For some time, the Internet has changed the course of life and business forever, and some wish to travel around the world and conduct e-commerce simultaneously. They are called Digital Nomads (DN) and can wake up to the sound of ocean waves from a bungalow and have breakfast: coffee, juice, fruit, yogurt, and muesli next to their laptop. Their livelihoods depend on access to fast and stable Wi-Fi, and the lifestyle of a DN is wherever they can put down their backpack. They can be found in many cities, cafes, beaches, hotel lounges, and co-working spaces. In Bangkok, there are many of these now!

Moreover, a DN is anyone who uses the Internet to create a virtual business regardless of location, freeing themselves to work remotely. They use the Internet to scale and automate a business or provide services remotely, ultimately creating a non-traditional lifestyle. Wow! That’s cool! However, they can never usually stay in any given country for an extended period, as, once again, their visa and immigration status will always be a nagging factor.

Thailand’s perennial and intermittent immigration crackdowns on border runs (aka visa runs) constantly stir interest among expatriates and travelers because of the uncertainty it causes for those planning a trip to Thailand and those who have, more or less, made a home here. The crackdown does not affect those on long-term visas - such as retirement or, perhaps, education visas, and those with work permits. Still, it affects a growing number of DNs and location-independent entrepreneurs who work online and often reside for several months in various Southeast Asian countries.

Thailand is beautiful to DN’s, thanks to the misunderstood low cost of living and high quality of life, fast and reliable Wi-Fi, and, usually, a reasonably easy visa situation. Tourists can obtain double-entry tourist visas that allow them 60-day stays per entry, which can be extended for an additional 30 days for six months in the country. Those between visas can usually obtain visa exemption stamps by exiting and re-entering the country on the same day at various famous border crossings. The crackdowns, however, limit and, in some cases, prohibit tourists from doing these border runs, which could make it more of a challenge to stay in the country. It is often more convenient to fly to a nearby country and apply for a new tourist visa. Still, consulate officers may reject the application depending on where you use if the applicant has had too many consecutive visas.

So what are the options? One is getting a longer-term visa to stay in Thailand. Though tourist visas are convenient, it can eventually become a hassle to need to leave and apply for a new one continually, and it can be stressful if you already have several in your passport. Education visas allow for a one-year stay and can be obtained by enrolling in a Thai language or Muay Thai (Thai boxing) class. You’ll need documentation from the school to prove you are enrolling in a class, but the process is pretty straightforward and costs a few hundred dollars. If you know you want to stay in Thailand for an extended period, getting on a long-term stay visa will save you hassle, time, and money in the long run; otherwise, getting a couple of double-entry visas while traveling around the region still makes the most sense.

Types of Visas for Digital Nomads

With everything that exists in Thailand, it is easy to see why DN chose to live and work here. Thailand is relatively generous to Western countries, allowing visitors arriving by plane to get a 30-day visa on arrival.

30-Day Single Entry Arrival Visa (working is prohibited)

Most foreigners are eligible for the 30-day visa on arrival by air (only 15 days when arriving by land). This includes citizens of the USA, the UK, and Australia. You can extend your visa for seven days at Thai immigration for 1,900 baht, but you will not be officially eligible to conduct business in Thailand. You’ll need all the essential documents: a valid passport, photos, and the application.

60-Day Single Entry Tourist Visa (working is prohibited)

This visa will have 90 days of validity from the time you receive it and takes three days to process. Your 60 days start the night you arrive. Additional documents are required for minors under 20. It can be extended for 30 days at Thai immigration for 1,900 baht up to two times.

However, as of August 2015, Thailand is moving to grant multiple-entry visas to all visitors from any country to boost tourism and drive the economy. The current Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has given the green light to the proposal, which is expected to go into effect within 60 days after receiving Cabinet approval. Currently, citizens of 30-40 countries can enter Thailand without a visa, but some other nationals are required to pay about 1,000 baht to get a single-entry, 30-day visa. The new visa would allow holders to come into the country more than once, which is similar to what many other countries apply. The government plans to charge 5,000 baht for the six-month visa.

Plan A: Typical Visa Run

Southeast Asia is famous for short-term trips to extend a foreigner's staying capacity in that specific country. Most travelers typically buy a ticket to a neighboring country before returning to Thailand and getting a new visa, though any country (including home) will work. These visa runs, especially ones done on the same day, have been seeing a crackdown since 2014. I don’t recommend this more than once or twice a year, but it’s fundamental for anyone hoping to stay beyond three months. For visa runs, do an Internet search and then do some research. I can’t recommend any particular service; however, you might wish to log on to thaivisa.com to get all the latest news on all things related to visa runs.

Plan B: Education Visas: Thai Language School Enrollment or Muay Thai (Thai boxing) Class Enrollment

Are you staying a while and don’t like the hassle of visa runs? Our favorite tip: make yourself eligible for an education visa, valid for a one-year, multi-entry stay. That doesn’t have to mean going back to school to be lectured, though. “Students” of the Thai language, Muay Thai martial arts, Thai cooking, or local massage schools are all eligible for an education visa. Enrolling is as straightforward as a business visa and costs a few hundred dollars. An education visa is renewable for up to three years as long as you can prove you’re attending at least four hours of lessons a week. You could even be tested!