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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
Udon Thani is Isaan's most established Western-retiree base, which shapes almost everything about how foreigners rent here: a mature condo market around Nong Prajak lake, the City Centre and Central Plaza/UD Town, a mainstream option to rent a house with land in the suburbs, and a landlord community used to dealing with retirement, DTV, Non-B and marriage visa holders alike. The mechanics are simple: expect a two-month deposit plus one month advance, a dual-language lease, and a landlord who files your TM30 promptly — Udon Thani Provincial Immigration serves the whole province from one office, which is more convenient than in some Isaan cities, but it still runs on a queue system worth planning around. For a full immigration breakdown see the Udon Thani immigration office guide and the Visa Knowledge Center; for live rents by area use the Udon Thani rental market guide and the Udon Thani areas guide.
Housing by visa type
Each long-stay route tends to suit a different corner of Udon Thani and a different lease. Here's the quick map from visa to the areas and lease structures that fit it best.
| Visa | Who it's for | Best Udon Thani areas | Typical lease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement (Non-O / O-A / O-X, age 50+) | Retirees meeting the income or THB 800k deposit rule — Udon Thani's largest and longest-established long-stay group in Isaan | Nong Prajak lakeside, City Centre, Central Plaza/UD Town | 12 months, furnished condo near the lake or centre |
| DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) | Remote workers & digital nomads, 5-yr multi-entry, up to 180 days per stay — a small but growing group in a city built more for retirees than nomads | City Centre, Central Plaza/UD Town | 6–12 months, furnished apartment with tested fibre near the malls |
| Non-B (work permit) | Employees of Udon Thani businesses, schools and the province's industrial and trade sector, sponsored by a Thai-registered employer | City Centre, Pho Si/Robmuang, near the workplace | 12 months, apartment or condo close to the office |
| Marriage (Non-O, Thai spouse) | Foreigners married to a Thai national — a well-worn route into Udon Thani's foreign community, many with family land in the surrounding province | Suburbs & areas toward the airport, outlying pockets | 12 months+, house with land or family compound |
Where each visa holder should look
Retirement (50+)
Nong Prajak lakeside & City Centre
Udon Thani's retiree heartland: Nong Prajak, a large lakeside park in the city centre, has the city's best condo stock and a built-in morning-exercise crowd, while the walkable City Centre around Pho Si/Robmuang puts pharmacies, the two international-standard hospitals and restaurants within reach. Both sit a short drive from Central Plaza and UD Town for mall convenience.
DTV digital nomads
City Centre & Central Plaza/UD Town
Udon Thani's nomad infrastructure is thinner than Chiang Mai's, so stick to the City Centre or near Central Plaza/UD Town for tested fibre, cafes and mall convenience, and treat any coworking access as a bonus rather than an expectation. It's a slower, cheaper base for focused remote work, not a nomad hub.
Non-B work-permit holders
City Centre & Pho Si/Robmuang
Most sponsored roles sit in or near the city centre, so a condo or apartment around Pho Si/Robmuang or Central Plaza keeps the commute short and puts everyday services — banking, groceries, the hospitals — within easy reach.
Marriage & families
Suburbs & areas toward the airport
Houses with land are more available than condos in Udon Thani's suburbs and toward the airport, and this is where many foreigners married to a Thai national settle — often near family property — trading a short drive for more space and lower rent than the lakeside or Central Plaza condo stock.
Lease terms, deposits & move-in costs
The Udon Thani standard for a furnished condo is a 12-month lease (6-month terms are available for DTV holders), a two-month deposit and one month's rent in advance — so budget roughly three months' rent to move in. Houses with land, a mainstream option in the suburbs and toward the airport, can add separate garden or maintenance costs. Figures are typical ranges, not quotes.
| Cost | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | 2 months' rent | Refundable at lease end, less any damage or unpaid bills — Udon Thani's standard is a full two-month deposit, heavier than some smaller Isaan towns. |
| Advance rent | 1 month | Covers the first month; budget three months' rent in total cleared funds to move in. |
| Agent fee (tenant) | Usually THB 0 | Where an agent is used, the landlord normally pays the commission — Udon Thani also has a large owner-direct market, especially for houses, advertised in local Facebook groups. |
| Utilities transfer / setup | THB 0–2,000 | Electricity and water often stay in the owner's name and are re-billed; watch for a private electricity rate above the government tariff, which adds up fast with heavy AC use in Isaan's hot season. |
| House-with-land extras | Varies | Houses in the suburbs and toward the airport are a mainstream option here — ask what's included versus billed separately (garden upkeep, water pump maintenance). |
| Advance-payment discount | Negotiable | Because so many long-stayers are retirees on annual extensions, owners are often open to discounting rent for six or twelve months paid up front. |
Model your full first payment with the move-in cost calculator and check what a monthly budget buys in each area on the Udon Thani cost-of-living guide.
Documents landlords ask for
Renting a condo is light on paperwork; houses and newer lakeside units 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 | Retirement extension stamp, DTV approval, Non-B work permit or Non-O marriage extension — proof you can legally stay long-term. |
| Entry stamp (and your TDAC confirmation) | Shows your permitted-to-stay date; landlords and agents check it against the lease length. The paper TM6 arrival card was discontinued on 1 May 2025 and replaced by the online Thailand Digital Arrival Card, so a recent arrival will have an entry stamp and a TDAC confirmation rather than a TM6 slip. |
| Proof of funds or income | Bank statement, pension or employer letter — a lighter requirement here than in Bangkok or Phuket, but still asked for houses and newer condos. |
| Deposit + first month | Cleared funds (Thai bank transfer or cash) to sign — foreign cards are rarely accepted. |
| Signed lease (English/Thai) | A dual-language lease is standard; read the deposit-return terms carefully, especially for houses with land. |
Immigration rules every foreign tenant must know
TM30
Address notification (landlord's job — check it's done)
Within 24 hours of you moving in or returning from abroad, the property owner or their agent 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 files it and keep the receipt. Udon Thani Provincial Immigration usually wants to see it before processing any other errand.
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 via the TM47 portal, by registered post, through an agent, or in person at Udon Thani Provincial Immigration. 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. See the full Udon Thani immigration office guide for all four filing methods.
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 don't need one. Get it before any trip abroad — including a quick Nong Khai border run into Laos — at the airport, the Nong Khai crossing, or Udon Thani Immigration in advance.
One office serves the whole province
Easier than some Isaan cities — still budget the trip
Unlike a few provincial capitals where immigration sits well outside the city, Udon Thani Provincial Immigration serves residents from the city centre, Nong Prajak, Central Plaza/UD Town and the outlying districts from a single office. That's a real convenience, but it still runs on a queue-ticket system that's busiest in the morning and near month-end, so favour leases and landlords that also support the online TM47 and TM30 options rather than assuming every errand is a quick walk-in.
Lease vs. stay length
Match the lease to your permission-to-stay
Landlords increasingly want a lease that runs at least as long as your current permitted stay, and a registered 12-month lease can support some visa extensions and a certificate of residence. Retirees on annual extensions usually align a 12-month lease to their visa year; DTV holders on shorter stamps should look for clean 6-month terms; Non-B holders typically match the lease to their work permit.
Udon Thani's foreigners are served by Udon Thani Provincial Immigration. Rules and thresholds change — confirm current requirements with Immigration or a licensed visa agent before you rely on them. See the full Udon Thani immigration office guide for step-by-step detail.
Udon Thani visa-housing questions
Is Udon Thani a good place to retire and rent long-term in Thailand?
Yes — it's Isaan's most established Western-retiree base, with some of the lowest living costs of any Thai city that still has real expat infrastructure, two international-standard private hospitals, and a foreign community that goes back decades. Most retirees rent a Nong Prajak-area condo for the lakeside setting or a City Centre apartment for walkability, on a 12-month lease aligned to their annual extension. The trade-off against Chiang Mai or Phuket is a smaller expat scene and thinner international schooling — see the Udon Thani schools guide before committing a family to the move.
How much deposit do I need to rent long-term in Udon Thani?
The Udon Thani norm is a two-month security deposit plus one month's rent in advance — three months' rent total in cleared funds to move in. The deposit is refundable at lease end, less any damage or unpaid utility bills. Because so many long-stayers here are retirees on annual extensions, owners are often open to negotiating a discount for six- or twelve-month rent paid up front.
Can I rent in Udon Thani 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. Udon Thani's DTV community is small compared with Chiang Mai or the islands, so stick to the City Centre or near Central Plaza/UD Town for tested fibre and cafe culture, choose a clean 6- or 12-month term, and confirm your landlord files the TM30 promptly.
What is a TM30 and do I have to file it in Udon Thani?
The TM30 is an address notification that tells Immigration where a foreigner is staying. Legally it's the property owner'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, extensions and re-entry. Confirm your landlord files it online with Udon Thani Provincial Immigration and keep the receipt.
Do I need a re-entry permit as a long-stay renter in Udon Thani?
It depends on your visa. Single-entry retirement and marriage extensions are cancelled the moment you leave Thailand unless you buy a re-entry permit first — including for a short Nong Khai border run into Laos. Multi-entry visas such as the DTV don't need one. You can arrange a re-entry permit in advance at Udon Thani Immigration, or at the airport or the Nong Khai crossing before departure.
Should someone on a Non-B work permit rent a condo or a house in Udon Thani?
Most Non-B holders sponsored by a local employer choose a condo or apartment near the City Centre or Pho Si/Robmuang for a short commute and easy access to banking and the hospitals. Houses in the suburbs suit those with a family or a longer-term posting who want more space and a garden, at the cost of needing a car for daily commuting.
Sources & References
- Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police
- Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa — BOI
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.
Related Udon Thani guides
Udon Thani immigration office guide · Udon Thani visa run & border run guide · Udon Thani rental market guide · Udon Thani areas guide · Opening a bank account in Udon Thani · Udon Thani hub
Turn your visa into an address.
Match your visa and budget to the right side of Udon Thani — lakeside, centre, mall district or a quieter suburb — 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 Borys Zaitsev on Pexels.
Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist
Last updated 2 July 2026 · Last reviewed 2 July 2026