Information about non-tourist visas for Thailand

The student visa for Thailand

Also called the Education visa (category ED), it can only be granted if you can prove you are enrolled at a university or school in Thailand. You first receive a 90-day visa, which can then be extended to one year. Students doing an internship in Thailand need a letter from the host company confirming the internship.

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arrow_circle_right See the documents required for an education visa on the official Thai e-Visa website.

Retirement visa for Thailand

You can apply for a retirement visa (category O-A) from the age of 50. It is valid for one year and renewable. You must meet a number of conditions to get it, in particular regarding your financial resources, and these conditions change quite often.

List of required documents for applying for an O-A retirement visa

• Passport page with personal details (the passport must be valid for at least 18 months on the date of departure)
• Recent official color passport photo, taken within the last 6 months
• Proof of residence in the country where you apply, dated within the last 3 months (electricity, mobile phone or internet bill), and a residence permit if you are not a citizen of that country
• Proof of a monthly income (pension certificate, payslip) of at least 65,000 THB, or a bank statement showing a balance of at least 800,000 THB (or equivalent) over the past 3 months – amounts may be expressed in local currency depending on the embassy
• Medical certificate confirming that you are in good health and free from contagious diseases (legible, issued within the last 3 months)
• Health insurance with minimum coverage of USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000, valid from arrival in Thailand and for 1 year
• Foreign Insurance Certificate covering 1 year, completed, signed and stamped by the insurer, with minimum coverage of THB 3,000,000 (see: https://longstay.tgia.org)
• Clean criminal record from your country of nationality (and country of residence if different)
• Visa fee (amount varies by country)

If the accompanying spouse is not eligible for the O-A (Long Stay) visa, he or she may apply for a temporary stay under the category O visa. A marriage certificate must be provided as evidence, certified by a notary or by the applicant's diplomatic or consular mission.

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arrow_circle_right See the documents required on the official Thai e-Visa website.

Non-Immigrant B visa (business visa)

The business visa (category B) allows foreigners to work in Thailand as expatriates. A letter from the employer is required. The visa is first issued for 90 days and can then be extended, provided you have a work permit. There is also a special visa for the spouse and children of expatriates so they can live with them in Thailand.

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arrow_circle_right See the documents required on the official Thai e-Visa website.

The DTV Visa (Thailand Destination Visa)

The DTV Visa (Destination Thailand Visa) offers two main categories depending on your situation:

Option 1: Digital Nomad (remote work)
This option is intended for people who work online for clients or a company based abroad. You can be a freelancer, entrepreneur, or employee working remotely. The idea is simple: you live in Thailand, but your income comes from abroad.

Option 2: Soft Power (activities in Thailand)
This option applies to people coming to Thailand to take part in cultural or wellness activities. This may include:

• Muay Thai classes
• Thai cooking courses
• training programs (massage, yoga, etc.)
• cultural programs

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arrow_circle_right For the documents required for the DTV visa, see the official Thai e-Visa website.

IMPORTANT : Please note that even digital nomads on a DTV visa are considered tourists, which notably means that, in theory, it is not possible to open a bank account in Thailand with this type of visa. This can be problematic. If you choose it to work remotely in Thailand, you should also carefully review the tax implications. Many agencies are promoting expatriation plans based on this visa, but be cautious—some setups can be shaky or far-fetched! In my opinion, though I could be wrong, checks and requirements for the DTV visa are likely to become stricter. I would not be surprised if it were eventually discontinued.

Applying through an agency

Some agencies can handle the visa application for you, and they are easy to find online. Check reviews carefully first, though: some are not legitimate or reliable companies, and some are even scams.

Tourist visa for Thailand

For information about the tourist visa for Thailand and visa exemption, see our page on the tourist visa for Thailand.

This information is provided for guidance only. We do our best to keep it up to date, but we strongly recommend checking it on the official website www.thaievisa.go.th or with the Thai embassy or consulate in your country.