In this modern world where digital nomads and remote workers choose where they want to work, many countries are offering digital nomad visas for longer stays. The latest to do so is Thailand, which has announced a new, five-year visa for travelers. Whether you are a digital nomad, or just want to live a few years in Asia, this new visa is a great opportunity.

Thailand makes it easier for travelers to stay longer with a five-year visa

Thailand is a popular travel destination, but it seems like they want more people to visit them. For this reason, the Southeast Asia location has recently introduced a new five-year visa for remote workers and others wanting to stay for an extended period.

The Thai prime minister’s office issued a statement that the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) allows travelers to stay for a period of 180 days per visit on a multiple-entry basis within a five-year period. Basically, travelers will need to leave Thailand when their 180 days are up, and their time resets when they reenter the country.

According to the statement, the visa is open to several categories of remote workers, including freelancers and digital nomads. However, it is also aimed at travelers wishing to engage in Thai cooking classes, to have extended medical treatments and for those wishing to take part in activities like Muay Thai training.

How to apply for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

In order to apply for the new visa, travelers must show evidence that they have a minimum of 500,000 baht (around $13,800) in available funds. They must also offer documents to support the purpose of their visit, which could be proof of employment outside of Thailand or a letter from a medical center.

The cost of the DTV is 10,000 baht, and it doesn’t permit applicants to seek employment in Thailand.

Other visas for Thailand

In the meantime, Thailand’s government has added to the list of countries and territories allowed visa-free access for tourism purposes or short-term business visits from 57 to 93. Moreover, it has also extended the length of stay from 30 days to 60 days.

Moreover, the number of countries and territories whose nationals are entitled to a Visa on Arrival has also increased from 19 to 31.

Government figures reveal that Thailand has welcomed 17.5 million international travelers in the first half of this year, a 35 percent increase over the same period last year. However, experts say the new visa isn’t just aimed at attracting more travelers. Gary Bowerman, founder of Check-in Asia, a tourism research and marketing company explained:

If you look at what Thailand has done, the initiatives and campaigns it’s put in place over the last two years to drive up visitor arrivals, it’s been pretty successful.

So it leads Southeast Asia by a long way in terms of visitor arrivals. But the problem – and this is a big problem – is that although it’s got the numbers coming in, the average spend per visitor is relatively low.

Moreover, Bowerman explained that the pressure on resources is also getting tougher.

“The incremental value of just having more and more people isn’t being felt, so they need to find ways to actually increase the length of stay, increase the per-person spend,” he said, explaining that the bulk of the Southeast Asian country’s foreign arrivals are regional travelers who stay for shorter periods.

CNN quotes Bowerman as saying:

You’ve got a lot of people coming in, moving around, getting out quite quickly. That puts intensifying strain on the infrastructure, on the airports, on the transport networks. They need to slow the pace.

Moreover, this is why Thailand wants to attract longer-stay visitors like digital nomads, “simply because it puts less pressure on the entry points and the transport points.”

According to the Thai prime minister’s office, these new visas have been in effect since July 15. Readers can find out more about the new visas on the Thailand Embassy website here.