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If you are also fond of Thailand’s beautiful beaches, its culture and delicious food and want to spend a long time there, then there is a very good news for you. The Government of Thailand has launched a special visa program to attract international travelers, especially digital nomads, freelancers and long-stay travelers. This new visa is named ‘Destination Thailand Visa’ (DTV), which gives you the freedom to live and work in Thailand for a full 5 years.
Let us know who can apply for this special visa, what is its fee and what are its main rules.
What is Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) and how does it work?
This visa is a great gift for those who want to make Thailand their long-term base without any hassles. This is a Multiple-Entry Visa, whose total validity is 5 years. This means that you can come and go to Thailand as many times as you want during the 5 years.
Every time you enter under this visa 180 days (about 6 months) Is allowed to stay continuously till. If you want to extend it further, you can extend it for another 180 days by paying a fixed fee at the Thailand Immigration Office. That means you can easily stay there for about a year without leaving the country.
Who can apply? Know the eligibility criteria
The Thai government has not limited the scope of this visa only to those working online, but has also linked it to other areas promoting Thailand’s ‘soft power’. The following categories of people are eligible:
Digital Nomads and Remote Workers: Professionals who work online (Work from Anywhere) for a foreign company or foreign clients.
Freelancers and Foreign Businessmen: Entrepreneurs freelancing internationally or running their own businesses overseas.
Thai is fond of soft power activities: People who are going to Thailand for a long-term stay to learn ‘Muay Thai’ (Thai Boxing), join Thai cooking classes, take sports training or be a part of a Cultural Workshop.
Medical and Wellness Tourists: Those who wish to take advantage of Thailand’s renowned wellness retreats or long-term medical treatment programs.
Visa fees and necessary documents
The fee for this 5-year Special Visa (DTV) for Indian applicants is approximately Rs 25,000 (or 10,000 Thai Baht), which may vary slightly depending on embassy rules and exchange rates.
To apply for this you must have the following documents:
Passport with minimum 6 months validity.
Financial Proof (Most Important): The applicant must have liquid money/savings of at least 500,000 Thai Baht (approximately Rs 14 to 15 lakh) in the bank account, which must be shown in the bank statement of the last 3 to 6 months.
Proof of remote work or freelancing (such as employment contract, salary slips or invoices from clients).
If you are going for any course or medical treatment, enrollment letter or receipt from the concerned institute.
Accommodation information and health insurance papers in Thailand.
Keep this most important rule in mind
The biggest condition of this visa is that you can work for your foreign employer or international clients while staying in Thailand, but you will not be allowed to work in any local company in Thailand. To work in Thai companies, it will be mandatory for you to obtain a separate work permit as per the rules there.
Apart from this, the main applicant along with his/her spouse and children below 20 years of age can also avail this visa as dependents. Application for this visa can be made through Thailand’s official e-Visa portal only while outside the country.
