Thailand’s new Destination Visa for digital nomads 

If you haven’t already heard, there’s been a substantial change in the TEFL game, especially if you’re interested in teaching in Thailand, and you’re a digital nomad.

The Land of Smiles has long been a fantastic destination for TEFL teachers. Whether you’re in search of long-term employment through a school or another educational institution, or you want to work online according to your own schedule, Thailand is immensely welcoming. With an amazing climate, so much to see and do, and a welcoming atmosphere for foreign workers, there’s a lot about Thailand that appeals.

Now, though, there’s even more. The ‘Destination Thailand Visa’ isn’t - strictly speaking - a digital nomad visa. We’ll explain what it means, who it’s for, and what it does a little later on, but it’s certainly a step up from what Thailand had previously offered digital nomads. 

So why now? What are the benefits from a teacher’s point of view, and from Thailand’s point of view? What’s the big deal, and why should TEFL teachers know all about this? 

The Destination Thailand Visa: explained

So what’s the Destination Thailand Visa all about?

At its core, the new initiative is all about encouraging people to visit Thailand - especially people who work on a freelance basis. From the Thai perspective, there’s a real financial benefit. Applicants need to pay a fee of 10,000 THB ($271/£214) for the right to stay in Thailand for 180 days a year for 5 years. Applicants can renew and extend their stay for 180 days for another 10,000 THB. If you’re running the Thai treasury, you can certainly see the appeal.

So who’s eligible for the DTV? Well, you’re invited to apply, so long as:

• You’re over 20 years old
• You have at least 500,000 THB in your bank account ($13,560/£10,711)
• You work for a company registered outside of Thailand
• You provide your travel arrangements
• You provide your accommodation arrangements

It really is as simple as that. You can’t change your type of visa while you’re holding a DTV, otherwise, the DTV will become void. So, unless you’re looking to secure permanent residence, we’d advise you to stick with the Destination Tourist Visa!

Why is it not a ‘digital nomad visa’, strictly speaking? Well, in essence, it’s only in the name. Colloquially, the DTV is being heralded as a digital nomad visa. However, this exact phrasing isn’t being used by the Thai government.

How it benefits TEFL teachers

So, why should TEFL teachers care about this?

So many TEFL teachers are becoming digital nomads . Though it was relatively popular before the COVID pandemic, online English teaching and remote working have become far more prevalent in recent years. With online English teaching work becoming such a viable option for TEFL teachers, and more countries opening their doors to digital nomads , there’s never been a better time to do it.

Digital nomads are either employed by companies that allow employees to work remotely or are self-employed. A digital nomad will often work for more than one online teaching company, or they’ll have a well-established independent tutoring company set up under their own name and are able to guarantee a certain level of income per year.

The latter point is important - countries including Spain and Greece have introduced digital nomad visas in recent years, with a key condition being a certain annual income.

As Thailand provides another fantastic option, albeit without explicitly calling their new visa a “digital nomad visa”, these are exciting times for TEFL teachers who want to explore a more independent career route.

Why be a digital nomad?

What’s the appeal of working anywhere you like, setting your own hours, potentially being your own boss and being more productive? Well, as hard a sell as it is, we’ll try to break it down for you a little:

Work anywhere in the world

It bears repeating: if you’re a digital nomad, you can work anywhere you like. You could theoretically wake up in one place, work in the morning, take your lunch break on the train, and finish your working day in another part of the country. You could have crossed a border while you took a lesson online.

Digital nomad visas and legislation are becoming increasingly common. We foresee more and more countries offering different types of gateways to enterprising, adventurous TEFL teachers who are desperate to see more of the world. It couldn’t be a more exciting time to get involved.

Be your own boss

If you’re self-employed, and running your own TEFL tutoring business, then there’s nobody stopping you from travelling the world as you work. As long as you’re able to deliver English lessons, you can move around as you please. You’re in charge.

If you’re working for a platform that allows you the flexibility to set your own hours, and you can - again - still commit to delivering English lessons, then great! You have a level of control over both your day-to-day career commitments and your geography, so you can travel and work as you please. While language companies who employ teachers on permanent contracts may offer less flexibility, they might still afford some compromise in terms of your movement. 

Explore as you work

Nobody is expecting you to explore the underwater caverns of Phang Nga Bay while delivering an English lesson on your phone. You can’t log in to Zoom for some phrasal verb practice while you admire Wat Rong Khun with the reverence it so demands.

However, exploring the world as you work is most decidedly a thing . Again, you can start your day in one city, and be in a beautiful village by evening. You could see out the day by hot springs, and be in a ski resort using the WiFi the next morning. The choice is yours. 

Challenge yourself

If all of this sounds like it could be challenging at times, well… yes, it can be. 

You’ve got to manage your time, head off any potential travel difficulties , always be in a situation where you can give great classes, and prepare for your teaching work effectively - a lot is going on, all at once. Throw in things like homesickness, managing your finances and working across timezones and it can look, on paper, like a lot.

Yet, people do it. People do it and love it. More and more TEFL teachers and folks from countless other industries are turning their office 9-5 life into a lifestyle where they can travel and work simultaneously. They’re embracing the good parts and tackling the problems that come their way.

You can, too.

Why Thailand?

So now you know you can work and live in Thailand on the fantastic new Destination Thailand Visa. A question remains: why Thailand, specifically?

Anyone who knows much about teaching English abroad will be aware that teaching English in Thailand has always been a very popular choice. Demand for English in Thailand is enormous, not least because of the country’s huge tourism industry. Even Thailand’s tourist board admits that English is an “unofficial second language”, given the popularity of lessons, and the number of English speakers coming to visit every year.

Why do they visit? Thailand’s natural beauty, with awe-inspiring caverns, coastline and beaches, is incredible enough. However, you throw in both modern and ancient temples and their awe-inspiring, lavish architecture, along with modern megaprojects in cities like Bangkok, add in delicious and varied food and wrap it all in a warm welcome, and you’ve got a destination that is hard to compare.

Talking of Bangkok , you could do far worse than to make Thailand’s capital your first port of call as a digital nomad in Thailand. If you want to explore lively nightlife, browse the vibrant markets, go for tuk-tuk rides or visit the achingly beautiful temples, there’s so much to explore.

What’s stopping you?

Truly, then, it’s another exciting announcement for digital nomads. At a time when the practice of working and travelling simultaneously is seeing more and more converts, Thailand’s new Destination Tourist Visa will be another piece of welcome news.

For TEFL teachers, and anyone following the TEFL industry at large, these are exciting times. Not only are remote learning options for TEFL certificates becoming more commonly accepted, but the way TEFL teachers work is also changing. There’s still plenty of room and appreciation for classroom learning, of course. However, since the pandemic, it’s no longer a given that occupation and location are inherently linked. 

As ever, we’ll be keeping our eyes on developments in the digital nomadism sphere - we predict that Thailand won’t even be the last country in its region to offer a visa like this in 2024. These are unprecedented times!

Do you want a rewarding, stimulating career that puts you in control? It all starts with a TEFL certificate. Check out our TEFL course options today.