Best Long-Stay Visas for Remote Workers in Southeast Asia, 6 Countries Compared
Across the six countries this we cover, only Thailand and Indonesia run a visa for people who work online for an employer or clients outside the host country. Thailand has the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) and, for higher earners, the LTR Work-from-Thailand category. Indonesia has the E33G Remote Worker KITAS. The Philippines has authorised a digital nomad visa but has not confirmed a way to apply. Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have none, so remote workers there fall back on a tourist e-visa or a permit meant for local work. The best long-stay visa for digital nomads in Southeast Asia depends first on whether you can meet the income or savings bar, and second on whether the visa actually covers your kind of remote work.
| Country | Visa for remote work? | Main option | Money you must show | Validity vs stay per entry | Main restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Yes | DTV, or LTR Work-from-Thailand for high earners | DTV: 500,000 THB in the bank. LTR: USD 80,000 a year | DTV: 5-year visa, 180 days per entry plus one 180-day extension. LTR: 5 years plus a possible further 5 years | DTV does not authorise Thai employment. Documents vary by embassy |
| Indonesia | Yes | E33G Remote Worker KITAS | USD 60,000 a year, plus USD 2,000 in the bank | 1 year, extendable online. Current ITAS limit: 6 years in total | Foreign employer only. Freelancer status unclear |
| Philippines | Authorised, not confirmed open | Digital nomad visa (EO 86) | Not set in the order | 1 year, renewable | Your country must give Filipinos a DNV. No confirmed way to apply yet |
| Vietnam | No | 90-day e-visa | None | Up to 90 days | Grants entry and stay, but not permission to work |
| Cambodia | No | E-class visa plus EB extension | None stated | 30 days, extendable to 6 or 12 months | A second 6 or 12-month EB extension needs a work permit or proof of business |
| Laos | No | LA-B2, arranged through a company | None stated | 3 to 12 months, renewable | Tied to a Lao company. Not for independent remote workers |
In this guide
How long-stay visas for remote workers actually work here
Sort the options by what they legally let you do, not by how long they let you stay. Four kinds exist across these six countries.
- A visa written for people working online for a foreign employer or client. Thailand's DTV and LTR Work-from-Thailand category, and Indonesia's E33G.
- A permit that lets you stay but says nothing about your work. Vietnam's e-visa, and the tourist options in Cambodia and Laos.
- A work or business permit tied to a local employer, company, or investment. Cambodia's EB extension and Laos's LA-B2.
- An authorised visa with no confirmed way to apply yet, which is where the Philippine digital nomad visa sits.
Only the first kind gives you both the right to live there and the right to do your work. A tourist e-visa lets you sit in the country while your income arrives from abroad, but it does not make your work permitted. A local work permit does the reverse, granting the right to work only if you have a job or business in the country to attach it to.
The six countries compared
Thailand and Indonesia are the only two with a visa built for remote work. The other four ask you to fit a category that was designed for something else.
Thailand: the DTV and the LTR work-from-Thailand visa
The Destination Thailand Visa runs for five years and lets you enter as many times as you want, but each entry allows a stay of 180 days, extendable once at an immigration office for a further 180. You show 500,000 THB in the bank, about USD 15,000, and no national income minimum is published. You must still prove your remote-worker, foreign-talent, or freelancer status through an employment contract, employment certificate, or professional portfolio. The visa fee is published at 10,000 THB, though what you pay depends on the embassy. It does not itself grant permission to take employment with a Thai entity.
The documents and balance period differ by consular post. The Thai Embassy in Washington currently asks for three monthly statements, each ending with at least USD 16,000. The London embassy publishes a £11,000 threshold but does not state a three-month holding period. Both accept an employment contract or certificate, or a professional portfolio. Apply through the post responsible for where you live, and read its current checklist before you move any money. Our Thailand DTV guide covers the document set in full.
Higher earners have a second option. The LTR Work-from-Thailand category needs an average income of USD 80,000 a year over the past two years, or USD 40,000 to 80,000 if you hold a master's degree, own intellectual property, or have raised at least USD 1 million in Series A funding. Your employer abroad must be a listed company, or a private one with three years of trading and USD 50 million in combined revenue across that period. It grants five years initially and can be extended for five more if you still meet the criteria. It also replaces 90-day reporting with annual reporting. The processing fee for issuance in Thailand is 50,000 THB per person; embassy and e-visa fees can vary. Eligible Work-from-Thailand holders can claim an exemption for qualifying previous-year income from employment or business carried on abroad that is brought into Thailand, subject to Royal Decree 743 and its conditions.
Indonesia: the E33G remote worker KITAS
The E33G gives you a one-year stay to live in Indonesia while working for a company based abroad, and the stay permit can be extended online through the immigration e-visa portal. Under the current ITAS extension schedule, each extension cannot exceed the original one-year grant and total ITAS time cannot exceed six years. The government fee is IDR 7,000,000, and the official processing target is five working days after payment. You need a bank account showing salary or income of at least USD 60,000 a year, a three-month bank statement holding at least USD 2,000, a passport valid for six more months, a photo, and a CV. Once issued, the visa is valid for 90 days, so you must enter Indonesia within that window. There is no local sponsor.
The official page names an employment agreement with a company established outside Indonesia, which fits salaried employees cleanly. It does not clearly cover independent freelancers, and it does not list health insurance among the core documents. The USD 60,000 income evidence and the separate USD 2,000 bank statement are both official requirements, so one does not replace the other. If you sit under the threshold or work for yourself, confirm your position before you pay. The full picture sits in Indonesia's long-stay visa options.
Philippines: a digital nomad visa that is authorised but not confirmed open
Executive Order 86, signed on 24 April 2025, authorises the Department of Foreign Affairs to issue digital nomad visas to foreigners working remotely for employers or clients outside the Philippines, valid for one year and renewable. The conditions in the order include being at least 18, showing income generated abroad, holding health insurance, having no criminal record, and being a national of a country that offers digital nomad visas to Filipinos. That last condition is a legal prerequisite, so a qualifying-country list would decide who can apply.
No official reciprocity list or current application channel has been confirmed. The DFA e-visa portal is live, but a check of it did not show a selectable digital nomad category. Executive Order 86 requires sufficient income but sets no amount. The tourist extension option can run for up to 36 months for visa-non-required nationals and up to 24 months for visa-required nationals, but tourist status does not itself grant permission to work remotely. Track the current status through the Philippine digital nomad visa page before assuming it is open.
Vietnam: the 90-day e-visa, and no nomad visa
Vietnam has no digital nomad visa. The e-visa is valid for up to 90 days, at USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry, and is available through the official portal. It grants entry and stay but does not establish permission to work remotely. Anyone seeking another stay must obtain a further valid entry permission rather than treating the e-visa as renewable remote-work status.
The 10-year Golden Visa that circulates online is still a draft proposal, with no timeline, regulations, or application portal. A separate Special Visa Exemption Card exists under a 2025 decree, but it runs through a Vietnamese institution's nomination and targets senior academics, executives, and artists, so an ordinary remote worker cannot apply for it. For what people actually do on the e-visa, see what remote workers do in Vietnam.
Cambodia: the E-class visa and EB extension
The Ordinary (E-class) visa gives an initial 30 days, extendable inside Cambodia for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. The one-month and three-month extensions are single entry; the six-month and twelve-month extensions allow multiple entries. The EB extension covers workers, business owners, and freelancers, but it does not by itself authorise work. A work permit and a foreign employment card are also needed. Current practitioner guidance says an initial six- or twelve-month EB extension can be issued without a work permit, but a second six- or twelve-month extension requires a valid work permit or proof of business activity.
This is a work and business route, not a remote-work visa. Agent charges and document practices vary, so obtain a written list of the visa, extension, work-permit, and service fees before paying. Do not treat an agent-arranged company or employment connection as a substitute for a genuine qualifying basis. The Cambodia long-stay visa options page sets out the extension types.
Laos: the LA-B2, a technician visa
Laos has no dedicated remote work or retirement visa. The common long-stay document is the LA-B2, listed by the government as a technical visa for a foreign employee, tied to a Lao company or project. It requires quota approval to use foreign labour and approval to import the employee, alongside the company's registration papers. Directors and technicians get a stay of no more than a year, renewed year by year. The Invest Laos company and investment process publishes levies of 300,000 kip for a three-month multiple-entry visa, 600,000 kip for six months, and 1,200,000 kip for twelve months, plus other service fees. Its page is undated and its displayed US dollar conversions are obsolete, so verify the levies and total cost before applying.
For a shorter stay, a tourist visa or other visitor entry may be available, depending on nationality and entry route. It remains a short-stay permission and does not create a right to work remotely. The LA-B2 rests on a real company or project tie, not merely an agent's invitation. Confirm the current stay, extension, work-permit, and entry requirements with the Lao authority or responsible embassy. More detail sits in Laos long-term stay options.
How long you can stay without leaving
Visa validity and permitted stay are not the same. A five-year visa does not necessarily let you remain for five uninterrupted years.
| Route | Document validity | Longest published stay without leaving | What happens next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand DTV | 5 years, multiple entry | 180 days, plus one extension of up to 180 days | Leave and re-enter within the visa's validity for a new permitted stay |
| Thailand LTR | 5 years initially | 5 years | Apply for a further 5 years if you still meet the criteria |
| Indonesia E33G | 1 year | 1 year | Extend the ITAS online. Current total ITAS time cannot exceed 6 years |
| Philippines DNV | 1 year if issued | Not currently usable | Wait for a confirmed application channel and implementing rules |
| Vietnam e-visa | Up to 90 days | Up to 90 days | Obtain a new entry permission; the e-visa does not authorise remote work |
| Cambodia E-class plus EB | Depends on the extension | Up to 6 or 12 months on a long extension | Meet the work-permit or business-evidence conditions for a second long extension |
| Laos LA-B2 | 3 to 12 months in the published company-linked schedule | Up to 1 year for qualifying directors or technicians | Renew through the qualifying company or project process |
What you must earn, show, or deposit
Keep three things apart, because visas mix them. Income is what you earn each year. A bank balance is money the office wants to see sitting in your account. A deposit is money that must stay locked for a set period.
- Thailand DTV asks for a bank balance of 500,000 THB and sets no national income figure, but you must still prove remote employment, foreign-talent status, or freelance work. The LTR asks for USD 80,000 a year in income, and either health cover of USD 50,000 or a deposit of USD 100,000 held for 12 months.
- Indonesia E33G asks for USD 60,000 a year in income and a three-month statement showing USD 2,000, which is a statement rather than a locked deposit, plus the IDR 7,000,000 fee.
- Philippines requires sufficient foreign-generated income, but Executive Order 86 does not set a figure and no official threshold has been confirmed.
- Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos set no remote-worker income bar for the stay or company-linked options discussed here. That does not turn them into remote-work visas.
The distinction changes who qualifies. A freelancer with strong savings but uneven income can clear Thailand's DTV and fail Indonesia's E33G. A salaried employee on USD 90,000 clears every income bar but still cannot use the Philippine visa until a reciprocity list appears.
Which work arrangements qualify
The same income can produce a different answer depending on how you earn it.
| Work arrangement | Thailand DTV | Thailand LTR Work-from-Thailand | Indonesia E33G | Philippines DNV | Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos workaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee of a foreign company | Fits if you show the funds and employment evidence | Fits only if both you and the foreign employer meet the published tests | Cleanest fit if income reaches USD 60,000 | Intended to fit, but applications are not confirmed open | A visitor route does not grant remote-work permission; company routes require a local qualifying basis |
| Freelancer with several foreign clients | Official DTV evidence can include a professional portfolio | Does not fit the foreign-employer test cleanly | Not clearly covered because the official page asks for an employment agreement with a foreign company | EO 86 mentions foreign clients, but implementation is pending | No dedicated remote-work route |
| Contractor with one foreign client | Can fit with a portfolio and supporting contract evidence | Usually does not fit unless the relationship and employer meet the LTR rules | Unclear unless the document is accepted as an employment agreement | Intended category, but implementation is pending | No dedicated remote-work route |
| Owner-director of a foreign company | Can fit through the savings test and professional evidence | Can fit only if the company and personal income meet the criteria | May fit only if you can document qualifying income and an employment agreement with the foreign company | Not testable until applications open | Local business or investment rules may apply instead |
| Work for local clients | Not the DTV Workcation category's stated basis; confirm the correct work permission | Requires separate consideration if working for a Thai entity | Not the E33G's stated purpose | Local employment is prohibited | Requires the country's proper local work or business permission |
What evidence each route tests
| Route | Income evidence | Bank balance or deposit | Work evidence | Insurance or criminal record | Sponsor or company link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand DTV | No national numeric minimum | 500,000 THB; evidence period varies by post | Employment contract or certificate, or professional portfolio | Not listed as a national core requirement | No local employer, but apply through the responsible consular post |
| Thailand LTR Work-from-Thailand | USD 80,000 average over two years, or the conditional USD 40,000 to 80,000 route | USD 100,000 maintained deposit can replace qualifying health cover | Foreign employer and corporate revenue evidence | USD 50,000 health cover, Thai social security, or qualifying deposit | Foreign employer must meet the listed or private-company test |
| Indonesia E33G | At least USD 60,000 a year | Three-month statement showing at least USD 2,000; not a locked deposit | Employment agreement with a company outside Indonesia | Not listed among the core E33G documents | No sponsor |
| Philippines DNV | Sufficient foreign-generated income, amount not published | Not published | Proof of digital remote work for foreign clients or employers | Health insurance and no criminal record | Reciprocity and a Philippine Foreign Service Post are required |
| Cambodia EB | No remote-worker income threshold | None stated for the EB route | Employment contract or proof of business for the compliant long-stay route | Work permit and employment card for work | Employment or genuine business activity |
| Laos LA-B2 | No remote-worker income threshold | None stated in the published company process | Company and foreign-labour approval documents | Work and stay documents depend on the company process | Lao company or approved project required |
Tax, and why a day count may not protect you
Staying under a set number of days does not always keep you out of a country's tax net, and each country draws the line differently.
- Thailand: you become a tax resident at 180 days in a calendar year. Income for work performed in Thailand can be Thai-source regardless of who pays it or where it is paid. Foreign-source income earned from 1 January 2024 by a Thai tax resident can be taxable when brought into Thailand in the same or a later tax year. Eligible LTR Work-from-Thailand holders can claim the narrower Royal Decree 743 exemption for qualifying previous-year foreign employment, business, or property income brought into Thailand, subject to its conditions.
- Indonesia: you can become resident after more than 183 days in a 12-month period or earlier if you show intent to reside. Finance Ministry Regulation 18/PMK.03/2021 lists a VITAS or ITAS valid for more than 183 days among evidence of intent. A one-year E33G therefore creates possible tax-residency exposure before day 184, but the precise starting date and any treaty tie-breaker depend on the facts. Residents generally report worldwide income.
- Philippines: a nonresident foreign national can be taxed on Philippine-source income from services performed in the Philippines, whoever pays it or where the money lands. Staying more than 180 days makes the person engaged in trade or business for tax purposes. Executive Order 86 contains no DNV tax exemption; final treatment should be checked against any later BIR implementing rules.
- Vietnam: you are a resident at 183 days, or if you keep a permanent home such as a leased house with a fixed term, and residents are taxed on worldwide income.
- Cambodia: a resident's worldwide salary is taxed, while a non-resident is taxed on Cambodian-source salary. Contractor income sits under a separate tax on income.
- Laos: a foreigner who stays more than 183 days in a year and is paid from abroad is liable for Lao personal income tax.
Treat these as exposure to check, not a bill you have priced. A double tax agreement between the country and your home may offset what you owe, but that depends on your tax residence and the treaty and needs a professional to apply.
Your visa does not settle your employer's risk
Immigration approval answers whether you may stay and perform the activity covered by the visa. It does not automatically clear your foreign employer's payroll, social-security, corporate-tax, data-security, or insurance position.
The OECD's 2025 update on cross-border remote work explains that an employee's home or regular work location abroad does not automatically create a taxable presence for the employer. The time spent working there, whether the location is used for a commercial reason, and the wording of the applicable tax treaty can change the result. Ask your employer for written approval before applying, and have the employer check its own exposure if you will work from one country for a substantial part of the year.
Bringing a spouse or children
Thailand's DTV has a dependant category for a spouse and children under 20. Each family member applies separately, and consular posts can ask for financial evidence and proof of relationship. Check the post responsible for each applicant before assuming the principal applicant's bank statement is enough.
Thailand's current LTR rule covers a legal spouse and children under 20, with a maximum of four dependants per principal holder. The proposed expansion to parents, all legal dependants, and no numerical cap has not taken effect because it still requires a Ministry of Interior announcement. Each current dependant needs USD 50,000 in health cover, Thai social-security coverage, or a USD 25,000 deposit held for 12 months, and a child's dependant visa ends at 20.
Indonesia's application portal lists a separate family-dependant route for a remote worker. Family members should budget for separate applications and should not assume their status gives them the principal holder's work rights.
Cambodia treats family differently. A spouse or child of an EB holder can use a supporting employment letter from the principal holder's company for a non-working dependant application. A dependant route does not itself grant work rights. If both adults need to work, each person must establish the correct permission for their own activity.
How to choose the best long-stay visa for digital nomads in Southeast Asia
Run every option through two gates before you compare cost or length. Gate one, can you qualify. Gate two, does the visa cover your kind of remote work. A visa only earns a comparison once it passes both.
- Salaried employee at a foreign company on USD 80,000 or more: Thailand's LTR can fit if the employer also passes its corporate test, with five years plus a possible further five and a conditional exemption for qualifying previous-year foreign income. Indonesia's E33G fits at USD 60,000 or more. Both read your employment contract.
- Freelancer or contractor: Thailand's DTV is the simplest, since it tests savings rather than a salary and needs no employer. Indonesia's E33G is unsettled for freelancers, and the Philippine visa is not confirmed open.
- Owner of a company abroad: the DTV works on savings and a portfolio. The E33G works if you can show a salary and an employment agreement with the company, which owner-operators cannot always produce.
- Bringing a spouse or children: Thailand's DTV covers a spouse and children under 20. The current LTR covers a legal spouse and children under 20, with a maximum of four dependants. Indonesia provides a separate family-dependant route for remote workers.
- Under the income bar: the DTV's 500,000 THB savings test is the easiest bar to clear. A Vietnamese e-visa keeps you in the country, but it does not permit your remote work.
Beyond the six: Malaysia and Singapore
Malaysia is not one of the six countries here, and its DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a full remote work visa. It runs 3 to 12 months, renews for up to another 12, and costs MYR 1,000 for the main holder and MYR 500 per dependant. Income needs to clear USD 24,000 a year for tech workers or USD 60,000 for everyone else. If your income sits between the DTV's savings test and Indonesia's USD 60,000 bar, Malaysia is the nearest alternative to the two countries here that offer a dedicated visa.
Singapore has no dedicated digital nomad visa. Its Ministry of Manpower says someone already holding a valid stay pass, such as a Dependant's Pass, does not need a work pass merely to provide services to an overseas organisation or client. That is not an independent long-stay route: you still need another valid basis to live in Singapore, and work for a Singapore organisation or client can require a work pass.
Practical tips
Apply through the right consular post
Thailand's DTV evidence rules differ by embassy, so the list on one consulate's site is not a universal checklist. Washington currently asks for three monthly statements with at least USD 16,000 in each month, while London publishes £11,000 without a stated three-month period. Both require proof of remote or freelance work. Apply through the post responsible for where you live and read its current checklist before you submit.
Confirm a visa is actually open before you commit
The Philippine digital nomad visa is authorised in law but has no confirmed reciprocity list or application channel, so plans built on it can stall. Check the official government portal for the current status, and do not pay an agent for steps or fees that the DFA has not published.
Separate official fees from agent charges
Indonesia publishes an IDR 7,000,000 E33G government fee. Laos publishes visa levies inside its company and investment process but also warns of other service fees. Cambodia and Laos agent charges vary. Ask for a written quote that separates government fees, work-permit costs, translations, extensions, and the agent's service charge, together with written refund terms. An agent can arrange paperwork, but cannot create a lawful employer, business activity, or income record that you do not have.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Thailand DTV requirements change depending on which embassy you use?
Yes. The 500,000 THB financial threshold is the national figure, but the evidence period and local-currency equivalent differ by consular post. Washington currently asks for three monthly statements with an ending balance of at least USD 16,000 in each month. London publishes £11,000 and does not state a three-month holding period. Both ask for an employment contract or certificate, or a professional portfolio. Apply through the post responsible for your place of residence and read its list first.
Is the Indonesia E33G actually tax-free?
No automatic E33G tax exemption is published. Indonesia can treat you as resident after more than 183 days in a 12-month period or earlier when you demonstrate intent to reside. Finance Ministry Regulation 18/PMK.03/2021 lists a VITAS or ITAS valid for more than 183 days among evidence of intent, so a one-year E33G creates possible residency exposure before day 184. Confirm the start date, reporting position, and any treaty relief for your circumstances.
Can I apply for the Philippine digital nomad visa yet?
It is authorised under Executive Order 86 but not confirmed open. There is no published reciprocity list of qualifying countries, confirmed income figure, or confirmed application channel, and the reciprocity condition gates who is eligible. Tourist extensions can reach 36 months for visa-non-required nationals and 24 months for visa-required nationals, but tourist status does not grant remote-work permission.
How do remote workers stay long term in Cambodia and Laos?
Through genuine work or business routes, not a remote-work visa. In Cambodia, a second six- or twelve-month EB extension requires a valid work permit or proof of business activity under current practitioner guidance. In Laos, the LA-B2 is tied to a qualifying company or project and the associated foreign-labour approvals. Neither should be presented as an agent-created nomad visa.
Which of the six has no income requirement?
Thailand's DTV, which tests a 500,000 THB bank balance instead of setting a national income figure. It still requires evidence of remote or freelance work. Vietnam's e-visa also sets no income figure, but it grants only entry and stay and does not permit remote work.
Can a freelancer qualify for Indonesia's E33G?
The official E33G page asks for an employment agreement with a company established outside Indonesia. It does not clearly say that independent freelancers with several clients qualify. A freelancer should obtain a written answer from Indonesian Immigration before paying, rather than assuming that invoices or client contracts will replace the employment agreement.
Does a five-year DTV let me stay in Thailand for five years without leaving?
No. The visa is valid for multiple entries over five years, but each entry permits up to 180 days. One extension of up to another 180 days is available for that stay. After the extended stay, you must leave and re-enter while the visa remains valid.
Do I need my employer's permission to work from Southeast Asia?
Check your employment contract and company policy, and obtain written approval before committing to a long stay. A visa approval does not override your employment terms or settle your employer's payroll, social-security, corporate-tax, data-security, and insurance exposure.
Visa rules, official fees, and application status in this guide were checked in July 2026. Consular evidence requirements, exchange rates, agent charges, and local practices can change. Verify anything time-sensitive before acting on it.
Key sources
- Thailand Board of Investment, LTR Visa
- KPMG Thailand, status of proposed LTR dependant changes
- Thai Revenue Department, foreign-source income guidance
- Royal Thai Embassy Washington, DTV requirements
- Royal Thai Embassy London, DTV requirements
- Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration, E33G Remote Worker Visa
- Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration, ITAS extension schedule
- Indonesia official e-Visa portal, visa selection including remote-worker dependants
- Indonesia Ministry of Finance Regulation 18/PMK.03/2021
- Indonesia Directorate General of Taxes, foreign-citizen tax residency
- Executive Order No. 86, Philippines
- Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue, RMC 24-2026 on cross-border services
- Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs e-Visa portal
- Philippine Bureau of Immigration, tourist-extension FAQ
- Vietnam National Electronic Visa portal
- Invest Laos, Visa and Stay Permit Card
- Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, DE Rantau
- Singapore Ministry of Manpower, remote work for an overseas organisation
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries