This Asian country offers stay of up to 5 years for ‘digital nomads’
Remote job setups are swiftly taking over the world — and in one part of it, “digital nomads” working off-site for a foreign company are being offered special visas eligible for up to five years.
A prime tourist destination in Asia, Thailand has begun offering a “digital nomad visa,” a multiple-entry pass valid for up to five years, which allows foreign workers to stay up to 180 days per entry.
This visa aims to cater to remote workers, freelancers and even tourists traveling to Thailand for training. It can also be used by outsiders visiting for music festivals, seminars or to acquire medical treatment.
Approvals weigh significantly on the applicant being employed by a non-Thai firm.
Thailand defines a digital nomad as “a traveler who earns their living online or from passive sources of income, and does not work for companies in the countries they travel to,” according to the Thai Embassy website.
To be eligible for the digital nomad visa, an applicant must be at least 20 years old with at least $14,197 in savings to last them three months in Thailand. Professional portfolios are required, too.
Visa fee is $284 or 10,000 in the Thai local currency, baht.
The special visa is aimed at bolstering tourism in Thailand, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, having drawn 9.55 million arrivals in the first three months of 2025.
It was the top destination several times before being overtaken by Malaysia in Q1.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
