As we reported in GMS Flash Alert 2024-146 (12 July 2024), the Thai government announced new visa measures designed to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy, starting from 15 July 2024.1, 2, 3
Why this matters
Overall, these measures aim to augment the appeal of Thailand as a place to visit, and to live and work.
The Destination Thailand Visa enhances opportunities for digital nomads, remote workers, and long-term travellers seeking to live and work in Thailand.
Also, the nationals of more countries will now benefit from the broader eligibility and options for staying in Thailand conferred by the new measures for the Visa on Arrival and a new 60-day Visa Exemption.
They also help facilitate – from a process perspective – entry and exit of foreign travellers from the eligible countries, reducing queues at immigration points of entry, and in many cases, obviating the need to secure visa extensions.
More Details
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is designed for long-term travellers who are freelancers, digital nomads, or remote workers and who are participating in “Thai Soft Power” activities, including the spouse and children (under 20 years old) of DTV visa holders.
The requirements and benefits of Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) are as follows:
- For a visa fee of 10,000 Thai baht, the DTV is a five-year multiple-entry visa, permitting the holder to stay in Thailand for up to 180 days per entry, with an option to extend each stay for an additional 180 days through the Thai Immigration Bureau.
- After a maximum stay of 180 days plus an additional 180 days, DTV holders must depart the country, and can re-enter Thailand on the same DTV (within the five-year validity period of the visa).
- For DTV applications for the purpose of remote work, an employment contract or employment certificate from outside of Thailand is required — or a professional portfolio showcasing the status of the digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent/specialist, or freelancer.
- For DTV applications for the purpose of participating in activities, evidence is required, such as confirmation of the applicant’s booking, or a letter confirming an appointment from a hospital / medical centre.
- For the visa holder’s spouse and children under 20 years of age, proof of the relationship with the DTV visa holder – such as marriage certificate, birth certificate – is required.
- Financial evidence, e.g., a bank statement, payslip, or sponsorship letter, is required to demonstrate that the applicants, or supporter/guarantor of applicants, have an amount of at least 500,000 Thai baht available or equivalent in other currencies.
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) can be applied for at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.
60-day Visa Exemption
- Foreign nationals of 93 countries are allowed to stay in Thailand for a period of up to 60 days without a visa for purposes of tourism and short-term business engagements.
- Short-term business engagements can include 17 types of work/activities considered as necessary or urgent or ad-hoc. Refer to the Notification of the Department of Employment, re: Prescription of Necessary or Urgent Works or Ad-hoc Works.4
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
- Foreign nationals of 31 countries can apply for Visa on Arrival (VOA) at immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism, for a period not exceeding 15 days.
KPMG Insights
We recommend that questions about eligibility, securing the appropriate documentation to support applications, making applications, and next steps be directed to the traveller’s usual immigration counsel or to a member of the Immigration team with KPMG in Thailand (see the Contacts section).
Contacts
Additional Resources
Footnotes
1 Announcing the introduction of the new “Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)” (in Thai), see The Royal Gazette, “Announcement allowing foreigners to stay in the Kingdom for tourism purposes and remote work as a special case.”
2 For the announcement granting visa exemptions for passport holders from 90 countries and territories for short-term visits up to 60 days (in Thai), see The Royal Gazette, “Announcement on countries/territories whose nationals are entitled to visa exemption for the purpose of tourism and short-term business engagements, for a period not exceeding 60 days.”
3 For notification of increasing the number of countries/territories whose nationals are entitled to Visa on Arrival (VOA) from 19 to 31 countries/territories (in Thai), see The Royal Gazette, “Announcement on countries/territories whose nationals are entitled to Visa on Arrival (VOA) may apply for a Visa on Arrival (VoA) at immigration checkpoints.”
4 For the type of work/activities that are considered as necessary or urgent or ad-hoc that foreign nationals who have been granted the right to enter Thailand temporarily under a visa exemption, see The Royal Gazette, “The Notification of the Department of Employment, Re: Prescription of Necessary or Urgent Works or Ad-hoc Works.”
THB 1 = EUR 0.026
THB 1 = USD 0.028
THB 1 = GBP 0.022
THB 1 = AUD 0.043
THB 1 = JPY 4.23
Source: www.xe.com
Disclaimer
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Thailand.
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