this thread because there has been nothing decided yet by the government for how this visa is going to work. No amount of research will find information that doesn’t exist. 

Then I don't see why you were complaining..........🤗