Digital Nomads Making Thailand Their Home - Why Not You?

Thailand is not just for Tourists

Post pandemic Thailand has been recovering its position as one of the premier tourist destinations on Earth. Prior to 2020, the SE Asian Nation enjoyed tourist dollars making up 20% of GDP from 39 million visitors annually 20% of them Chinese mostly on group tours. People are attracted to a great climate, beaches and mountains, history and cuisine in particular with every kind of accommodation available from 5-star luxury to humble $15 Aussie bucks a night rooms.

Since the end of Covid, the country is now attracting 60-70% of its former tourists with an increasingly large number of people being FIT tourists - a term that stands for Fully Independent Travellers not tied in with travel companies.

Digital Nomads

Slotting into this group and often skirting under the radar of officialdom are a burgeoning number of digital nomads from Australia and around the world.

They know that their location hardly matters and may as well be as comfortable and economical as can be. With a friendly local population - the charms of Thai women being particularly apparent - you can feel like a God as you contact King Kong for digital marketing purposes. Who needs to be in Oz!

Getting Legal

Staying in Thailand on tourist visas leaves you open to difficulties but non-immigrant visas where you can apply for a work permit are one of the best options for digital nomads wanting to stay longer term.

For those earning north of US80K nearly all visa hassles - such as 90-day reporting to the authorities - can be eliminated by applying for a Long Term Residency Visa that lasts for ten years.

It was introduced by the Thai Government a couple of years ago to encourage professionals into the country or use the country as a base for other work. You still need to get a digital work permit but that is a simple formality.

Each individual work permit case for those on other visas is not necessarily straightforward but those involved in web design and web development can find a niche in Thailand.

Longer termers

For those who fall in love with the country - or one of its nationals - there are marriage visas, retirement visas (over 50s) and even the coveted Permanent Residence that will eliminate all visa issues for good.

Overall, digital nomads could hardly do better than work and play in lovely Thailand.