Malaysia
Applications for the Malaysian DE Rantau Nomad Pass opened on October 1. Applicants for a digital nomad visa to Malaysia will need to have an annual income of a minimum of 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 a maximum of 12 months, with a minimum stay of three months. It may be prolonged for a maximum of 12 additional months, and the distant employee’s spouse and kids may 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 comparable to 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 inside 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 will need to have an annual income of a minimum of $80,000 for 2 years before applying.
If applicants don’t meet these criteria, they will need to have a minimum of 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 personal company, they will need to have had combined revenues of a minimum of USD 150 million within the three years prior to submitting the visa application.
But that is not all – distant employees will need to 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 will need to have proof of funds of a minimum of 2 billion Indonesian rupees, or 130,000 US dollars. The money ought 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 have interaction in investment activities with the aim of “making a positive contribution to the Indonesian economy”, which will not be 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 line 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, nevertheless it is unclear whether this includes distant work or digital work.
