Dan Freeman/Unsplash
From the busy streets of Bangkok to the glittering temples of Chiang Mai and the tropical paradise island of Phuket, Thailand has always had something for every type of traveler.
Now it’s expanding that broad appeal to remote workers, who can live and work in the country for up to five years thanks to a recent extension of Thailand’s digital nomad visa.
Previously, qualified digital nomads could only work in the Southeast Asian country for a total of 60 days, so the new validity period is a significant jump. The Thai government announced on May 28 that the new visa policy will come into effect on June 1 Reuters.
However, remote workers will not be able to stay in Thailand continuously for five years. The new visa covers multiple entries into the country digital nomads capable of staying for 180 consecutive days – about six months – at a time for up to five years. Visa holders must leave and re-enter the country at the end of each 180-day period to meet legal requirements.
Thai officials have not yet announced the new qualifications for the multiple-entry visa for digital nomads in Thailand, but to apply, travelers must make a visa appointment at a Thai embassy or apply online through the official Thai e-visa website. (Only certain nationalities can apply for a visa online; U.S. citizens are generally eligible.)
Thailand is popular with digital nomads for its powdery beaches and tropical climate, vibrant nightlife and street food culture, striking national parks and relatively low cost of living (1 Thai Baht is equal to approximately 0.02 US dollars). In addition to the capital Bangkok and the popular mountain city of Chiang Mai, the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui are popular bases for digital nomads, known for their pristine beaches– as well as Hua Hin, a beach town just a few hours south of Bangkok.
The new visa policy is part of a larger push by Thai officials to boost the tourism boom the country is experiencing a shrinking economy. In addition to extending the validity of the digital nomad visa, the government has also increased the number of countries eligible for visa-free entry into Thailand from 57 to 93 countries and extended the stay limit for eligible tourists from 30 to 60 days. Thailand has also introduced more lenient visa rules for retirees and graduate students.
With the five-year digital nomad visa, Thailand is among the countries with some of the longest validity periods for digital nomad visas. Other countries that allow long-term residency of remote workers include Spainallowing digital nomads to stay for a year and then reapply for up to four years, and Montenegro, where the visas are valid for two years with an option to extend for another two years.
Recently, visas for remote workers have become more popular around the world, with countries like Japan, ItalyAnd Turkey launching visas for digital nomads in 2024.
Originally published on Condé Nast traveler
