Southeast Asia, renowned for its tropical climate, gorgeous beaches, and inexpensive cost of living, attracts millions of tourists annually. It is the ideal destination to live and work remotely for certain travellers.
According to a June research by the Migration Policy Institute, more than 25 nations around the world provide visas for remote labor. This includes Portugal, which requires remote workers to earn a minimum of $2,750 a month, along with Spain, Italy, and Malta.
Currently, however, only Malaysia and Thailand in Southeast Asia offer visas particularly for digital nomads. If you’re considering applying for a digital nomad visa in Southeast Asia, consider the following.
How to get a digital nomad visa in Malaysia
The application period for the DE Rantau Nomad Pass in Malaysia began on October 1. Applicants for the digital nomad visa in Malaysia must have a minimum annual income of $24,000. Visa applications cost 1,000 Malaysian ringgit, or $215 USD.
The visa permits remote employees to remain in Malaysia for up to 12 months, with a minimum stay requirement of three months, according to the Malaysia Digital Economy website. It may be renewed for up to 12 months, and spouses and children of remote workers are permitted to reside in Malaysia for the duration of the visa’s validity.
Only freelancers and independent contractors who operate in digital fields such as IT and online marketing, as well as remote workers who are hired by non-Malaysian enterprises, are eligible for the visa.
How to obtain a visa as a digital nomad in Thailand
According to the visa’s official website, Thailand introduced the Long-Term Resident Program in September for four categories of foreign applicants: “Wealthy Global Citizens,” “Wealthy Pensioners,” “Highly-Skilled Professionals,” and “Work-from-Thailand Professionals.” Workers at a distance can apply under the last category.
Visa applications made from within Thailand cost 50,000 baht, or approximately $1,320.
The visa exempts money earned abroad from taxation, but comes with stringent limitations. According to the visa website, remote employees must have earned at least $80,000 per year for the two years prior to submitting an application.
Applicants who do not meet this requirement must possess a master’s degree, intellectual property, or, in the case of business owners, Series A funding.
Applicants must also be employed by a publicly traded corporation or, if employed by a private enterprise, it must have generated at least $150 million in revenue in the three years before the visa application.
In addition, remote employees must have at least five years of experience in the “relevant domains of the current employment.”
What other Southeast Asian nations offer visas for digital nomads?
Indonesia has announced intentions to introduce a visa for remote workers.
According to a September Instagram post by the Indonesian tourism minister, digital nomads are permitted to work remotely under the B211A guest visa.
According to Indonesia’s immigration website, however, remote employment is not legally listed as an acceptable activity for the visiting visa. According to a September report from the South China Morning Post, there are no formal visas for remote employment in Indonesia at this time.
Bali, a province on the coast of Indonesia, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region. According to data from the tourist ministry cited by Reuters, nearly 3,000 digital nomads entered Indonesia from January to August.
The report did not clarify the visas held by these digital nomads.
The B211A visa prohibits travelers from working in Indonesia, according to Indonesia’s immigration website, however it is unclear if this includes remote or digital labor.