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Which Thailand visa do I need?

Most people pick the wrong Thai visa because they start with the visa name instead of their own situation. Start with what you're actually doing, and the route becomes obvious. Here's the decision guide we walk clients through every day.

The right Thai visa depends on your situation, not the visa name: visitors get 60 days visa-free (extendable +30); remote workers use the DTV (5 years, 180 days per entry, ฿25,000 agency fee); retirees 50+ use the Non-O (฿800,000 bank or ฿65,000/month income); employees need a Non-B + work permit; spouses use the marriage Non-O; high earners may qualify for the 10-year LTR; status buyers use Elite. Agency fees span ฿2,500–฿55,000. Work through the decision table below.

✅ Match by situation, not by visa name ✅ Costs from ฿2,500 to ฿55,000 ✅ Honest assessment before you pay

The quick decision table

Your situation	Visa route	Cost (all-in)	Timeline
Visiting for under 60 days	Tourist + 30-day extension	฿3,500	1 day
Remote worker / digital nomad	DTV	฿25,000	2–4 weeks
50+ with funds or pension	Retirement (Non-O)	฿18,000	2–4 weeks
Employed by a Thai company	Non-B + work permit	฿30,000	3–6 weeks
Married to a Thai national	Marriage (Non-O)	฿22,000	3–4 weeks
Starting a Thai company	Company setup + work permit	฿55,000	6–8 weeks

Government fees extra, quoted in writing before you commit.

Work through it step by step

How long are you staying? Under 90 days → tourist route. Longer → you need a proper visa.
Will you work? For a Thai employer → Non-B + work permit. For a foreign employer or clients → DTV. Not working → keep reading.
Over 50? The retirement route (฿800k bank or ฿65k/month income) is the classic long-stay option.
Married to a Thai? The marriage extension works on a lower income bar (฿40k/month or ฿400k bank).
None of the above? Talk to us — there are routes beyond the obvious ones, and we'll tell you honestly which fit.

Two routes people mix up

DTV (remote work)

For remote employees & freelancers with foreign clients
5 years, multiple entry, 180 days per stay
No Thai work permit needed
฿25,000 all-in, 2–4 weeks

Retirement (Non-O)

For 50+ with ฿800k bank or ฿65k/month income
Annual extensions, 90-day reporting
No work allowed
฿18,000 all-in, 2–4 weeks

Not sure which applies? Our DTV vs Retirement comparison breaks down the edge cases.

Questions we hear about choosing a visa

Can I switch visas once I'm in Thailand?

Some switches are possible (e.g. tourist to DTV in certain cases), others require leaving the country. We'll tell you which before you commit — it changes the timeline.

What's the cheapest way to stay legally?

For a short stay: the 30-day extension at ฿3,500. For a long stay: it depends on your situation — DTV and retirement both work out cheaper than a lifetime of visa runs.

Do I qualify for the DTV if I'm self-employed?

Often yes, with the right documentation. The rules changed and tightened since launch — message us with your setup and we'll give you a straight answer.

I've been doing tourist hops. Am I in trouble?

Maybe, maybe not — but stop now. Immigration watches the pattern. Come in on a proper visa before the history works against you. See our visa runs guide for the honest version.

Tell us your situation →

Message us on Line, WhatsApp or Messenger with your nationality, age and what you plan to do in Thailand. You get a straight answer and a written fee within the hour (9:00–18:00, Mon–Sat).