Remote work not proven
Freelancers without contracts, or an employer with a Thai office.
The fix. Provide signed contracts, invoices and the employer's foreign registration; Thai-linked work means Non-B instead.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for Indian remote workers and long-stay visitors
The Destination Thailand Visa is a five-year multiple-entry visa for remote workers, freelancers and people joining Thai 'soft power' activities such as Muay Thai, Thai cooking, sports training, music festivals and medical treatment. Indian applicants pay INR 30,000 on thaievisa.go.th, show THB 500,000 (about INR 13.7 lakh) in savings and either an employment or freelance contract with a company outside Thailand or an enrolment letter from a Thai course provider. Each entry allows 180 days, extendable once by 180 days for THB 10,000, and spouses and children under 20 can apply as dependants for the same fee. DTV holders may not work for Thai employers.
Thailand Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): quick answers
Who qualifies for the DTV? Indian passport holders aged 20 or over in one of three groups: remote workers and digital nomads with an employment contract or client contracts from companies outside Thailand (including Indian employers); participants in Thai soft-power activities, from Muay Thai camps and cooking schools to sports training, seminars and medical treatment lasting more than 30 days; and the spouse and children under 20 of a DTV holder. Everyone shows THB 500,000 in savings held for at least three months.
What does it cost? INR 30,000 per applicant, including each dependant, paid online to the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate for your state; the visa is valid for five years. In Thailand, extending a 180-day stay by another 180 days costs THB 10,000 at the Immigration Bureau, and there are no re-entry permit fees because the visa is multiple entry.
How long does it take from India? About 10 to 15 working days once the application is complete; the New Delhi embassy and the Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai consulates review DTV files more closely than tourist visas and often ask for extra proof of the remote job or the course. Apply at least a month before travel.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Destination Thailand Visa, multiple entry, 5 years |
| Government fee | INR 30,000 per applicant; THB 10,000 per 180-day extension |
| Stay | 180 days per entry, extendable once to 360 days |
| Processing | About 10 to 15 working days |
| Funds | THB 500,000 (about INR 13.7 lakh) in savings for 3 months |
| Work rights | Remote work for employers outside Thailand only |
| Dependants | Spouse and children under 20, INR 30,000 each |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against the New Delhi embassy fee table and thaievisa.go.th |
Who qualifies: remote workers, course participants and dependants
| Category | Evidence | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Workcation (remote work) | Employment contract or portfolio of client contracts with companies outside Thailand; business registration or payslips | Indian IT staff, consultants and founders working for non-Thai companies |
| Thai soft power activities | Enrolment or appointment letter from a Thai gym, cooking school, sports academy, hospital or event organiser | Muay Thai trainees, culinary students, patients, festival performers |
| Dependants | Marriage or birth certificate and the main applicant's DTV | Spouse and children under 20 |
The financial test is the same for everyone: THB 500,000 in a bank account, in any currency, held for at least three months before applying, shown with statements and a bank letter; the embassy accepts Indian accounts. Remote workers must show that their employer or clients have no Thai establishment, that income is paid outside Thailand and that they are not providing services to Thai customers. A Thai company, a Thai employer or a Thai client makes the applicant ineligible and the Non-B route applies.
Course participants need a letter from a provider that is registered in Thailand and, for medical treatment, from a licensed hospital. There is no minimum course length for the visa, but Immigration expects participants extending a stay to show attendance. Students in degree programmes use the Non-ED; retirees aged 50 or over are better served by the Non-O or O-A with THB 800,000.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DTV, main applicant | INR 30,000 | 5 years, multiple entry, 180 days per entry |
| DTV, each dependant | INR 30,000 | Spouse and children under 20 |
| Extension of stay, 180 days | THB 10,000 | Once per entry at the Immigration Bureau |
| Re-entry permit | Not needed | Multiple-entry visa |
| 90-day address report | Free | Online or in person during long stays |
| Thai income tax | Depends on residence | 180+ days a year makes you tax resident; foreign income remitted is taxable |
Compared with a one-year multiple-entry tourist visa (INR 13,500 for 60-day stays) or an Elite membership (THB 650,000 and up), the DTV is the cheapest long-stay option for someone who qualifies. Vistolane charges the INR 30,000 fee at the official rate and prepares the remote-work evidence pack that embassies ask for.
How the application runs, step by step
- Season the funds. Keep THB 500,000 equivalent in your account for 3 months; obtain a bank letter dated within 30 days of filing.
- Assemble the category evidence. Remote work: contract, payslips or invoices, employer's registration abroad, a letter confirming remote work is permitted. Soft power: provider's letter and payment receipt.
- Apply on thaievisa.go.th. Select DTV and the post for your state; upload the passport, photo, proof of current location in India, statements and evidence; pay INR 30,000.
- Answer follow-up requests. Posts often ask for additional proof; reply within the deadline to avoid a refusal.
- Enter and submit the TDAC. 180 days stamped on each entry; extend once for THB 10,000 or exit and re-enter.
Timeline for an Indian applicant
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Funds seasoning | 3 months | THB 500,000 equivalent in savings |
| Evidence pack | 1 to 2 weeks | Contracts, invoices, provider letters |
| e-Visa processing | 10 to 15 working days | Follow-up questions common |
| Entry | Any time in 5 years | 180 days per entry |
| Extension | Same day to a few days | THB 10,000, once per entry |
Decisions are discretionary and refusal rates are higher than for tourist visas, mainly where remote work cannot be shown clearly; applicants with a registered Indian company, long-standing clients and regular foreign-currency income are approved most often.
After arrival: stays, tax and limits
Each entry gives 180 days; a single extension of 180 days costs THB 10,000, after which you exit and re-enter for a fresh 180 days. Long stays bring 90-day address reports and, from 180 days in a calendar year, Thai tax residency: income remitted to Thailand is taxable, with India-Thailand treaty credits available, so many DTV holders keep their income offshore and remit living costs only.
The DTV cannot be converted into a work permit in Thailand and cannot be used to work for Thai companies, serve Thai customers or run a Thai business; doing so leads to cancellation and fines. Holders who take a Thai job switch to the Non-B from India, and those who want permanence look at the LTR visa (INR 140,000 for 10 years).
Document checklist: identity and status
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 6 months | Colour scan of the bio page |
| Photo taken within 6 months | White background |
| Proof of current location in India | Utility bill, Aadhaar address or rental agreement |
Category evidence
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Remote work: employment contract and payslips, or client contracts and invoices | Employer or clients outside Thailand; letter permitting remote work |
| Remote work: employer's or own company registration | Certificate of incorporation, GST or equivalent |
| Soft power: provider's letter and receipt | Gym, school, hospital or organiser registered in Thailand |
| Dependants: marriage or birth certificate | Apostilled; main applicant's DTV |
Funds
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Bank statements for 3 months | Showing THB 500,000 equivalent throughout |
| Bank letter dated within 30 days | Confirming the balance |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Funds not seasoned
THB 500,000 deposited shortly before applying.
The fix. Hold the balance for three months and show the statements from the start.
Course provider not registered
An informal gym or unlicensed school letter.
The fix. Use a registered provider with a tax ID; attach the payment receipt.
Wrong consulate or missing follow-up
Filed at the wrong post for your state, or extra documents not supplied in time.
The fix. Pick the post for your state and watch the portal for requests.
Working for Thai clients
DTV cancelled after providing services in Thailand.
The fix. Keep clients and payments offshore, or move to a work permit route.
Official sources
Questions, answered
How much is the Thailand DTV for Indians?
INR 30,000 per applicant, including dependants, paid on thaievisa.go.th for a five-year multiple-entry visa; extensions in Thailand cost THB 10,000 per 180 days.
Can I work for my Indian employer from Thailand on a DTV?
Yes, as long as the employer has no Thai establishment and you do not serve Thai customers. You cannot take a Thai job or local clients; that needs a Non-B visa and work permit.
How long can I stay on the DTV?
180 days per entry, extendable once by 180 days for THB 10,000, then leave and re-enter for another 180 days; the visa itself lasts five years.
Do I pay tax in Thailand on a DTV?
If you spend 180 days or more in a calendar year you become tax resident and income remitted to Thailand is taxable, with credits under the India-Thailand treaty; income kept abroad is generally not taxed.
Does Vistolane file DTV applications?
Yes. Vistolane prepares the remote-work or course evidence pack, checks the three-month funds history, files on thaievisa.go.th with the right consulate and charges the INR 30,000 fee at the official rate.