Thailand Plans to Launch a Digital Nomad Visa for Extended Stays — What We Know So Far

Thailand is inviting remote workers and digital nomads to not only visit, but to stay a while with its new extended visa program.

The visa, called the Destination Thailand Visa, will allow travelers to stay in the country for up to 180 days at a time (about six months) with multiple entries allowed, the Royal Thai Consulate General NY announced in a social media post. The Tourism Authority of Thailand also separately confirmed the news of the visa to Travel + Leisure on Thursday.

However, while various outlets reported that the visa went into effect on June 1, the Royal Thai Consulate General NY noted in its announcement that the visa was subject to the “completion of final legal procedures,” in its post. Additionally, the Tourism Authority of Thailand also confirmed to T+L that there is no set launch date.

It wasn’t immediately clear how travelers would apply for the new visa, but details on Thailand’s current visa procedures can be found on its official e-visa website.

Currently, tourists from the United States are not required to obtain a visa prior to traveling to Thailand, but are only allowed to stay up to 60 days.

Those who do visit Thailand will have plenty of things to keep them busy from gold-gilded temples and street markets in Bangkok to the stunning beaches of Koh Phi Phi, the ruins of Ayutthaya, and more.

Thailand isn’t alone in offering a digital nomad visa. Last year, Spain introduced a similar option allowing foreigners to live there if they work remotely for a company based outside of Spain or are self-employed and exclusively use a computer or telecommunication system to work. And Canada allows travelers who work for a foreign employer to enter for up to six months at a time.