Thailand

Thailand is still the country most nomads try first, and for good reason. Fibre broadband is among the fastest in Asia, coworking spaces are everywhere in the main bases, food is cheap and excellent, and getting around by Grab, scooter or domestic flight is easy. Chiang Mai remains the classic long-stay city, Bangkok suits people who want a big-city routine and a startup scene, and the islands offer the beach-and-laptop life with slower Wi-Fi.

The rules changed in 2026. Since 15 September most Western passport holders get a 30-day visa exemption, extendable once by up to 30 days. The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is the route for remote workers: five years' validity, stays of up to 180 days per entry, 500,000 baht in savings and a 10,000 baht fee, and since 31 August 2026 a police certificate and an application from your home country.

The best weather on the mainland runs from November to February. The north has a burning season from roughly February to April, when air quality around Chiang Mai can be poor, and the Gulf islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangan get their heaviest rain from October to December, the reverse of the Andaman coast around Phuket and Krabi.