Thailand holds much of the beauty of the earth within itself. It’s a great place to revamp your soul and mind. Just wonder how relaxing it would be to work in an environment surrounded by idyllic pieces of nature. Therefore, if you find peace in the heart of mountains, lush green rainforests, and beaches, then head-on towards the trekking adventures in Thailand by applying for a Thailand Smart Visa Permit.
As a digital nomad or remote worker, you’ll find comfort like fast internet connection, affordable food and travel etc. The best part is that the accommodation in Thailand is also reasonable. In some cities, you may face traffic and crowds during the celebration of their cultural rituals.
You may see that the eligibility criteria for the Thailand digital nomad visa is a bit tough. But Thailand offers almost five different digital nomad visas for remote workers, which include the Smart Talent Visa, Smart Investor visa, Smart Executive visa, Smart startup visa and Smart O visa.
Therefore, a land of opportunities for digital nomads, investors, and remote workers is waiting for you. It is counted among the top hubs for expats from all over the world. Other countries in South Asia, like Malaysia and Indonesia, also offer wonderful perks to the digital nomads community. Hence living in South Asia as a digital nomad is not less then a gold mind of possibilities for you.
What is a Digital Nomad Visa?
Various countries around the world have launched remote passes. This is a legal permit that allows remote workers or freelancers to work from anywhere in the world. This is known as the “Digital Nomad Visa”. After acquiring this visa, a remote worker can stay up to a year in another country.
A digital nomad visa is specifically issued based on one’s skills and financial state. Moreover, through a digital nomad visa, you experience working in a complete new culture that adds creativity to your mind and soul. While you’re applying for a digital nomad visa, make sure to give correct documents so that there are higher chances of your visa application being approved.
Is Thailand a good country for digital nomads?
Thailand is one of the ideal choices for digital nomads. In fact, its capital city, “Chiang Mai”, is well known as the biggest nomadic hub in the world. As a remote worker, you can make valuable connections with other expats in Thailand.
It is also one of the safest places so you can roam in the country without any fear. There is hardly any internet fluctuation in Thailand and you can get a fast Wi-Fi connection at reasonable cost. Moreover, the beauty of this country is worth seeing.
Working surrounded by mountains and beaches gives you a whole new level of pleasure. Thailand’s natural beauty helps heal exhausting work burdens. There are plenty of activities to do in the cities of Thailand. Every city has vibrant shopping malls and the best street food.
Thai people are friendly and welcoming. You’ll enjoy being in their culture. Despite all these perks, Thailand gets a lot of traffic and crowds during the summer; this may distract your attention from your work.
Documents Required for Thailand Digital Nomad Visa
Following are the documents that you must have while applying for Thailand’s smart visa.
- You must have your national passport with its copies.
- You have to show the notification letter from the “Immigration Bureau“.
- A TM.90 form along with STM.6 form is necessary.
- Health insurance is a must (it must be Thailand coverage).
- Proof of your income is mandatory.
- CV or Resume.
- Your income proof and documents of your work experience.
Eligibility Criteria for Thailand Digital Nomad Visa
You have to fulfill the following eligibility criteria for the Thailand Digital Nomad Visa.
- You must be earning $80,000 per year to become eligible for Thailand Smart Visa.
- You must have health insurance coverage in Thailand of $50,000.
- The eligibility criteria for Thailand digital nomad visa demands that you must have three years experience in working for a company that generates $150 million annual revenue.
- If you haven’t worked for a company then you have to show the $1 Million financial assets.
- If you’re above 50 then you must have retired with $80,000 per year income.
- If you don’t meet the above mentioned criteria then for becoming eligible you have to invest $50,000 in Thailand’s government property or foreign direct investments.
Thailand Digital Nomad Visa Cost
The cost of a Thailand Digital Nomad Visa depends on the type of visa you choose according to your eligibility criteria or needs. But approximately, the processing fee for Thailand’s smart visa is $2,760.
Thailand Digital Nomad Visa Income Tax
If you live in Thailand as a digital nomad for less than six months, you don’t have to pay any tax. But if you stay more than six months in Thailand and your income exceeds $140,000, you become eligible to pay an income tax of 17%.
How do I apply for a Thailand Digital Nomad Visa?
Following is the step-by-step procedure that you have to follow while applying for a Thailand digital nomad visa.
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Gathering necessary documents
You have to gather all the documents that are necessary for a Thailand smart visa. The important documents include passport, income proof, health insurance, work experience and notification letter etc.
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Application Submission
You have to submit the Thailand smart visa application online on their official website. Bear in mind that you have to choose the application after careful consideration of your eligibility criteria. It will take about 20 days for the approval of your application.
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Embassy’s consultation
After the submission of your online application, the next step is to meet with the Immigration Bureau in Thailand. You have to submit the application fee and discuss other essentials with them.
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Digital Work Permit
If you’re already in Thailand after going through the whole process, you have to collect your digital work permit from the Department of Employment in Bangkok.
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Yearly fee
Once your Thailand smart visa gets approved, you have to pay the $83 yearly fee for its sustainability.
Benefits of Working as a Digital Nomad in Thailand
Here are the perks of working remotely in Thailand as a digital nomad.
- Thailand is one of the safest countries of digital nomads in South Asia. A tourist can wander at any spot in Thailand without any fear. And the crime rate in Thailand is also low.
- The Thai people are friendly and welcoming. You’ll rarely face any difficulty in having communication there with anyone. Moreover it’s also a land of cultural diversity hence you can enrich yourself with the multicultural activities in Thailand.
- The digital community in Thailand is at its peak so you don’t have to worry about internet speed. There are fast WiFi connections even in the small islands like Koh Samui and Koh PhaNgan.
- You’ll find talented business and digital working communities in Thailand. Hence there is an advantage of building relations with these experts.
- There is no doubt that Thailand has given ease to digital nomads in every aspect. But still this country is affordable for remote workers. For instance you can find food at a minimum cost of $1 and a minimum rent of a condo ranges from $300 to $500.
- There are amazing and well organized coworking spaces in Thailand. And they’ll cost you $100 to $200 per month.
Best Cities for Digital Nomads in Thailand
I’ve picked out the following cities that are the best for nomadic adventures in Thailand.
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Bangkok
I’d say that this is one of the best cities on earth for digital nomads. You can find tons of activities and places to enjoy. Moreover, the culture of Bangkok is vibrant, and there are incredible shopping malls, cafes, and coworking spaces for remote workers.
The main reason is the fast Wi-Fi facility in Bangkok, due to which freelancers prefer to live in this city. The speed of the internet in Bangkok is 225 Mbps. In Bangkok, you can find well furnished accommodation for just around $900 to $1,000. The cuisine is mouthwatering, and a whole day’s food will cost $14. You’ll never feel dull there, as every spot in Bangkok has its own charm.
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Phuket
Phuket is a charming island in Thailand; it is also a hub for digital nomads. The beaches, the sunset view, and its culture are the main reasons why travelers adore it. Phuket has one of the best WiFi connections, which will cost you around $163 per month. Co-working spaces are also affordable.
Phuket is famous for its beaches; therefore, the main activity is swimming. You can also rent a condo near the sea,which it will cost you around $500 to $800. Bear in mind that Phuket gets a hell of a crowd in summers. During these days you’ll observe traffic and a bulk of visitors. Hence I’ll suggest you to stay there for a month or two if you’re not comfortable with crowded spots.
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Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is surrounded by the beauty of lush green belts, mountains, and waterfalls. It is a refreshing and soothing place in Thailand. This place is one of the best and most affordable for digital nomads. The cost of living in Chiang Mai is almost $1,000 to $1,500.
The internet speed in Chiang Mai is 88 to 90 Mbps. You can enrich your taste buds with its affordable street food. Moreover, the nightlife of the old city is worth enjoying. You can go trekking, and for a high adventure, don’t forget to do whitewater rafting.
Despite all the peace and beauty, Chiang Mai has a major drawback of the burning season. So it is suggested to digital nomads and remote workers leave the city during this season. Because the air quality becomes poor and difficult to breathe in.
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Karbi
If you want to experience a small place with less population, Krabi would be an ideal choice for you. Here you can find many accommodations at an affordable cost. The cost of living in Karbi is $700 to $1,000. This place is also surrounded by budget-friendly cafés and restaurants.
Ao Nang is a place worth seeing in Karbi. Even though it’s a small city, there are plenty of fun activities to do like scuba diving, enjoying the hot springs, etc. In Karbi, you may not find many coworking spaces like other cities in Thailand. Lion and Shark, 89 Cafe, and KoHub are the best coworking spaces.
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Pattaya
If you truly want to experience the nightlife in Thailand, then Pattaya is for you. It is situated near the coastline of Thailand. As the night falls, the place becomes vibrant and rushy. You can wander the streets, do shopping, and the street food in Pattaya is not the best representation of Thai food.
The price of accommodation here ranges from $400 to $500. This place does not have many coworking spaces, but most of the digital nomads suggest Anchor Coworking and rPod Coworking Space. The internet speed in Pattaya is about 94 Mbps. If you don’t like entertaining spaces for remote work, Pattaya might not be your cup of tea.
Best Co-working Spaces for Digital Nomads in Thailand
Here are the best co-working spaces for remote workers in Thailand.
- BeacHub, Koh Phangan.
- Hub53 Coworking Space, Chiang Mai.
- Muchroom Coworking Space, Bangkok.
- KoHub,Koh Lanta.
- Hubba Thailand, Bangkok.
- Anchor Coworking, Pattaya.
- Tao Hub, Koh Tao.
- BAYACO Coworking space, Phuket.
- HATCH Society, Phuket.
FAQS
1.What is the cost of living in Thailand?
Thailand is one of the most affordable countries for digital nomads. And the cost of living, including accommodation, travel, and food, is $1,000 to $2,000.
2.What is the internet speed in Thailand?
Thailand has one of the fastest internet connections in the world. The speed of the internet in Thailand is 308 Mbps.
3. How long is the processing time for the Thailand digital nomad visa?
It takes about 20 days for the approval of your application. And then you’ll get a Thailand Smart Visa within 30 days. But sometimes it may take two months.
4. More South Asian countries with digital nomad visas?
Here is the list of other South Asian countries with digital nomad visas.
- Malaysia.
- Indonesia.
5. Can your family join you on a Thailand Digital Nomad Visa?
Thailand is a friendly country, and it is allowed to bring your spouse and children with you on your digital nomad visa. For this, you have to fill out a separate application form.
Conclusion
South Asian countries have provided much flexibility to digital nomads. Thailand and Malaysia are two of the countries where remote workers can find tons of opportunities. It’s true that getting the Thailand Smart Visa is difficult because of its eligibility criteria. Therefore, give it a chance and don’t be afraid to move yourself into the hub of growth.
