Comprehensive Guide to Thailand's Remote Work Visas

Remote Thailand Staff Team. 1/6/2024.

In response to the global shift towards remote employment, Thailand has introduced tailored visa solutions, prominently the Digital Nomad Visa, also known as Destination Thailand. This visa aims to accommodate digital professionals looking to relocating to Thailand while maintaining their work commitments aboard.

Alongside the DTV, Thailand offers an Employer of Record (EOR) Visa, designed to facilitate foreign workers employed through local entities. This visa option caters to individuals seeking to engage in a more formal employment, still remotely with a company based outside of the country.

In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the specifics of each visa type, detailing requirements, eligibility criteria, and practical considerations.

1) Digital Nomad Visa (Destination Thailand Visa, DTV)

The DTV caters to any work that can be done remotely for a non-Thai company. It offers complete location independence. However, some limitations apply.

Advantages

• Stays Capped at 180 Days Per Year: Spread out over a 5-year visa validity period. However, you can only utilize the 180-day allowance twice within these five years.
• Entry Fee: Each time you enter the 180-day period, there's a 10,000 baht fee involved.
• Short-Term Flexibility: Particularly attractive for those who want to experience Thailand without committing to a long-term stay.

Requirements

• Savings: Expected to have THB500,000 in savings (conversion provided in the table below).
• Foreign Employment: Proof of valid foreign employment with a registered foreign company is anticipated to be necessary.

Limitations

• One=time stay cap: The 180-day cap per year can be restrictive for some.
• Entry Fee: The requirement to pay a fee each time you utilize the allowance adds to the limitations.

The DTV is ideal for digital nomads who want to explore Thailand for short periods without committing to a long-term stay.

2) Sponsored Work Permit

A more locked-in option. This type of visa offers a more structured approach to your legal status in Thailand. With it, you'll be employed by our entity, allowing you to obtain a work permit and reside in Thailand for an extended period.

We act as a middleperson in an Employee of Record (EOR) model.

EOR services enable businesses to send their full-time employees to work remotely in foreign countries without the need to hire contractors or establish local entities. The EOR operates legal entities in the respective countries to hire employees on behalf of the client, effectively mitigating compliance risks.

While clients retain management and oversight of their employees' day-to-day activities, the EOR assumes full legal responsibility for employment contracts, payroll processing, and employee benefits administration.

Advantages

• Long-Term Stability: Reside in Thailand for at least one year. Extensions are yearly.
• EOR Support: Remote Thailand acts as your Employer of Record (EOR), handling the legal aspects of your employment and paying your taxes.
• Local Employment Benefits: Gain the benefits of local employment while maintaining the flexibility to work remotely.
• Tax Residency: As a tax resident of Thailand, you might benefit from favorable tax rates compared to their home country.
• Permanent Residency Pathway: After three years of holding a sponsored work permit, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency, securing your stay in Thailand permanently.

The sponsored work permit is perfect for digital nomads who envision Thailand as their long-term home and seek a structured pathway to permanent residency.

3) Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR)

If you see yourself as a 'Wealthy Global Citizen' and aspire to live in Thailand for an extended period, the Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) is the one for you. This visa provides a 10-year residency for financially independent individuals.

Advantages

• Permission to reside and work in or from Thailand for up to 10 years
• Annual residence reporting after one year in Thailand (instead of every 90 days)
• Re-entry permit included
• Fast-track service at Thai airports
• 17% personal income tax if employed by a Thai company

Requirements

• Income: $80k per year
• Assets: $1M
• Investment: $500k

Although we do not provide this visa, we can refer you to a trusted law firm that does. Please contact us for more details.

Breakdown

Here's a comparison table between different visa types. They do not include our fees:

Onboarding Process

The onboarding process is the same across both options. Here is the crude overview of how it will look:

Looking to work remote from Thailand?

If you are considering relocating to Thailand and need assistance with the visa application process, our company offers comprehensive relocation services, including both DTV and EOR visa applications.

Leveraging over 30 years of expertise in immigration, criminal, and corporate law, we've built an integrated platform that streamlines every aspect of your transition. With us, you can easily manage your visa application, compliance, reporting, accommodation, and all other essentials for setting up your new life in Thailand.

We understand that having a streamlined process is vital. That's why we handle our core services—visa application, health insurance, social security entirely in-house, ensuring you have peace of mind. For the less critical aspects of our business, we partner with trusted outsourced service providers.

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