If you’re a digital nomad who plans to move to Thailand or who is already living here, you may be curious about your possibilities for obtaining a visa. Thailand has a variety of visas that are appropriate for various kinds of visitors, regardless of whether you intend to remain for a short while or permanently. This is a summary of the main types of visas that are available, along with information on how you can work legally and take advantage of all that Thailand has to offer.
What types of visa can you get as a digital nomad in Thailand?
There are currently 5 options available to anyone looking to spend an extended period of time in Thailand: Tourist Visa, Exemption Visa, Education Visa, Thailand Elite Visa and Smart Visa. In the future more specific digital nomad visas may well be introduced but for now let’s explore what is available:
1. Visa for Tourists
The Tourist Visa (TR) is the most popular option for short-term travelers, allowing stays of up to 60 days with the option of an extra 30 days. Even though you can’t work in Thailand with this visa, a lot of digital nomads utilize it to travel for brief periods of time and work remotely for foreign businesses.
2. Exemption from Visa
The Visa Exemption policy lets citizens of select countries enter Thailand for up to 60 days (or 15 days if entering overland) without a visa for the purpose of tourism, business engagements, urgent work or ad-hoc work. This can be extended at immigration offices for an extra thirty days, making it ideal for a quick visit while you explore Thailand’s hotspots for digital nomads.
3. Education Visa (ED Visa)
With the Education Visa, you can stay in Thailand for up to 12 months if you’re interested in self-development. To be eligible for this visa, a lot of digital nomads enroll in language classes or even sign up to some Muay Thai classes . If you want to combine study with remote job, this is an excellent alternative.
4. Thailand Elite Visa
This premium option is ideal for long-term digital nomads, as it allows you to stay for 5–20 years, depending on the package. This visa provides access to VIP services such as expedited airport immigration and unique benefits, despite its higher cost. The Thai Elite visa costs anywhere between 900,000 THB and 5m THB depending on your needs and budget.
5. Smart Visa
The Smart Visa program, which Thailand launched, is intended for investors, entrepreneurs, and highly skilled workers, particularly in the tech, healthcare, and engineering sectors. With this visa, you can easily bring family members and stay and work in Thailand for a maximum of four years.
6. Thailand's Future: Digital Nomad Visa?
Like other nations, Thailand has been looking into the possibility of introducing a Digital Nomad Visa. This might provide long-term residence and work-from-anywhere rights, albeit it’s not official yet. Keep a watch on advancements because location-independent workers may find this to be ideal soon!
Conclusion
By going over these visa choices, you can make the most of your time in Thailand by taking use of its beaches, coworking spaces, and vibrant digital nomad culture, all while ensuring that your stay stays legal and compatible with local regulations!
The Thai embassy have published an article which helps identify what constitutes working whilst in Thailand. Click the link below to read more:
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