A free PDF guide — a visa for 5 years
A guide to the DTV visafor Thailand
A long-stay visa for remote work and study: 180 days per entry, extendable in the country, and the money stays in your account. We set out both grounds and how to file.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 12.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. Practice differs between missions.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the visa before you file
Four things that make the DTV convenient for long visits.
- A visa for 5 years from the start
Multiple entry with no cap on the number of trips — this is a visa, not a residence permit.
- 180 days per entry
Each arrival gives 180 days, which can be extended in the country by a further 180.
- The money stays yours
A balance of THB 500,000 in the account is evidenced: it is not a deposit with the state and not an investment.
- There is no age limit
Unlike the retirement visa, there is no age threshold here — it suits young professionals.
02 / The means
What you will have to evidence
Choose the ground and the family: the requirement on the balance is the same.
03 / Two grounds
Work or a programme
The visa is one and the same, but what you evidence differs.
The values were checked against the official material on 12.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | WorkcationRemote work for foreign clients | Soft powerStudy, treatment, sport and culture |
|---|---|---|
| The ground | work for foreign companies and clients | courses, treatment, Muay Thai, cookery |
| The means | THB 500,000 | THB 500,000 |
| What you evidence | an employment contract or client contracts | enrolment on a programme or course |
| The term of the visa | 5 years | 5 years |
| The stay per entry | 180 days | 180 days |
| Extension in the country | a further 180 days | a further 180 days |
| The family | a spouse and children are arranged as dependants | a spouse and children are arranged as dependants |
- The ground
- work for foreign companies and clients
- courses, treatment, Muay Thai, cookery
- The means
- THB 500,000
- THB 500,000
- What you evidence
- an employment contract or client contracts
- enrolment on a programme or course
- The term of the visa
- 5 years
- 5 years
- The stay per entry
- 180 days
- 180 days
- Extension in the country
- a further 180 days
- a further 180 days
- The family
- a spouse and children are arranged as dependants
- a spouse and children are arranged as dependants
In both cases the income has to come from clients outside Thailand.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the visa.
- The essentials firstThe key facts of the programme: what decides the matter.
- A comparisonThe terms of the programme in one table.
- How the work runsThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The analysisWhat is checked before the status is granted.
- The limitsWhat affects the timings, the costs and keeping the status.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
The application is filed online; from there everything turns on the mission.
- Choosing the ground
Remote work or a soft-power programme — the pack of documents follows from it.
- Evidencing the means
A statement showing a balance of THB 500,000 in your account.
- The documents for the ground
An employment contract, client contracts, or proof of enrolment on a programme.
- The online application
Filed through the Thai e-visa system, with the fee paid.
- The decision and the visa
Consideration takes 2-6 weeks, depending on the mission.
- Entries and extensions
Each entry gives 180 days, extended in the country by a further 180.
07 / The check
What is examined on filing
The balance in the account, the ground for the stay and the foreign source of the income.
- The balance in the account
A sum of THB 500,000 is evidenced; the money stays yours and is not frozen.
- The ground for the stay
Contracts for remote work, or proof of taking part in a programme.
- Foreign clients
The work is done for companies and clients outside Thailand.
- The family’s documents
Marriage and birth certificates for the dependants, translated.
The document requirements differ between embassies — the pack is assembled for the particular one.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits, the chief of them that this is a visa and not a residence permit.
This is a visa, not residenceIt gives no permanent status
The DTV leads to neither permanent residence nor citizenship of Thailand.
You may not work for Thai companiesA work visa is needed
The ground is income from foreign clients; local employment is prohibited.
The stay is counted by entries180 days at a time
You cannot live there continuously for all five years: the clock resets on leaving and entering again.
Embassies differ in practiceThe requirements are checked
The set of documents and the readings differ between missions.
Your tax positionOn a long stay
More than 180 days in a calendar year can bring tax obligations in Thailand.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists who deal with the Thai missions.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 12 August 2026
- Last updated
- 12 August 2026
The official sources
- The Destination Thailand VisaThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 12.08.2026The grounds for the visa, the requirement on means, the term and the rules of the stay.
- The e-visa systemThai E-Visa · checked 12.08.2026Filing the application online and the list of documents.
- The Immigration Bureau of ThailandThai Immigration Bureau · checked 12.08.2026Extending the stay in the country and the rules on entries.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the DTV visa
How much money is needed?
A balance of THB 500,000 in your account. It is proof of means, not a payment.
How long is the visa granted for?
For 5 years, multiple entry; each entry gives 180 days, extended by a further 180.
Is there an age limit?
No, unlike the retirement visa there is no age threshold.
May I work for Thai companies?
No. The ground is work for clients outside Thailand.
What is the soft-power ground?
Taking part in Thai programmes: cookery courses, Muay Thai, treatment, cultural and sporting courses.
What about the family?
A spouse and children are arranged as dependants for the same term.
Does the visa lead to permanent residence?
No, it is a long-stay visa with no route into a permanent status.
What about tax?
A stay of more than 180 days in a calendar year can create tax obligations in Thailand.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a check on your position
We will send the PDF with the terms and a preliminary check on your situation.
- The requirement on the balance in the account
- The two grounds and what each of them evidences
- How the stay is counted by entries
- What happens with tax on long visits