Hi All,

 

I'm taking a very, very tentative look at the DTV visa. If I think its a possible, then I will take some pro advice.

 

I live in the US with Thai wife and our son. Wife and Son have Thai passports.

 

I have the option at work to work from anywhere for 4 weeks per calendar year. I am thinking about taking a trip every year 4weeks work-from-Thailand and 4 weeks vacation. My work contract has no stipulation about working remotely. Would I be a potential fit for the DTV? Would I have to pay income tax in Thailand if I stay for 60 days per calendar year? Would I lose my application fee f the visa was rejected?

 

TIA

The DTV isn't for someone who wants to take a short working vacation each year.

 

If you want to go to Thailand for 2 months per year and do some work while you're there, just do like most people and do it. You can get 60 days visa exempt, or tourist visa if that ends.  Or since you have a Thai wife you can get a 90 day non-O visa whenever you want if 60 days won't cover your trip.

8 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

The DTV isn't for someone who wants to take a short working vacation each year.

 

If you want to go to Thailand for 2 months per year and do some work while you're there, just do like most people and do it. You can get 60 days visa exempt, or tourist visa if that ends.  Or since you have a Thai wife you can get a 90 day non-O visa whenever you want if 60 days won't cover your trip.

Thanks for the response and it’s definitely a temptation but some companies are <deleted> hot on compliance and could be tracking all sorts of location information……and then one day you get the email inquiring into your location and your work authorization status in that location. A DTV would be a nice response to that.

2 minutes ago, capin said:

Thanks for the response and it’s definitely a temptation but some companies are <deleted> hot on compliance and could be tracking all sorts of location information……and then one day you get the email inquiring into your location and your work authorization status in that location. A DTV would be a nice response to that.

 

I am shocked someone would even employ you 

38 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

I am shocked someone would even employ you 

Fantastic piece of input. Well done.

OP, you jumped from 4 weeks to two months. 

Your OP makes very little sense. 

No DTV is not a good fit. 

Seems more like something you  vaguely read about. 

There are other options to visit Thailand for the amount of time you indicate. 

Almost seems like you have not lived in Thailand previously. 

No you will  not get you application fee back if application unsuccessful. 

No you will not pay taxation in Thailand. 

1 hour ago, BrandonJT said:

The DTV isn't for someone who wants to take a short working vacation each year.

It is the only visa for that purpose (besides the LTR).

 

1 hour ago, BrandonJT said:

If you want to go to Thailand for 2 months per year and do some work while you're there, just do like most people and do it

Yes, he can do that and a lot of people do it that way; it won't be legal, though.

 

2 hours ago, capin said:

My work contract has no stipulation about working remotely. Would I be a potential fit for the DTV? Would I have to pay income tax in Thailand if I stay for 60 days per calendar year?

You can use the DTV; to get it, your boss would have to provide a letter stating that you can work remotely. Or you can take your chances working from Thailand on a tourist visa as the others suggest. Either way, you will not have to pay income tax in Thailand.

I am going to apply for a  DTV visa from the US Chicago consulate next month  for arrival in October. I am retired now and live for 6-months every year in Thailand for the last 20-years, starting from using Tourist visa, visa runs, ED visa, OA visa and agent assisted retirement O visa. I had a condo in Jomtian that I sold last year and came back to the US and let my Non-O re-entry permit expire.

I have an Arizona LLC since I graduated from my MS in mid 80s. I've worked for big name IT companies like MS, Oracle, Intel, and many small bay area companies remotely as an regular employees and also on 1099 contract. But now I have retired and on SS and my income from the LLC is less than $400 from AdSense ads from a couple of websites. I also have SS $3400 and close to a million in my 401(K) and IRA and Roth IRAs, non-deferred investment accounts and high yield saving accounts combined.  S&P 500 was a blessing for me for the last 10 years. 

Long story short, I am trying to leverage my LLC to get a DTV based on the "workcation" category. If I succeed in getting one, I will post the details of how I did it. Otherwise, I will simply apply for a three month Non-O and get an agent assisted extension like before. I like the DTV because it gives me flexibility, compared to an Non-O extension. 

3 minutes ago, Knight Rider said:

Long story short, I am trying to leverage my LLC to get a DTV based on the "workcation" category.

There has been reports that some embassies/consulates want proof of income. They didn't in Denmark when I applied for the DTV last year. I am retired and got it on the basis of a website about Thailand that makes no money. They wanted a sample of my work, I gave them a screenshot and an URL. They did want proof of a company registration, which I still have even though I make no money from it.

13 hours ago, farang51 said:

There has been reports that some embassies/consulates want proof of income. They didn't in Denmark when I applied for the DTV last year. I am retired and got it on the basis of a website about Thailand that makes no money. They wanted a sample of my work, I gave them a screenshot and an URL. They did want proof of a company registration, which I still have even though I make no money from it.

Thanks for the input. I already have a system set up where my sister send me $1000-$2000 from Dubai every month and I send her back from another account the same amount. This has been going opn for more than six months. I also have my AdSense check amounting $400-$500/month deposited every month. ChatGPT has already suggested me to include a link and a screen shot of my website. I will take the risk and if it's rejected, I don't mind losing the application fee. A DTV visa will be give me enormous flexibility. The O extension requires me to be present in Thailand during my extension time. 

17 hours ago, capin said:

Hi All,

 

I'm taking a very, very tentative look at the DTV visa. If I think its a possible, then I will take some pro advice.

 

I live in the US with Thai wife and our son. Wife and Son have Thai passports.

 

I have the option at work to work from anywhere for 4 weeks per calendar year. I am thinking about taking a trip every year 4weeks work-from-Thailand and 4 weeks vacation. My work contract has no stipulation about working remotely. Would I be a potential fit for the DTV? Would I have to pay income tax in Thailand if I stay for 60 days per calendar year? Would I lose my application fee f the visa was rejected?

 

TIA

The income tax issue is far from clear.  current wording says a foreigner may have to file at least the assessable income tax forms to then determine what if any income would be taxable.  And that only has to be done if one is in Thailand for 180 days in one calendar years.  Many have posted that since they know their income is not taxable, they plan to not submit any tax forms at all.  I defer to more experienced tax people.

12 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

The income tax issue is far from clear.  current wording says a foreigner may have to file at least the assessable income tax forms to then determine what if any income would be taxable.  And that only has to be done if one is in Thailand for 180 days in one calendar years.  Many have posted that since they know their income is not taxable, they plan to not submit any tax forms at all.  I defer to more experienced tax people.

The income tax questions even here remain in limbo.  None knows exactly what is going to happen with any program under "study" at this time with the cabinet a baby sitting one only until next year I guess or maybe it might change more quickly.  With the political situation as it is at this time, we don't know what is going to change or stay the same.

2 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

The income tax issue is far from clear.

The income tax issue is very clear in this case. He only stays in Thailand 60 days per calendar year.

6 minutes ago, farang51 said:

The income tax issue is very clear in this case. He only stays in Thailand 60 days per calendar year.

Indeed. Also he would not need a DTV . 

 

56 minutes ago, farang51 said:

The income tax issue is very clear in this case. He only stays in Thailand 60 days per calendar year.

 

I am not sure it is, in fact, I don't think many income tax issues are at all clear in Thailand. I think that the issue is that if you are working remotely in Thailand for a foreign based company, where is the income earned, Thailand or the foreign country. If the view of the revenue is that that money is earned in Thailand then life gets complicated.

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, you jumped from 4 weeks to two months. 

Your OP makes very little sense. 

No DTV is not a good fit. 

Seems more like something you  vaguely read about. 

There are other options to visit Thailand for the amount of time you indicate. 

Almost seems like you have not lived in Thailand previously. 

No you will  not get you application fee back if application unsuccessful. 

No you will not pay taxation in Thailand. 

 

Hi, I have not lived in Thailand before, too young and too busy working.  I do have some properties in Thailand if that helps you evaluate my worthiness to ask my questions on this board.

 

I've done a lot of reading about Thai visas for foreigners in Thailand but an awful lot more about visas for Thais in the US, UK and Ireland and registering dual US/Thai citizens as Thai citizens in the USA and Thailand.

 

To be clear, I am lucky, I get about 6 weeks vacation per year and another 4 weeks remote working. What I would like to do is to take 4 weeks vacation and tack on 4 weeks working from Thailand to make a total of an 8 week trip to Thailand on an annual basis.

 

Rather that just going a chancing my arm working on a tourist visa, I thought, "lets have a little read of the remote work policy and see if there is a better way.", Here is the policy -

 

##############################################################################

Right-to-work requirements
To have a legal right to work in a country or region, you typically need to hold one of the following:

Citizenship
Permanent residency
A work permit
Eligibility for European Union (EU) Freedom of Movement, where citizens of any EU member state have the right to work in another member state
This is not an exhaustive list, and depending on your desired remote working location, you may have other work authorization options available. There are many things to consider if you don’t already hold a legal right to work.

A tourist visa generally does not authorize your right to work, and xxxxx doesn’t sponsor or fund right-to-work status as part of the remote working program. You do not need to submit any right to work documents to xxxxx.

Working without a legal right to work is prohibited because it may place you at risk of an immigration violation. You’re solely responsible for managing and maintaining your own immigration compliance (and that of any dependent family members traveling with you). Working where you don’t have a legal right to can lead to a variety of consequences, including financial penalties, refusal of entry, deportation and having to return home, and challenges that may affect your future ability to secure a visa or travel globally. You’re responsible for covering all costs associated with an immigration violation.

##############################################################################

 

I put a post up to ask very tentatively if the DTV was even a starter. I had been doing some research on the Thai Washington DC embassy  website and I read this -

 

#############################################################################

Purpose of Visit: 

Workcation (Digital nomad/remote worker/foreign talent/freelancer)

Thai soft power related activities e.g. Muaythai, Thai culinary training and medical treatment

Spouse and children under 20 years old of DTV visa holders

 

Required Documents for a DTV: Workcation (Digital nomad/remote worker/foreign talent/freelancer)

Passport Biodata Page or Travel Document (Must be valid within 6 months from travel date)

Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months

Document indicating current location (driving license, bank statement, or proof of stay)

A copy of a recent saving or checking bank statement for the last three months with an ending balance of no less than 500,000 THB or ($16,000 USD) that shows the applicant's name and date. In case of submitting a family bank statement, proof of relationship (i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate) must be provided. / sponsorship letter

Employment contract or employment certificate in their country or professional portfolio showcasing digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent or freelancer status

#############################################################################

 

I can cover all of that but I don't really get the last 2 lines (which I have iatalicized).

 

Employment contract or employment certificate in their country or professional portfolio showcasing digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent or freelancer status

 

Does this mean -

 

1. An Employment contract or employment certificate in their country

or

2. An Employment contract or employment certificate in their country showcasing digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent or freelancer status

 

I think it is poorly phrased.

 

Anyway, thanks to those who tried to help out, much appreciated.

 

To the goons who made sarcastic responses or made laughing emojis- well done, I hope that it enriched your day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Indeed. Also he would not need a DTV . 

 

I am pretty sure it is illegal to work in or from Thailan without a work permit or a visa that allows remote work - like the DTV. Yes, he can take his chances, many does, but it is still illegal, and if found out, he risk being deported and a ban.

35 minutes ago, capin said:

 

I am not sure it is, in fact, I don't think many income tax issues are at all clear in Thailand. I think that the issue is that if you are working remotely in Thailand for a foreign based company, where is the income earned, Thailand or the foreign country. If the view of the revenue is that that money is earned in Thailand then life gets complicated.

The tax issue is very simple, you earn the money in your home country, that is where the earnings are taxed. You are not considered a tax resident in Thailand unless you earn the money in Thailand, that is, in a Thai job or for Thai customers, or unless you stay in Thailand for more than 180 days in a year.

17 minutes ago, capin said:

Employment contract or employment certificate in their country or professional portfolio showcasing digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent or freelancer status

If you are self employed, you need to present samples of your work and proof of the registration of your company in your country.

 

If you are employed, you need to present your employment contract or similar and a letter from your boss stating that you can work as a remote worker. They may ask for samples of your work, I am not sure about that.

2 hours ago, farang51 said:

The income tax issue is very clear in this case. He only stays in Thailand 60 days per calendar year.

jesus you people love to nit pick.  I was explaining the general tax issue if 180 days were to happen.  You take every thing out of context and pull out just one sentence.  

6 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

jesus you people love to nit pick.  I was explaining the general tax issue if 180 days were to happen.  You take every thing out of context and pull out just one sentence.  

Not to nit pick, this thread is about a stay of 60 days. You are, of course, right about the problem with at stay of 180 days or more, but you started by saying that the tax issue is not clear, which could lead the OP to believe that he might have a problem, and he does not have a problem - at least not related to where he has to pay tax.

On 8/30/2025 at 3:07 AM, capin said:

Thanks for the response and it’s definitely a temptation but some companies are <deleted> hot on compliance and could be tracking all sorts of location information……and then one day you get the email inquiring into your location and your work authorization status in that location. A DTV would be a nice response to that.

It is not a violation of immigration-law to work while on a Non-O Visa based on marriage to a Thai.  One can get a work-permit with that visa-entry (or extensions of it). 

Under Thai labor-law, technically, one can only work in Thailand with a work-permit - but the DTV doesn't  get you a "work permit" - just makes it not a violation of immigration-law to work remotely while here on it.  If not working at a Thai company or for a Thai client, the labor office doesn't care.

On 8/30/2025 at 6:45 PM, Knight Rider said:

Thanks for the input. I already have a system set up where my sister send me $1000-$2000 from Dubai every month and I send her back from another account the same amount. This has been going opn for more than six months. I also have my AdSense check amounting $400-$500/month deposited every month. ChatGPT has already suggested me to include a link and a screen shot of my website. I will take the risk and if it's rejected, I don't mind losing the application fee. A DTV visa will be give me enormous flexibility. The O extension requires me to be present in Thailand during my extension time. 

 

Can you update the thread on how it goes with your application?

 

I'd be careful with this part of your application --- "I already have a system set up where my sister send me $1000-$2000 from Dubai every month and I send her back from another account the same amount. This has been going opn for more than six months." 

 

It could be classed as fraudulent and get you in trouble??

 

Good luck with it anyway

13 hours ago, BillyBobzTeeth said:

It could be classed as fraudulent and get you in trouble??

Sure, I will post it here. Why it will be classed as fraudulent? My sister can send me money for any reason. I can also send her back for any reason. When 50% DTV visas are done for generating income by making Thailand videos while being at Thailand which is obviously a fraudulent activity. 

10 hours ago, Knight Rider said:

Sure, I will post it here. Why it will be classed as fraudulent? My sister can send me money for any reason. I can also send her back for any reason. When 50% DTV visas are done for generating income by making Thailand videos while being at Thailand which is obviously a fraudulent activity. 

 

Cycling money between accounts to inflate your 'income' for your application could be viewed as misrepresentation or even fraud by Thai authorities.

 

Also, given how banks operate these days, would they report you?

 

If so, you could face legal issues as a result. It might not just be about losing the application fee; you could lose the right to come here again.

 

Just my two cents. Good luck with your application; I hope it goes well.

 

Mother Hen Mode Deactivated 😁

9 hours ago, BillyBobzTeeth said:

Cycling money between accounts to inflate your 'income' for your application could be viewed as misrepresentation or even fraud by Thai authorities.

It's bull<deleted>. I am not cycling into my business accounts. One can cycle as much money as one wants in their personal accounts. I have been in business for forty years. I know what is legal and what is illegal. 

On 8/29/2025 at 12:56 PM, BrandonJT said:

The DTV isn't for someone who wants to take a short working vacation each year.

 

If you want to go to Thailand for 2 months per year and do some work while you're there, just do like most people and do it. You can get 60 days visa exempt, or tourist visa if that ends.  Or since you have a Thai wife you can get a 90 day non-O visa whenever you want if 60 days won't cover your trip.

Why not?  I have a DTV and I take short working vacations there every year.  Over 5 years it comes out cheaper and less hassle than getting a METV every year.

4 hours ago, shdmn said:

Why not?  I have a DTV and I take short working vacations there every year.  Over 5 years it comes out cheaper and less hassle than getting a METV every year.

Because you must be able to show that your job allows you to work full time from Thailand. An embassy is not going to approve a 5-year visa that allows 180 day stays if someone submits a letter from their company that says they can work remotely for 30 days per year.

24 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

Because you must be able to show that your job allows you to work full time from Thailand. An embassy is not going to approve a 5-year visa that allows 180 day stays if someone submits a letter from their company that says they can work remotely for 30 days per year.

So you are trying to tell me, a DTV holder who has already gone through the process, how it works?  🤔

 

Not sure where you are getting your info from but it's not correct or only half true.

2 minutes ago, shdmn said:

So you are trying to tell me, a DTV holder, who has already gone through the process, how it works?  🤣

I'm telling you what dozens, if not hundreds of people have reported being required for a workcation DTV.  A work contact or executive letter that specifically states they are allowed to work remotely, and many embassies require it states not only that they are allowed to work remotely, but that they are allowed to work specifically from Thailand.

Someone who is specifically allowed to work remotely for only 4 weeks per year will not qualify for a workcation DTV.