Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Thailand has always been a country for expat. And for the fact that the concept of the digital nomad visa in Thailand has been hitting the news lately, it becomes an opportunity for people to relocate. While there are plenty of digital nomads who currently work out of the country, it still remains expats choice.

That being said, certain things need to be considered while moving to this country. Besides, do you know what digital nomad entails? Well, the main tool of a digital nomad is the internet, with a good laptop coming in as a close second. Aside from this fact, they may use other tech gear as their tools.

Not only is that, but a digital nomad works remotely and can either work as a remote worker for an employer or freelancer. Either way, they have the freedom to travel and explore new places while they earn a living. And that’s why countries like Thailand are incredibly a great option for the digital nomad in 2021.

While these are just some of the reasons to be a digital nomad in Thailand, it is most certainly easy to see why the country is such an attractive place to be as of today. Moreover, the country has approved a new 10-year visa program for remote workers and investors. Would you like to know more about the visa?

Of course, that’s why we’re here to help you through. In this article, we will walk you through everything needed to know about the Thailand digital nomad. That being said, we have compiled some of the reasons why Thailand is among the countries suitable for the digital nomad. Continue reading to know more.

10 Reasons Why Thailand is the Best Country for Digital Nomad

This paradise of islands and mountains in Southeast Asia has steadily become the go-to destination country for many digital nomads. In fact, a temporary stay in Thailand means digital nomads get to experience a better life and a feel of the deeply enrooted Thai culture, beautiful beaches, and more.

Aside from the fact mentioned above, there’s a low cost of living, cheap Thai delicacies, friendly locals, and even super-fast internet. So, you can see that Thailand has a lot of things to offer expatriates in today’s world. In this section, you’ll understand the reasons why Thailand remains the best destination.

1.    Low Cost of Living

It’s no doubt that Thailand is a perfect example of a high-quality life that costs little money for both-digital nomads and its locals. Other than accommodation which might be expensive, everything else in the country is a downright bargain.

Besides, the street food is cheap, tasty, and a fundamental element in Thai culture. Not only is that, but a bowl of noodles might be just over a dollar, and a 2 hours train ticket that could take you through the mountains and the diverse landscape in the country costs about $4.

2.    Fast Internet & Good Co-Working Space

Finding a perfect place to settle down with fast internet is the dream of many expatriates. And the only country that can give you this is Thailand. In fact, we can tell you that Thailand is one of the few countries in the region that boasts satisfactory internet above 10 MBps and cater to digital nomads with quality coworking spaces.

In no doubt, all you need is a monthly subscription and your laptop to access a co-working space in your location. Aside from Bangkok, other popular destination includes Punspace in Chiang Mai, Stash in Phuket, and many others, to mention a few.

3.    Good Weather Conditions

A good weather condition also contributes to why living in Thailand as a digital nomad is helpful. The inhabitants experience a hot and humid climate for most of the year, while the weather follows a regular trio season. The hot season in this country starts from March to June.

However, the wet season begins in June and ends in November. Besides, rain is often inconsistent as you may catch showers for 20 minutes a day and then bask in blue skies for the rest of the day. This way, brace for slightly hot daytime and chilly evenings of November to February in the North.

4.    Affordable Living and Comfort in Thailand

Coming from a western country, the cost of living in Thailand is quite affordable, especially if you’re just starting out with a low budget in the country. Chiang Mai, as the second-largest city in Thailand, it offers a subtle mix of hip, urban style, and creative innovation while retaining that slow-paced living that a hectic metropolis may lack.

From Bamboo-built beach huts to guesthouses overlooking the Andaman Sea to condos in the buzzing city of Bangkok, you’ll definitely enjoy the accommodation in Thailand. Moreover, Airbnb is a great place for people seeking a long-term stay. Not only is that, but visitors can utilize accommodation booking sites and social platforms like Facebook (Meta) to get recommendations from local expat groups.

5.    Best Place to Meet Other Digital Nomad

While Thailand has a lot of things to offer digital nomads, it also remains the best place to meet other colleagues as well. Perhaps you’re leaping to live the digital nomad lifestyle all by your lonesome in Thailand. It can only be daunting if you can’t see anyone speaking English. But worry less, as Thailand is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, which is also favored by expats today.

6.    Thailand Visa Requirements

And Thailand comes to everyone’s favorite when it comes to traveling. Though the visa requirements are constantly changing because of the pandemic but it’s essential to stay abreast of the new developments and procedures. However, Thailand is still a fairly lenient country when it comes to staying long or short term, with various options to choose from.

Meanwhile, you can apply for an education visa to study the Thai language and become bilingual while pursuing your online business in Thailand. Also, a self-defense visa allows you to work with a professional and learn vital techniques for protection, or if you aren’t sure how long you’ll stay, and prefer a month-to-month visa application process. Let’s quickly explain some of the types of visas in Thailand. Without further ado, check it out below.

• Tourist visa – This is a single entry visa that allows expatriates to stay in the country for up to 60 days
• Long Stay Visa – This is a multiple entry visa that allows individuals to stay in Thailand for a minimum of 90 days and costs about $188. It can also be extended twice for a further 90 days each.
• Thailand Digital Nomad Visa – As mentioned above, Thailand’s digital nomad visa has been in the news lately. And it must be emphasized that it is now available for expats to apply as of the time of writing this article.

7.    Friendly & Easygoing Locals

If you’ve ever thought of relocating to a country with friendly locals, Thailand should be on your list. The warm, welcoming culture of Thai locals is something to win you over. In fact, the grandmother serving you hot noodles, the strangers you greet along the way, and everyone in between is constantly smiling whenever they see new expats. In that case, a simple interaction with the locals will create an astounding impact to remember years on.

8.    Home to Beautiful Beaches

Would you mind working with your laptop and enjoying a cool beach atmosphere? I’m sure that sounds good to you? Of course, being a digital nomad in Thailand means mixing work with a lot of play if you ask me what it entails.

Moreover, you can relax at the coastal beaches of Koh Lanta Island as you enjoy the finer things of the freelance lifestyle. Besides, you can play a game of Jenga without dropping your cold beer at a bar as you wait for some of the most iconic sunsets in all of Thailand.

9.    Great Destination Cities in Thailand

Don’t ever think you’ll only see one city in Thailand to enjoy your digital nomad lifestyle. In fact, the nitty-gritty scene of Thailand’s digital nomad life encompasses traveling and dancing the nights away in some of the most boisterous and fun-filled cities.

Not only is that, but visitors can opt to live in Bangkok, home to more than 8.2 million people, or get to experience the serene Chiang Mai, a land of colorful hill tribes and misty mountains. While Chiang Mai is less busy, it has diverse cuisine, and it’s more accustomed to freelancing life.

10. Home to a Relaxed Way of Life

The pace of life is certainly much slower in Thailand than in any other country you could think of. Bangkok is perhaps the only exception, but in most other places, you’ll notice a pleasant difference in the way daily life plays out in the country. Also, Chiang Mai is one of the most popular cities for digital nomads for this reason.

Best Places to Live in Thailand for Digital Nomads

Working remotely in Thailand is what dreams are made of as an expat. Imagine working beside a swimming pool or beautiful beach and taking breaks to eat pad Thai while soaking up coo, amazing nature, and cosmopolitan cities? If that’s all what you’ve to think of, Thailand is the best choice for you.

Another fantastic thing about being a digital nomad in Thailand is the comfortable lifestyle and the prices of goods and services. Moreover, research made it known that it’s one of the world’s most affordable regions for living and working remotely. Without further ado, take a look at the best places.

●        Bangkok

If you’re planning to reside in Thailand as a digital nomad, Bangkok is one of the best places to take into consideration. In fact, it’s the capital of the countries, and of course, you should know how the capital city of a country would look like.

It might be better to ask why this capital city is a great place for expats to reside in the country. Of course, the WI-FI, plenty of co-working spaces, a fantastic third-wave coffee scene, and endless expat communities you can tap into remains the reasons to live in Bangkok as a digital nomad.

Cost Of Living in Bangkok

Depending on which neighborhood you choose to reside in Bangkok, we can tell you that the rough cost of living for one person is about 40,000 baht, around $1,000. Moreover, the main way to keep your living costs low is to eat street food instead of restaurant meals. You can also shop for fresh ingredients at local markets rather than pay close to western prices in Thai supermarkets.

●        Chiang Mai

The beautiful city of Chiang Mai is located in the Northern Thailand. It’s one of the best places to live in this country for digital nomads because it’s totally different from Bangkok. In this case, you’ll certainly enjoy your stay in this wonderful land. Better yet, we can tell you that it’s one of the cheapest places to live because the prices of goods and services are notably lower than the islands and Bangkok.

Cost of Living in Chiang Mai

You can expect to live happily as a digital nomad in Chiang Mai for under $1,000 a month. However, you should expect to pay nothing less than $600 a month for a 1-bedroom apartment, although this varies depending on the neighborhood and how long you’re staying. But in a general sense, the cost is cheaper.

●        Koh Phangan

Although this city used to be solely on the map as a place for party goers wanting to experience the infamous full moon party, it now has a reputation as one of the best places in Thailand for digital nomads. Here, there are plenty of co-working spaces and cafes where you can pitch up for an afternoon with no one moving you on

Additionally, if you want to meet like-minded remote workers or freelancers, this is easily one of the best places to live in the country. Meanwhile, the only downside is the risk of sand in your laptop while working. On the flip side, it’s a great choice with fast Wi-Fi and plenty of desk space.

●        Koh Lanta

This is another place to take into consideration while planning to live as a digital nomad in Thailand. Koh Lanta is a beautiful island off the coast of Krabi, and it’s even a small island that can be explored by scooters with beautiful beaches and plenty of decent co-working spaces and cafes.

Also, Kohub is the main co-working space on Koh Lanta, and part of the reason the island became known as one of the places to live in Thailand for digital nomads. Moreover, there are plenty of websites you’ll find through Google that has apartments for rent. In the same way as Koh Phangan, you’ll find more tourist prices, and it’s harder to get a bargain than in a city.

●        Krabi Town

Located in the south of Thailand near Koh Lanta Island, Krabi town is ripe for adventure. Not only is that, but it’s the urban hub at the heart of it all. Besides, Krabi has all the benefits of the islands, such as beautiful and different diving opportunities, but it also has access to mainland comforts.

Besides, with miles of coastline and inland attractions to explore, it’s one of the best places to live in Thailand for those who’ll get bored of life on a tiny island. You can also enjoy plenty of decent cafes where you can grab a coffee and work, but your best bet for a dedicated co-working space is Phansa.

●        Phuket

Phuket is an island in southern Thailand, which is also connected to the mainland by road. For many years, research made it known that Phuket has been a hub for tourists, and due to being one of the few places open for foreign tourists in 2021, it has been ranked as one of the best places for the digital nomad.

Aside from the fact mentioned above, we can also tell you that Phuket is safe. Not only is that, but it has also been voted as a cheap place, making digital nomads have plenty of things to do. The Wi-Fi here is very fast, and with a reasonable $1,000 a month, you can live comfortably, providing you visit local restaurants and shop at local markets.

●        Koh Samui

Koh Samui is known to be the larger neighbor of Koh Phangan.  Although it was traditionally known to have a reputation for resorts, but it’s recently become known as a place to work remotely in Thailand. This place is beautiful, and you’ll certainly have a lot of things to do here as an expat or digital nomad.

In fact, you won’t have any problems at co-working spaces or hotels, plus you will also find affordable 4G SIM cards for purchase the views from the terrace when you need a break are equally stunning. Not only is that, but you can at least live with a budget of $1,000 or $1,500 a month in this wonderful city.

Pros and Cons of Being a Digital Nomad Thailand

With a good life balance of living costs, speedy internet, infrastructures, and of course postcard-worthy destination, it’s hardly a surprise that Thailand culture and digital nomadism are a match made in heaven. This section runs through the pros and cons of living of being a digital nomad in Thailand.

Having a Sense of Freedom

Being a digital nomad will definitely give you a sense of freedom. Also, it allows you to become free in both life and work, making all the decisions independently. Besides, modern people strive for freedom, and working as a digital nomad will give you endless opportunities.

Complete Independence

Digital nomads depend only on themselves and rely only on themselves without help from any third party. Aside from this fact, nomads often create automated or passive businesses or even work as a freelancer. More often, business owners automate their work to spend a minimum amount of time on it and enjoy new countries and cultures.

Lack of Attachment

As of today, digital nomad has the right to move to any region of their choice. Moreover, the flexibility of their lifestyle beckons many people, but not everyone prefers ordinary life, everyday tasks according to the general scenario, attachment, and the commitment that comes with it.

Opportunity to Travel

Travel opportunity is another great advantage given to digital nomads. Moreover, it is not typical for digital nomads to stay in one place for a long time. This way, they tend to travel from one place to another, and that’s one of the key benefits of being a digital nomad.

Cons

Increase Burnout Risk

One reason why many people tend to avoid the life of a digital nomad is the risk of burnout. In fact, the research disclosed that emotional burnout is what both freelancers and digital nomads often face. This means the more hours they work without getting enough rest, the more likely they experience burnout.

Financial Instability

Financial instability is another thing to put in mind while moving to this country. As a freelancer or digital nomad, you might face work instability, while expenses and income can change every month, which is especially true for beginners. So, you need to be wary of this fact while moving as an expat or nomad.

A sense of Loneliness

Perhaps one of the key drawbacks that digital nomads could experience in Thailand is loneliness. Live communication with loved ones is necessary for every person, and if you think back, then the digital nomad’s lifestyle will prove the opposite of you in this country.

Household Difficulty

Organizing your daily routine with the digital nomad lifestyle can be stressful if you’re not one of those people who still appreciate hommy comfort. Moreover, it is necessary to plan in advance everything that you may need in a new country, as well as study the prices for transport, meals, accommodation, and many others, to mention a few.

Conclusion

Digital nomads are remote workers who travel to different locations on a regular basis, searching for freedom and opportunities. They use modern technology to work from cafes, shops, or libraries with a Wi-Fi-connected laptop. Now, Thailand is one of the best countries suitable for the digital nomad lifestyle. Should in case you want to know more about digital nomads in Thailand, refer to this guide.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Digital nomads are people who use telecommunication technology to make a living and lead a nomadic lifestyle. This kind of employees usually works remotely, like from foreign countries, public libraries, coworking spaces or cafes. This is often achieved through the use of devices with wireless Internet access, such as smartphones or mobile hotspots. Successful digital nomads often have the need to develop high levels of self-confidence and self-discipline.

The digital nomad uses online (or “digital”) tools to work from anywhere. This kind of work is also called “location independent”.

Digital nomads are people who use wireless digital technology to carry out their work duties and are generally nomadic. These workers usually work remotely – from home, in cafes, public libraries, and even from recreational vehicles – to accomplish tasks and goals that would normally be accomplished in a single stationary workplace.

The digital nomad community has organized various events to host its members. The most popular types of digital nomads are:

• retirees or semi-retirees,
• independently wealthy people or entrepreneurs,
• remote workers (most often younger ones).

People usually want to become a digital nomad for different reasons, and the first one can be the desire to be financially independent and locationally independent. During that time when digital nomads enjoy the advantages of freedom and flexibility, they see one biggest problem – called loneliness, which can consequently cause other problems.

Lifestyle also comes with other challenges such as securing international health insurance with global coverage, complying with various local laws, obtaining work visas and paying taxes in accordance with local and local laws.

Who are digital nomads?

Digital nomads can be:

• Freelancers who write, code, teach, run social media campaigns, and more for their clients online.
• Professionals who provide online / remote services including legal assistance, accounting or even consulting.
• Entrepreneurs who manage their team with online tools
• Employees who work remotely in a more traditional company
• People who create and sell digital products like e-books, manuals, online subscription services, etc.

Digital nomads mostly are young people and they are usually working in industries such as marketing, design, information technology, writing, media, tutoring, or consulting. According to a 2020 study by MBO Partners, there are 10.9 million digital nomads in the US alone, with an additional 19 million Americans reporting that they are considering a digital nomad lifestyle.

Digital nomads can be either remote workers or knowledge process outsourcing workers. While most homeworkers and freelancers are technically digital nomads, the term is most often used to describe people living or traveling abroad or inland while working. Some digital nomads have a wide range of clients and make a living by combining jobs, while others enter into formal or semi-formal agreements with clients that guarantee a certain amount of work or paid time.

Digital nomads are often people who want freedom and flexibility in their job choices and travel times. Digital nomads often live a minimal existence rich in experience rather than physical objects. They get the opportunity to explore new cultures, leaving temporary roots in many places each year. The digital nomad lifestyle isn’t for everyone. If you can’t make enough money on the road, you may find yourself broke with no money to return home.

You may have to work unconventionally and manipulate multiple clients. Digital nomads must have reliable internet access and work and meet deadlines across time zones. Many digital nomads separate the feeling of loneliness, with no family or close friends in the city, and it can be difficult to establish long-term relationships. It can be expensive to purchase travel medical insurance, and even though health care in some countries is cheaper than in the United States.

Pros:

• Freedom from the traditional office environment
• Chance to travel and learn about new cultures
• Time to do some outdoor hobbies like surfing
• More control over your time

Cons:

• Traveling regularly can be expensive
• You may need to work with clients across multiple time zones
• Loneliness or isolation from family and friends
• Must be highly organized for maximum balance between life and work on the road

What destinations are most popular among digital nomads?

Several destinations are some of the most popular destinations for digital nomads, including Chiang Mai – Thailand, Lisbon – Portugal, Medellin – Colombia, and Mexico City – Mexico.

Bali – Indonesia, is a great example of a popular destination due to its low cost and reasonably high quality of life. For example, the city of Ubud in Bali became popular with digital nomads after installing fiber-optic connections to access the Internet. There is also a petition for a digital nomad visa to the Indonesian government, signed by over 2,000 people and led by social media advisor Olumide Gbenro.

Another popular choice among digital nomads is Cyprus: a European nation with low taxes, fast company formation and beautiful scenery, the island of Cyprus has a growing nomad community.

Other cities include Tallinn, Tarifa, Bansko, and Tbilisi due to the critical mass and wider acceptance of the digital nomad lifestyle, as well as the relatively lower cost of living. For digital nomads, there are cities with a higher cost of living, including Singapore and Oslo. Other notable movements loosely associated with the rise in popularity of digital nomads include Vandwelling.

Due to the popularity for people, there are opportunities to live in the area as digital nomads to facilitate this. Popular cities in the United Kingdom include Bristol, Birmingham and Brighton. And all this is happening due to the reduced cost of living compared to London. Organizations such as Innovation Birmingham exist to house 90 technology companies.

Many digital prefer Thailand for their adventurous lifetime. Except for all the mentioned, one question will arouse, is being a digital nomad legal in Thailand or in any other country. Let’s discuss this question below and try to understand every point.

Is it legal to be a digital nomad?

Living a life with the freedom to travel the world and work as digital nomads right from your laptop is too good to be true. The first impression is that there is something suspicious behind this.

Some can say it is illegal and some can insist on its 100% legal. Before we dive into why it’s legal or illegal to be a digital nomad and debunk the myths you’ve heard about them, let’s see what kind of definitions people give to being a digital nomad.

Many digital nomads tend to come from more developed countries with passports allowing a greater degree of freedom of movement. As a result, many seek to travel on a tourist visa. While it is technically illegal for digital nomads to work in the country on a tourist visa, many digital nomads tend to live in lower cost of living places, working online on different projects abroad in another country.

In most countries, as long as a nomad behaves discreetly and does not take work from a local, the authorities turn a blind eye to the work of nomads. In the digital nomad community, it is not uncommon to be without a visa. Some nomads also tried to legalize their stay by taking part-time jobs, teaching English, and attending university courses in their country.

In addition, digital nomads often use their status as perpetual travelers to avoid tax liabilities in their home countries without immigrating to another country’s tax system. However, this practice is considered controversial among digital nomads.

This has led to the creation of several programs targeted at digital nomads, such as e-residency in Estonia and the SMART visa program in Thailand. Estonia also announced plans for a digital nomad visa following a growing number of e-residency applications. Other countries such as Bermuda, Barbados, Georgia and Croatia have begun offering similar digital visa programs for nomads.

Some digital nomads have used residence permits in Germany for the purpose of freelancing or self-employment to legalize their stay, but successful candidates must have a real connection and reason to stay in Germany.

Tourist visas and digital nomads

Many countries understand this very clearly when you apply for a tourist visa – it does not give you the right to work, it just gives you the right to come and visit on vacation.

It is quite true that the tourist visa was developed by most places even before the advent of the Internet. It is also true that millions of real tourists will check their emails or chat with the office while on vacation.

This, according to some digital nomad gurus, turns tourist visa work into a so called gray zone and it’s only “technically illegal”. They are wrong. Being a digital nomad with a tourist visa is illegal.

However, this does not mean that you will be held accountable for checking your email or receiving calls at work. Countries have taken a very simple approach to the small amount of work done with tourist visas – they pretend they don’t.

Any written exemption that allows tourists to do a reasonable amount of work would be open to exploitation by those looking to immigrate illegally. It would be a work visa with a back door.

Unfortunately, digital nomads don’t do tiny businesses – they work in the countries they visit. If you need a tourist visa, you are almost certainly working illegally.

It probably doesn’t matter if you’re restrained. The only digital nomads we know of who were prosecuted for working on a tourist visa were wrong all this time. Local residents gave them to work because they continued to brag about the money they earned while doing it.

You can lie in the pool and relax if you figure out how to be a digital nomad, even if you are “illegal”.

Do not tell anyone and no one will ever know that you are working on a tourist visa at all. And whatever you do, don’t declare your digital nomad status to the immigration office when traveling on a tourist visa – say you’re a tourist.

All we know that this gives some people discomfort, but it is much less inconvenient than being denied entry into the country and then deporting or arresting as an illegal alien.

However, you should be aware that even if you are working illegally, you may still be eligible to pay tax on your income in the country in which you are a tourist. In most countries, you are eligible for taxation if you reside in the country for more than X days a year, and this is usually, but not always, 180 days out of 365.

Digital nomads in Thailand

Over the past few years, you can notice a huge increase in the number of so-called digital nomads in Thailand. Countries around the world are now beginning to see the benefits of accepting digital nomads and have begun offering special visas specifically designed to attract them.

Estonia, Barbados, and Dubai have introduced special visas or programs specially designed for this purpose. The same cannot be said about Asian countries, including Thailand. This is relatively surprising considering Thailand is often touted as the best destination for digital nomads, especially Chiang Mai. Koh Phangan is another popular destination that is becoming more and more attractive for its high quality of life and beautiful beaches.

Thailand Smart Visa

While a digital nomad visa would be a welcome option for those looking to come to Thailand, there hasn’t been a single Asian country that could follow Estonia’s lead. As a result, many freelancers are turning to short-term tourist visas as a way to live and work in Thailand. While this may seem like a simple alternative, there is one major drawback: tourist visas do not allow the holder to work.

Although there is no immediate solution to the problem, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In December 2020, the Thailand Covid-19 Management Center approved a proposal from the Investment Board of Thailand (BOI) that will allow freelancers and digital nomads to work in Thailand for up to four years under the pre-existing Smart Visa program. The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Thai Cabinet and has not yet entered into force.

The Smart visa was originally introduced in 2018 to “enhance Thailand’s attractiveness by attracting science and technology experts, senior executives, investors and start-ups.” Currently, just over 500 applicants have successfully applied for and received a Smart Visa. However, if the proposal from the BOI is legal, there will likely be a large increase in applications.

Should digital nomads pay taxes in Thailand?

In Thailand, you are considered a “resident” if you are in the country for more than 180 days in any tax year. Residents of Thailand must pay tax on income from income in Thailand, as well as income that is transferred to the country from foreign sources.

However, even if you are not a resident of Thailand, that is, you stay in Thailand for less than 180 days a year, you are still required to pay tax, but only on income received in Thailand. Please note that the first THB 150,000 is tax deductible.

In fact, it is very difficult for the Thai authorities to get taxes paid as most digital nomads live here on tourist or short-term visas. This is because they do not need to register their business or activities with anyone in the country, so it is almost impossible to track down people who owe taxes. However, it is important to note that this is a very dubious and gray legal area.

The possible introduction of the above amendments to the smart visa should create a basis for paying taxes and other issues, but so far there has been no official information on this matter.

What options are currently available for digital nomads seeking legal status in Thailand?

One of the easiest ways for a digital nomad to gain legal status in Thailand is to start a company. However, starting a company is not an ideal solution for digital nomads as the requirements for starting a company are high (2 million baht paid up capital) and a minimum of 4 Thai employees are required to obtain a work permit.

A dealership can be used as an alternative as there are fewer initial requirements, but there are more favorable work permit options, meaning you can get a work permit for the first two years before paying the full investment. There is also a reduced share of only 1 Thai employee per foreigner required to obtain a work permit. Representative offices have several disadvantages, firstly, the scope of their activities is limited, and they cannot generate income. Second, it is mandatory to have a head office outside of Thailand (Hong Kong or Singapore is a popular choice for a head office that is then used for invoicing customers).

Another potential option is the use of Contractor-for-Employment Management. These companies will be able to accept you and provide you with a work permit and visa. However, they will charge you for this convenience by charging you a fee from your monthly salary. The service fee is usually around 15,000/20,000 baht per month.

Or a different solution that has become popular lately is to take advantage of the current smart visa type S. Smart S is an initial 6-month visa (renewable up to 2 years), which is for foreigners who are planning to start a startup. companies in Thailand or engage in promotional activities for startups or startups. This visa is a popular choice as it does not require a work permit to set up and work with a startup. Holders of this visa can also participate in approved startup promotion activities.

However, in order to obtain this visa, applicants must have a plan for setting up a technology startup in Thailand, which must be approved by relevant agencies such as the National Innovation Agency. Alternatively, they should participate in activities aimed at promoting startups, or in activities like Startup Camp approved by government agencies such as the Investment Council and the National Innovation Agency.

It is highly recommended that digital nomads register with news sources related to digital nomad visas in Thailand.

The main pros and cons of being a digital nomad in Thailand?

To sum everything up, let’s see what can be the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of “illegal” activity in Thailand.

Pros:

• High quality and affordable lifestyle. Being a digital nomad empowers you to work from anywhere in the world. This means that you can choose any location that offers you the best quality of life. Thailand is the obvious choice as it has a lot of affordable food and drink, excellent healthcare, infrastructure and many amazing places to find.
• Finance goes even further – Thailand offers an attractive lifestyle that allows people to lead quality lives for a fraction of the cost of their living at home. Usually digital nomads from more developed countries like America, Canada, Europe, etc. These countries have a much higher cost of living than Thailand, which means your money goes much further.
• Legal Accommodation Options for Digital Nomads – There are several options available for those looking to settle in Thailand for a longer period. These options include setting up a dealership, using HR, and obtaining an Smart visa.

Cons:

• Legal gray area. While there are several options for digital nomads to legally live and work in Thailand, creating them is often costly and / or hassle-free. As a result, very few people take advantage of these opportunities and work in secret or say nothing. The chances of being caught are slim, but of course, doing this is illegal.
• Taxes – Living and working in any country requires you to pay taxes. However, as the legal status of digital nomads is questionable, this is a difficult area to fight.
• Security. As a digital nomad, you will not be contributing to the social security system and therefore will not have access to free public health care in Thailand. As a result, you have to rely on expensive private insurance.

Cons:

• Legal gray area. While there are several options for digital nomads to legally live and work in Thailand, creating them is often costly and / or hassle-free. As a result, very few people take advantage of these opportunities and work in secret or say nothing. The chances of being caught are slim, but of course, doing this is illegal.
• Taxes – Living and working in any country requires you to pay taxes. However, as the legal status of digital nomads is questionable, this is a difficult area to fight.
• Security. As a digital nomad, you will not be contributing to the social security system and therefore will not have access to free public health care in Thailand. As a result, you have to rely on expensive private insurance.