If you’re a New Zealander planning a longer stay in Thailand and working remotely, you may have heard of the new DTV visa (Destination Thailand Visa) — designed for digital nomads, remote workers, and even families.
Our family of four (myself, my husband, and our two kids) applied for the DTV under the Workation category while travelling through Australia in September 2024.
Here’s everything we learned — including the confusing visa fees, how we got around the NZ consulate’s pricing, and what documentation we needed for both the main applicant and dependents.
What Is the DTV Visa?
You might be wondering how we’re able to stay in Thailand for so long without doing constant visa runs or applying for complicated long-term visas.
I’ve had a few people ask how we’re making it work, especially with kids in tow.
The answer is the new DTV visa — and it’s honestly been a game-changer for families like ours who work online and want to spend more than a few weeks exploring one of our favourite countries.
It’s perfect for us because it gives us the chance to have a more stable homebase while still travelling.
The kids are more settled, we’re not constantly packing up and moving, and it means when we head away during the NZ winter, we can actually stay put in one spot.
We still get to explore locally, take weekend trips, and soak up the culture — but with the bonus of coming back to the same place at night.
It also works out cheaper, since we can rent one place long-term instead of bouncing between short stays.
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a long-stay visa introduced in 2024 to attract digital nomads, freelancers, and other remote workers to spend extended time in Thailand.
It allows eligible applicants to stay for up to 180 days, with a one-time extension available — giving a total stay of up to 360 days. It is valid for five years.
So effectively, you can base yourself in Thailand and only need to leave after six months for a short holiday.
There are three main purposes of visit under the DTV:
- Workcation – for digital nomads, freelancers, foreign remote workers, or online business owners
- Thai Soft Power Activities – such as training in Muay Thai, Thai culinary arts, or undergoing medical treatment in Thailand
- Accompanying Family – spouse and children under 20 of DTV visa holders can apply as dependents
This visa does not permit you to work for a Thai employer, but it’s ideal for those earning income remotely from overseas while enjoying a long-term stay in Thailand.
Why We Didn’t Apply From New Zealand
Let’s start with the most baffling part: the cost difference.
When I first looked into applying for the DTV visa from New Zealand, I was shocked to find it would cost over NZD $2,000 per person — compared to just $600 AUD if we applied from Australia.
No one I spoke to could explain this huge price gap.
From what I’ve learned, the Thai Consulate in New Zealand increased its visa fees significantly in 2023, and they’re now way out of line with consulates in other countries.
Since we were already in Australia as part of our big trip, we decided to apply through the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra, which uses the online eVisa system.
This saved us a small fortune.
💡 Important: You must be physically in Australia to use the eVisa system for Australia (Sydney or Canberra). Even if you have an Australian postal address, the system checks your location — so it won’t work unless you’re actually in the country.
Our Timeline: DTV Application + Approval (Main Applicant)
Here’s how the process unfolded for me as the main applicant:
- 27 August – Submitted my DTV application online via the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra
- 30 August – Received a request for additional documentation:
- Remote Working Details Document
- Proof of Address in Australia
For the Remote Working Document, I put together a simple PDF that:
- Explained what my business does
- Stated that it’s based in New Zealand and all the work is done remotely
- Included screenshots of my website and NZ company registration
For proof of address, I uploaded the Booking.com invoice from the apartment we were staying in at the time. Although it was temporary accommodation, this was accepted without any issues.
- 11 September – My DTV visa was approved 🎉
Dependent Visas for My Husband and Kids
Once my visa was approved, I submitted dependent visa applications for my husband and our two children.
- 12 September – Submitted dependent applications
- 19 September – Received a request for more info for one of my children:
- Proof of visa status in Australia (VEVO)
I contacted Home Affairs Australia and was told they don’t issue VEVOs for children.
So instead, I submitted our Qantas flight confirmation showing all four of us entering Australia together, with a note that read:
“VEVO not available for child as per Home Affairs Australia. This flight confirmation shows entry into Australia — including [child’s name].”
That did the trick.
- 19 September (later that day) – My husband and eldest child were approved
- 22 September – Youngest child was approved
Financial Proof
The DTV requires applicants to show they have sufficient financial means, which is 500,000THB and it should be in a bank account with six month’s worth of bank statements (I’m guessing this is to show you didn’t just get a short term loan to qualify for the visa).
Instead of transferring money into our bank account, I submitted a screenshot of the balance of our managed fund in NZ.
I used the same image for all four of us — and it was accepted without any questions.
We still aren’t sure if the 500,000THB requirement is per person or per application but the total balance of our managed fund was more than 2 million Thai baht so it easily covered the four of us.
It’s really important to note that this was my experience with one office, and many people have had different experiences. Lots of people have to transfer the money into a bank account and if I was applying now, that’s what I’d do as I’ve read of many declines for anything differing from the requirements.
I think I may have been lucky as one of the first people to apply in Canberra, so perhaps they weren’t as stringent with the financial proof. I would’ve withdrawn the funds to put in our bank account if I was asked to do so.
Did We Need a Flight Booked?
I mentioned a planned flight and flight number in my application, but hadn’t actually booked it at the time.
The embassy didn’t ask for proof of travel, and I booked the flights after our visas were approved.
Final Thoughts: Is the DTV Worth It?
For us, yes — but only because we applied from Australia. If we’d paid $8000 doing it from New Zealand, that would’ve covered a lot of travel, so it might not be worth it.
The DTV is a great option for families or couples who want to live and work remotely from Thailand for up to a year without the complications of traditional work permits or retirement visas.
Just be aware that the process isn’t always fast, and you may be asked for additional documentation.
Also, if you’re a New Zealander, avoid applying from the NZ consulate if you can — the fees are unreasonably high compared to applying elsewhere.
Helpful Facebook Groups
I found these two Facebook groups incredibly helpful throughout the application process.
They’re full of real-time advice, embassy experiences, and supportive travellers:
👉 Thailand DTV Visa Community
👉 Thailand Digital Nomads & Remote Workers
Got Questions?
Feel free to email me— I’m happy to share more about our experience to help other families navigate the process.
