Who the DTV is for
- Remote workers and freelancers paid by companies or clients outside Thailand. You'll show an employment contract, client contracts or a business registration abroad, plus a portfolio or profile.
- Soft-power participants: Muay Thai, Thai cooking, Thai language, seminars, sports events, music and medical treatment. You'll need a letter from the gym, school or hospital.
- Spouses and children under 20 of a main DTV holder can apply as dependants.
The DTV does not allow you to work for a Thai company or serve Thai customers. If that is your plan, you need a business visa and work permit.
The requirements
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 20 or over |
| Money | 500,000 THB or equivalent in your own name, usually shown by 3 to 6 months of bank statements |
| Purpose evidence | Remote work: contracts, payslips, company or client details. Soft power: an enrolment or confirmation letter from a Thai provider |
| Passport | At least 6 months validity; more is better, since your stays are capped by it |
| Where to apply | Thailand's e-Visa system, from outside Thailand, through the embassy covering where you live |
Embassies apply the rules differently. Some ask for longer statement histories, proof of address in the country you apply from, or a letter explaining your work. Check your file against that embassy's current list before you submit.
How long you can stay
Each entry gives you 180 days. You can extend once per entry by another 180 days at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB, so a single entry can last up to a year. Leave and come back, and the clock restarts.
On longer stays you'll still do a 90-day report and your landlord files a TM30. Keep an eye on tax: since 2024, foreign income brought into Thailand in a year when you are tax-resident (180+ days) can be taxable. Ask a tax adviser about your case.
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm you qualify: income source abroad, or a soft-power letter, plus 500,000 THB in your own account.
- Gather documents: passport scan, photo, 3 to 6 months of statements, contracts or the provider letter, proof of address where you'll apply.
- Apply on Thailand's official e-Visa website and pay the 10,000 THB fee (charged in local currency).
- Wait for the decision, typically 1 to 3 weeks. Print the approval.
- Fly in, then plan your 90-day reports and the optional 180-day extension.
Common reasons DTV applications fail
- Savings topped up just before applying, with no history.
- Contracts that don't show who pays you or that the client is outside Thailand.
- A soft-power letter from a provider that doesn't match the course you describe.
- Applying through an embassy in a country where you are only visiting.