Malaysia
Applications for the Malaysian DE Rantau Nomad Pass opened on October 1. Applicants for a digital nomad visa to Malaysia should have an annual income of at the least US$24,000. Applying for a visa costs 1,000 Malaysian ringgit, or 215 US dollars.
According to the official Malaysia Digital Economy website, the visa allows distant employees to remain in Malaysia for as much as 12 months, with a minimum stay of three months. It could be prolonged for a maximum of 12 additional months, and the distant employee’s spouse and youngsters also can reside in Malaysia through the validity period of the visa.
Not all digital nomads qualify for the visa – only freelancers and independent contractors working in digital industries reminiscent of IT and internet marketing, in addition to distant employees employed by firms outside Malaysia, are eligible.
Thailand
Thailand launched its long-term resident program in September, which is meant for 4 categories of foreign applicants: “Wealthy Global Citizens”, “Wealthy Retirees”, “Highly Skilled Professionals” and “Professionals Working from Thailand”. on the official visa website. Remote employees can apply under the last category.
Applying for a Thailand visa from throughout the country costs 50,000 baht, or roughly $1,320.
The visa provides tax exemption for income earned abroad, but comes with stringent requirements. According to the visa website, distant employees should have an annual income of at the least $80,000 for 2 years before applying.
If applicants don’t meet these criteria, they should have at the least a master’s degree, mental property or, for business owners, received Series A funding.
Applicants must even be employed by a publicly traded company or, if employed by a non-public company, they should have had combined revenues of at the least USD 150 million within the three years prior to submitting the visa application.
But that is not all – distant employees should have a minimum of 5 years of labor experience in “relevant areas of current employment.”
Despite the chances, Southeast Asia continues to be a hotbed for digital economy investors
Despite the chances, Southeast Asia continues to be a hotbed for digital economy investors
Indonesia
Indonesia introduced a distant work visa on October 25. According to a press release from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration, the “second home” visa allows eligible foreigners to legally stay within the country for five or 10 years.
According to the press release, visa applicants should have proof of funds of at the least 2 billion Indonesian rupees, or 130,000 US dollars. The money needs to be placed in Indonesian state banks.
Visa holders must pay non-tax government income of three million Indonesian rupiah, or about $193. The visa allows foreigners to interact in investment activities with the aim of “making a positive contribution to the Indonesian economy”, which is just not mentioned on the B211A tourist visa.
The press release didn’t indicate whether visa holders are subject to income tax.
What the hell is happening with the long-awaited Bali digital nomad visa?
What the hell is happening with the long-awaited Bali digital nomad visa?
Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Instagram in September that digital nomads can work remotely under a B211A tourist visa, as quoted by Reuters. However, in keeping with an Indonesian immigration website, distant work has not been officially recognized as an appropriate activity under a tourist visa.
According to an Indonesian immigration website, the B211A visa prevents visitors from taking on employment in Indonesia, but it surely is unclear whether this includes distant work or digital work.
