Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Mai Arse
    Posts
    12,326

    New and improved Smart Visa to make life easier for digital nomads in Thailand

    The government is considering proposals to reform the Smart Visa to make it easier for digital nomads to legally work from the Kingdom. According to a Pattaya Mail report, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says the Board of Investment and the government’s Covid-19 task force have already agreed on the detail of the proposal.

    Digital nomads have fallen through the cracks of Thailand’s immigration and tax laws for years, mostly needing creative visa agents to find ways of applying for a visa to stay in the country. Some tinkering with the Smart Visa category allowed some additional flexibility for potential nomads but only in specific professions and requiring a high minimum monthly salary.

    The Pattaya Mail reports that the current Smart Visa has had limited take-up, mainly limited to highly-paid employees in the tech industry. The significant cost, involving a big cash investment or proof of a high salary, in addition to the usual complicated bureaucracy in obtaining the visa, has put most people off. The current proposal is to overhaul the visa, to allow digital nomads to remain in the Kingdom for up to 4 years, without a work permit.

    Holders of the new, multiple-entry Smart Visa would also be exempt from 90 day reporting or having to obtain re-entry permits. According to the Pattaya Mail, their family members would also be entitled to accompany them, under the same flexible conditions. Foreign nationals in possession of tourist visas could transfer to the Smart Visa once they have proof of at least 6 months’ employment and evidence of qualifications and experience.

    Watch our video about digital nomads in Thailand HERE.

    A similar system is already in place in many other parts of the world, including a number of European countries, the Caribbean and Mexico. The Pattaya Mail quotes a spokesman from pressure group International Flexitravel, who says this is an opportunity for Thailand to lead Asia in legalising digital nomads. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed how and where people work and for many, there may never be a permanent return to the office.

    “The legalisation of digital nomads has hardly begun in Asia. The current situation whereby nomads keep quiet and police hopefully ignore them is unsatisfactory. Thailand now has the opportunity to be a market leader because the latest technologies make the wholesale resumption of traditional office-based working less and less likely.”

    SOURCE: The Pattaya Mail
    Shalom

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    38,456
    What a great idea- but of course execution is everything. Don't be surprised if the Thai fix ends up with digital nomads having to jump through even more hoops to get this visa than is the case now, which usually seems to involve border hopping. TIT

  3. #3
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Mai Arse
    Posts
    12,326
    4 year visa with no 90 day reporting, gotta be a big tax.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat
    Phuketrichard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    01-03-2024 @ 05:38 PM
    Location
    Phuket
    Posts
    1,341
    reads the requirements.

    hardly for the backpacker digital youtuber

    Four-Year SMART Visa in Thailand | Acclime Thailand

  5. #5
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cebu
    Posts
    13,886
    Quote Originally Posted by Phuketrichard View Post
    reads the requirements.

    hardly for the backpacker digital youtuber
    "A new four-year visa for professionals – smart visa – has been announced by the Thai Cabinet and will be issued from February 2018."

    Is time travel one of the requirements?

  6. #6
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    สุโขทัย
    Posts
    10,149
    Digital Nomad.
    Whatever the fuck that is.

  7. #7
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,534
    Foreign nationals in possession of tourist visas could transfer to the Smart Visa once they have proof of at least 6 months’ employment.
    Like a salary cheque?

    Umm...right.

    According to the Pattaya Mail, their family members would also be entitled to accompany them


    Looks like a Pattaya Mail writer has had a severe attack of the brain farts.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •