Report Confusion Plagues Thailand's New Digital Nomad Visa, Leaving Applicants Stranded

[Cabradelmar]

And then if you do get one, you can't open a bank account. The shine is coming off this visa.

[Gandtee]

17 hours ago, Artisi said:

Typical, the Thai brains trust couldn't arrange a drunks party in a brewery. 

It was a misunderstanding.😃

[spidermike007]

So I guess Thailand is not the digital Nomad Hub after all!

 

The problem is when you create an administration full of people who were appointed strictly based on family connections, wealth, or proximity to power without taking into account anything even within the neighborhood of merit, skill or experience, you end up with situations like this. You have grossly incompetent people who are creating these programs, and they're simply unable to implement them, they don't have the intelligence, the skill, nor the abilities. More egg on the face of the terribly incompetent young PM. 

[NorthernRyland]

23 minutes ago, lrntpattaya said:

I applied for the DTV visa using a cooking school in Pattaya on the 28th of April and now, after 6 weeks, it's still pending.  I paid 95,000 baht to let them take care of everything. The school now says they have no idea when to expect it.

 

Just wait....

 

And otherwise I expect a full refund.

 

Are you still in Thailand? Maybe you got scammed. If you hand over 95k baht to some people to file a visa for you in another country that sounds pretty dodgy.

[koele2]

surprise!  Welcome to Thailand. Also, it seems they can’t work in Cambodia because the internet is too slow for these digital nomads. But anyway, seems like a bunch of criminals have figured out how to get these visas and are criming here because it’s like the Wild West. 

[Formaleins]

Re-arrange these familiar words and terms often used when describing anything that the government is involved with here in Thailand  - and you too can win a prize (subject to terms and conditions)

 

"Brewery, organise, piss-up, they, tried, if, a, couldn't, they."

 

Note Corrupt officials decision is final, prizes are non transferable and cannot be exchanged for common sense or brain cells. Plah Rah parfum is no longer available, but fecal flavoured sandwiches with halitosis spread can be purchased online  for a small additional fee.

[Andycoops]

Another ill conceived addition to the ever increasing number of visas.

 

While other countries have, or are streamlining visas to enter their countries to make it easier for people, the blunderous Thai bureaucracy lurches from one piece of idiocy to another.

 

They couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery...

[harryviking]

How can anyone have any trust in Thai Visas when the Thai Authorities themselves have no clue what they are doing?? This is a disaster for those that believed they had a real thing! On top of that, those trying to obtain a long-stay visa and need a bank account cannot even have one. Have they all gone mad or is it the start of trying to get rid of expats and tourism?? It may be time to start taking a serious look at Thailands neighbors for the times to come. 

[bullseye66]

Well I never saw that coming 🤣🤣🤣

[harryviking]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

So I guess Thailand is not the digital Nomad Hub after all!

 

The problem is when you create an administration full of people who were appointed strictly based on family connections, wealth, or proximity to power without taking into account anything even within the neighborhood of merit, skill or experience, you end up with situations like this. You have grossly incompetent people who are creating these programs, and they're simply unable to implement them, they don't have the intelligence, the skill, nor the abilities. More egg on the face of the terribly incompetent young PM. 

True! Seems like they have managed to get hold of a bunch of misfits to take care of the countries future... 😆

[sghanchey]

17 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

 

 

What's the problem?  So what if they need to spend an extra week or three in one country waiting?

 

 

If they truly are "digital nomads" then they should be earning a living regardless of location.

 

Seems more like the DTV is gonna be used by unlicensed dive instructors and illicit tour guides.

 

[Dan O]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Picture courtesy of Global Residence Index, Unsplash

 

Thailand's recently launched Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), aimed at attracting digital nomads, has faced significant challenges, leaving many applicants stranded across Southeast Asia. Delays, confusion, and inconsistent procedures at regional embassies have complicated the application process, turning it into a bureaucratic ordeal.

 

Digital nomads in Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia, who travelled specifically to apply for the DTV, are experiencing considerable delays. They face extended wait times, backlogged appointments, and changing requirements. The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh has drawn particular criticism, with some applicants reporting no response for more than ten days after submitting their applications. Complaints include embassy staff resetting application timelines by requesting additional documents days after initial submissions.

 

One European applicant, stranded for five weeks, expressed frustration on social media: "I've run out of money. When they asked for one more document, the 15-day timeline restarted."

 

In Laos, particularly in Vientiane and Savannakhet, the process is fraught with appointment backlogs of two to three weeks. This delay poses serious challenges for digital nomads managing accommodation costs and aligning with visa expiry deadlines in neighbouring countries.

 

Discrepancies in the application process across various embassies are also causing confusion. While some consulates process applications quickly, others are following more stringent and time-consuming procedures. Applicants must remain in the country where they applied until a decision is reached, and leaving even temporarily can lead to cancellations or additional delays, heightening stress for those with limited funds or expiring visas.

 

The DTV visa was introduced as a progressive measure to attract digital workers, content creators, and location-independent professionals. While the initiative was initially well-received, its inconsistent implementation has led to widespread dissatisfaction.

 

Visa agents and applicants are urging Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau to provide clearer, standardized instructions to embassies and implement a digital tracking system to allow real-time monitoring of application progress.

 

As the situation stands, many hopeful digital nomads find their plans to relocate to Thailand stalled amid the visa backlog, awaiting more streamlined procedures to realise their ambitions.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-09

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but as a digital nomad you can work from wherever you are correct? To complain you run out of money does not seem to align with being a digital nomad unless you aren't really working remotely. Im sure there are some exceptional circumstances for people and thai embassies are notorious for having a variety of interpretation of the regs which isn't appropriate. 

[kingstonkid]

17 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Absolutely.  But I think they are more likely no-marks than nomads hence the issue.

I think the challenge is that the backpack crowd is trying this.  Any one working has the income not only to survive but to show imm.

 

I think a lot of these delays are set up to discourage people and weed out the fakes 

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

So I guess Thailand is not the digital Nomad Hub after all!

 

The problem is when you create an administration full of people who were appointed strictly based on family connections, wealth, or proximity to power without taking into account anything even within the neighborhood of merit, skill or experience, you end up with situations like this. You have grossly incompetent people who are creating these programs, and they're simply unable to implement them, they don't have the intelligence, the skill, nor the abilities. More egg on the face of the terribly incompetent young PM. 

But nothing has changed, irrespective of who is PM

[Mavideol]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Delays, confusion, and inconsistent procedures

nothing new here, we all known if from quite sometime

[AhFarangJa]

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Typical Thai immigration.. every office its own rules and requirements..No wonder all laws have plenty opportunities, nothing is clear... fines up to 2000THB is an example... So what is the exact fine?? in one place maybe 200thb another 500 and somewhere else 2000???

Exactly so, lots of little fiefdoms that are a law unto themselves. I have found that out with the resident letter for driving licence renewal. In Surin it was 500 Baht per licence, apparently in some places farther north it is free, yet in Hua Hin it is 1,000 Baht a licence. I guess the price is comensurate with what the local economy will support. Must be the same for these visas, certain offices stalling looking for a little hand out to "expedite" matters.

[Caldera]

It's just sad. They had a good idea, plenty of interest, and still managed to screw it up.