Thailand has long been a favorite destination for digital nomads, particularly in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, thanks to its low cost of living and fast internet speeds. However, most nomads have relied on the 60-day tourist visa, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at the immigration office, before needing to do a visa run.After a long wait, Thailand finally launched its Long Term Residency (LTR) Visa on September 1, 2022. This 10-year visa is designed for wealthy expats, investors, retirees, and digital nomads. However, the requirements are so stringent that 99.99% of digital nomads will not qualify.Applicants must meet an income requirement of $80,000 and work for a public company listed on a stock exchange or a private company with a combined revenue of $150 million over the past three years. These high standards will likely deter most digital nomads. In this article, we explain the LTR visa and explore alternative options for digital nomads in Thailand.
Visa category
Long Term Resident Visa Program
What are the visa fees/charges?
• Government Fee: THB50,000 per person for 10-year visa with Multiple entry
• Government Fee: THB3,000 per year to maintain Digital Work Permit
Is there a minimum income threshold applicable for digital nomad/remote work visa?
• US$80,000 Annually
• If the income is between US$40,000 to US$80,000, Applicant is required to at least have a Master’s degree, own intellectual property, or receive Series A funding
Are digital nomad/remote work visa holders subject to income tax?
Under this Visa, tax on Overseas Income is Exempted
Are digital nomad/remote work visa holders subject to social security contributions?
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Is there Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) relief available in the country?
Yes (if all conditions on specific DTA is qualified)
Is there an income tax requirement in the country, in general?
If the DTA is not qualified, the individual who earned assessable income is required to declare such income and pay tax to Thai tax authority within the due date i.e. 31 March and 8 April of the following year
Is there a social security requirement in the country, in general?
If no employment relationship between Thai entity and individual, the social security contribution is not required
Are criminal checks required for this visa?
A letter of verification issued within the last 10 years by the country of Residence/ Nationality indicating clear criminal record might be required
For how long is the digital nomad/remote work visa valid?
Visa will be granted to stay in Thailand for the first time for five (5) years which can be extended for five (5) more years if qualifications are met
Is the applicant bound to any work restraints/limitations?
No work limitations, however, the individual needs to be aware of the PE issue for the activity carry on in Thailand for benefit of foreign entity
What are the standard requirements for the digital nomad/remote work visa?
• Annual income of the ap-plicant should not be less than US$80,000 in the past two years
• If the income of applicant is between US$40,000 to US$80,000 in the past two years, applicant is required to have at least a Master’s Degree, receive Series A funding, or own intellectual property.
• Applicant is required to have at least relevant working experience of five years over the past 10 years
• Applicant’s current employer should either be a public company (listed on a stock exchange anywhere), or a private company with at least three years of operations with revenue for the last 3 years should be at least US$150 million
• The applicant must have health insurance with coverage of at least US$50,000 or Social Security Benefits supporting treatment in Thailand or a bank deposit of no less than US$100,000
Which countries are eligible to apply for the digital nomad/ remote work visa?
All countries/ applicants who qualify for it
Is applicant required to provide proof of employment?
Applicant is required to submit the documents as a proof of employment as follows:
• Evidence of previous employment in the related field no less than 5 years in the past 10 years as of the submission date (e.g. a copy of employment certificate or letter from previous company)
• Evidence of employment contract or service contract with entity or a letter (signed by an authorized person) which include details of employment e.g. position, contract term and income
• A copy of company registration
Cost of living index: 38.5 – (87 out of 140)
Internet fixed: 203.28 Mbps Median- speedtest.net Feb 2023
Internet mobile: 40.1 Mbps Median – speedtest.net Feb 2023
