Many foreigners regard Thailand as a long term favorite destination for living and working. Digital Nomads in Thailand flock to its main cities and islands to enjoy a comfortable way of life. Chiang Mai is now the most popular location in the world for digital nomads due to its great food scene, plentiful cafes and co-working spaces, fast internet and affordable living.
The Thai digital nomad community and tourist industry suffered greatly in 2021 and has yet to recover. In order to tempt remote workers back, the government has announced plans for a Thailand Digital Nomad visa in the near future. For now, let’s take a look at the current visa options for those wanting to work remotely and long term in Thailand today.
Are you a digital nomad planning to run your business from a co-working space in Thailand? Will you conduct business in a Bangkok hotel room while passing through? When does the Thai Foreign Office consider this work that needs a permit? Thai officials will take notice if:
Due to the rise in popularity of remote working, Thai officials have started to take notice. Here are a few remote jobs that may or may not raise concerns for authorities:
An option for remote workers who fit a strict criteria is the Thai Smart Visa. This means it might not be right for everyone. But the good news is that the Thai government is looking to relax the eligibility requirements for this visa in the future. The options include:
The Thai Elite Visa, also known as a Privilege Entry Visa, allows multiple entry access to Thailand for 5, 10 and 20 years. This visa’s extra perks include VIP immigration, airport lounge access, healthcare, airport transfer and a luggage collection process.
While an Elite Visa is categorized as a Tourist Visa, you should be able to work remotely as long as you don’t work for a Thai company or take work away from local Thais. While this visa does come at a price, it removes the hassle of frequent visa renewals. The cost is:
A Thai Work Permit allows you to work for a business or work as a skilled remote professional in Thailand. You need it if you plan to stay in Thailand long term and work a job that could be done by a local Thai. For more details, you can refer to this article on How to Apply for a Work Permit in Thailand
Thailand is planning to move away from mass budget tourism and start to lure in higher spending tourists and long term digital nomads. In order to do this, the Thai government has just approved a 10-year Digital Nomad Visa for draft legislation. While it’s not available just yet, the current information is:
Are you looking to make your first hire in Thailand? Here is an article on 5 things you should know about hiring people in Thailand
Looking to navigate the complexities of establishing your business in Thailand? Our Ultimate Guide to Employer of Record in Thailand sheds light on how engaging an EOR can streamline the process, offering insights and support for a smoother market entry.
Reach out to our team for a free consultation to understand the requirements and steps involved in getting you set up and running a business in Thailand.
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