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DTV: apply where you are a national or resident, and bring a police certificate
- What this page says now
- You could apply at any Thai embassy or consulate, including while present in a third country on a tourist stay — which is why applicants shopped for the post with the lightest checklist. No criminal-record or police clearance certificate was required.
- What changed
- You must be a national, or a legal/permanent resident, of the country where you apply, and must apply at the Thai mission covering that country. Being physically present somewhere on a tourist stay or visa exemption does not qualify you to apply there. A criminal-record / police clearance certificate from your country of citizenship or legal residence, issued within the last 6 months (UK applicants use the ACRO certificate). Applied from 31 August 2026 according to the sources below, not to a published instrument.
Announced from 31 August 2026 by individual Thai missions — Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane; Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet; Royal Thai Embassy, London — rather than by a single published Ministry of Foreign Affairs instrument. We have not found a consolidated official announcement, so confirm the current checklist directly with the mission handling your application. Five-year validity, 180-day stays with one extension, the ~THB 500,000 financial test and the dependant provisions are unchanged — the change is who may apply where, and one extra document. Allow several weeks for the police certificate.
The page below has not been changed on the strength of this, and will not be until Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand publishes it. BAANLYY publishes what the Thai government publishes, not what is expected of it.
Sources for the change: Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane — published DTV application conditions · Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet — published DTV application conditions · Royal Thai Embassy, London — published DTV application conditions.
Check it yourself: Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Sources last re-read 4 September 2026. BAANLYY is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and this is not legal advice.
Not confirmedReported, not confirmed by any official source
Proposed: a 300-baht arrival fee
- What this page says now
- No arrival or tourism fee is charged on entry, and none appears in the costs on this page.
- What it is proposed to change to
- 300 baht for arrivals by air and 150 baht for arrivals by land or sea, described by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as returning to Cabinet for a decision on how it would be collected.
No Thai government source for this has been found. Everything cited below is a news outlet or a private operator.
This proposal has been announced and postponed repeatedly since 2022. There is no Cabinet approval, no Royal Gazette entry and no start date. Budget for it if you like, but do not plan around a date, because nobody has published one.
The page below has not been changed on the strength of this, and will not be until Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand or Tourism Authority of Thailand publishes it. BAANLYY publishes what the Thai government publishes, not what is expected of it.
Source for the change: The Nation — Why Thailand is reviving its 300-baht tourist fee plan (not a government source).
Check it yourself: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · Tourism Authority of Thailand. Sources last re-read 4 September 2026. BAANLYY is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and this is not legal advice.
The short version
Koh Samui is an easy island to settle on long-term as a foreigner, but it rents differently from the mainland: it's a villa market with a strong seasonal holiday-rental economy, so most long-stay homes are hillside or beachfront pool villas let by owners and managers, with a growing supply of foreign-freehold condos around Chaweng, Bophut and Choeng Mon. DTV nomads, LTR high-earners, retirees and married expats can all find a furnished home on a 6- or 12-month lease. The mechanics are familiar - a two-month deposit plus one month advance, a dual-language lease, and an owner who files your TM30 at Maenam Immigration - with two island wrinkles: mind the high-season pricing premium, and check villa tenure before you sign. For a full immigration breakdown see the Visa Knowledge Center; for live rents by area use the Koh Samui hub.
Housing by visa type
Each long-stay route tends to suit a different corner of the island and a different kind of home. Here's the quick map from visa to the areas and lease structures that fit it best on Samui.
| Visa | Who it's for | Best Samui areas | Typical lease |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) | Remote workers & digital nomads, 5-yr multi-entry, up to 180 days per stay | Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Maenam | 6-12 months, furnished condo or small villa with fast fibre |
| LTR (Long-Term Resident) | High earners, wealthy pensioners, remote pros; 10-yr, wealthy-global-citizen & work-in-Thailand tracks | Choeng Mon, Bophut, Taling Ngam | 12 months+, sea-view pool villa or premium condo |
| Retirement (Non-O / O-A / O-X, age 50+) | Retirees meeting the income or THB 800k deposit rule | Maenam, Lamai, Bophut, Lipa Noi | 12 months, single-level villa or lift-served condo near a hospital |
| Marriage (Non-O, Thai spouse) | Foreigners married to a Thai national | Maenam, Nathon, Lamai | 12 months+, family villa or house, often spouse-held |
| Elite / Privilege & Education (ED) | Privilege-card members and language / Muay Thai students | Chaweng, Bophut | 6-12 months, central furnished condo or villa |
Where each visa holder should look
DTV digital nomads
Chaweng, Lamai & Bophut
The island's best fibre, coworking and cafe density, plus the deepest pool of furnished condos and small villas on flexible 6-12 month terms close to the airport and amenities.
LTR high-earners & pensioners
Choeng Mon, Taling Ngam & Bophut
Samui's premium enclaves - hillside and beachfront pool villas and sea-view residences with the space, privacy and finish long-term LTR holders expect.
Retirement (50+)
Maenam, Lamai & Lipa Noi
Quiet, better-value beaches with single-level villas and lift-served condos, close to Bophut's hospitals and the Maenam Immigration office for annual extensions.
Marriage / families
Maenam, Nathon & the west coast
Local towns and gated villages with family houses at the best value per square metre, room for a garden and car, and a calmer, more authentically Thai island pace.
Lease terms, deposits & move-in costs
The Samui standard for a furnished long let is a 12-month lease (6-month terms are available), two months' deposit and one month's rent in advance - so budget roughly three months' rent to move in. The island's high season pushes short and seasonal terms well above annual rates. Figures are typical ranges, not quotes.
| Cost | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | 2 months' rent | Refundable at lease end, less any damage or unpaid bills; keep a dated move-in photo and inventory record. |
| Advance rent | 1 month | Covers the first month; so a typical long let needs about 3 months up front to move in. |
| Agent fee (tenant) | Usually THB 0 | On Samui the owner normally pays the agent on annual lets; some private-villa deals differ, so confirm before signing. |
| Utilities transfer / setup | THB 0-3,000 | Electricity and water often stay in the owner's name and are re-billed; island fibre may need a new contract. |
| Short / high-season premium | +20-50% on rent | Leases under 6 months, or terms overlapping the dry high season, are priced closer to holiday-let rates. |
Model your full first payment with the move-in cost calculator and check what a monthly budget buys in each area on the Koh Samui cost-of-living guide.
Documents owners ask for
Renting a value long let is light on paperwork; premium villas and sea-view condos ask for more. Have these ready to sign quickly and negotiate from strength.
| Document | Why it's needed |
|---|---|
| Passport photo page | Bio-data page plus your current visa stamp or e-visa. |
| Visa / extension evidence | DTV approval, LTR card, or the Non-O extension stamp - proof you can legally stay long-term. |
| TM6 arrival card / entry stamp | Shows your permitted-to-stay date; landlords and agents check it against the lease length. |
| Proof of funds or income | Bank statement or employer letter for premium villas and sea-view condos; lighter for value long lets. |
| Deposit + first month | Cleared funds (Thai bank transfer or cash) to sign - foreign cards are rarely accepted on the island. |
| Signed lease (English/Thai) | A dual-language lease is normal; on villas check the tenure basis, diplomatic clause and deposit-return terms carefully. |
Tenure & immigration rules every foreign tenant must know
Villa vs condo tenure
Know what you can actually hold on Samui
Samui is a villa market, and foreigners cannot own land directly - houses and pool villas are typically held on a registered long-term (up to 30-year) lease or through a Thai company, while condominium units can be owned freehold within each building's 49% foreign quota. For renters this rarely changes the lease mechanics, but it does shape the market: most long-stay homes on the island are villas let by owners or managers, so read who actually controls the property and how the deposit is held before you sign.
TM30
Address notification (owner's job - check it's done)
Within 24 hours of you moving in or returning from abroad, the villa owner, manager or condo juristic office must file a TM30 notifying Immigration of where you're staying. It is legally the owner's duty, but a missing TM30 causes headaches at 90-day reports, extensions and re-entry - so confirm your landlord or manager files it and keep the receipt. On Samui the report goes to the Maenam Immigration office; many managed developments handle it for you.
90-day report
Report your address every 90 days
If you stay in Thailand for 90 continuous days, you must report your current address to Immigration - online, by post, by agent, or in person at the Maenam Immigration office on Samui. The clock resets each time you leave and re-enter the country. It's a notification, not a visa renewal, and there's no fee if done on time.
Re-entry permit
Protect a single-entry visa before you travel
Single-entry extensions (common on retirement and marriage stays) are cancelled the moment you leave Thailand unless you buy a re-entry permit first (single or multiple). Multi-entry visas like the DTV and LTR don't need one. Because Samui trips often involve flights or the mainland ferry, get the permit at Samui Airport or Maenam Immigration before any journey abroad.
Samui's foreigners are served by the Maenam Immigration office. Rules and thresholds change - confirm current requirements with Immigration or a licensed visa agent before you rely on them.
Koh Samui visa-housing questions
Can I rent a villa or condo on Koh Samui on a DTV visa?
Yes. The DTV is a 5-year multi-entry visa allowing stays of up to 180 days at a time, and nothing in it restricts renting - most Samui owners and managers are happy to sign a 6- or 12-month lease with a DTV holder. Because your permitted stay is capped at 180 days per entry, look for homes that offer clean fixed 6-month terms rather than holiday-let pricing, confirm the fibre inside the actual unit, and make sure the owner files your TM30 at Maenam Immigration when you move in.
How much deposit do I need to rent long-term on Koh Samui?
The Samui standard is two months' security deposit plus one month's rent in advance, so you typically need about three months' rent in cleared funds to move in. The deposit is refundable at the end of the lease, less any damage or unpaid utility bills. Leases shorter than six months, or terms overlapping the dry high season, are usually priced 20-50% higher, closer to holiday-let rates - the island's seasonal rental economy makes the premium bigger than in mainland cities.
Should I rent a villa or a condo on Koh Samui?
Samui is mainly a villa island, so most long-stay homes are hillside or beachfront pool villas let by owners or managers, offering space, privacy and a garden. Condos are growing around Chaweng, Bophut and Choeng Mon and can be owned freehold within a building's 49% foreign quota, which suits buyers and lock-up-and-leave renters who want on-site facilities and security. For renting, the choice is lifestyle and budget: villas for space and seclusion, condos for convenience, amenities and easier short absences.
What is a TM30 and who files it on Koh Samui?
The TM30 is an address notification that tells Immigration where a foreigner is staying. Legally it's the property owner's or manager's responsibility to file it within 24 hours of your arrival or return from abroad, not yours - but a missing TM30 can hold up your 90-day reports, visa extensions and re-entry, so confirm your landlord, villa manager or condo juristic office files it at the Maenam Immigration office and keep the receipt. Many managed Samui developments do this automatically.
Which areas of Koh Samui are best for retirees renting long-term?
Most long-stay retirees choose quieter, better-value beaches - Maenam for its calm local town and low rents, Lamai for amenities without Chaweng's crowds, or Lipa Noi and the west coast for space and sunsets. All keep you within reach of Bophut's international hospitals and the Maenam Immigration office, which matters for annual retirement-visa extensions and healthcare. Favour a single-level villa or a lift-served condo over a hillside home with lots of steps.
How often do I have to report to Immigration while renting on Koh Samui?
If you remain in Thailand for 90 continuous days you must file a 90-day address report with Immigration - online, by post, by an agent, or in person at the Maenam Immigration office on Samui. It's a free notification, not a visa renewal, and the count resets every time you leave and re-enter the country. Your rental address and a filed TM30 are what you report.
Sources & References
- Real Estate Information Center (REIC), Government Housing Bank, Thailand
- National Statistical Office, Thailand
- Tourism Authority of Thailand
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
Turn your visa into an island address.
Match your visa and budget to the right Samui beach and home - villa or condo - then run the move-in maths before you sign.
General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, thresholds and reporting requirements change - confirm current details with Thai Immigration or a licensed professional.
Hero photo by Anetta Kolesnikova on Pexels.
Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist
Last updated 7 July 2026 · Last reviewed 7 July 2026