Thailand officials are taking steps to establish the country as a regional technology hub by attracting foreign AI experts using a new digital nomad visa.
According to a report published by The Nation Thailand, the country is looking to address its shortage of AI professionals, with only 21,000 local experts available to fill an estimated 100,000 positions needed to advance its digital economy.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong announced at a seminar Monday that his ministry will collaborate with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) to develop the “Global Digital Talent Visa” initiative. Once the BOI finalizes the visa details, the ministry will seek cabinet approval to implement the program.
To further build its AI sector, Thailand officials will study the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act and use similar guidelines on AI development to benefit the nation’s AI development, according to The Nation Thailand. It’s reported that the government will also establish a subcommittee under the National AI Committee — led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin — to oversee AI policy and infrastructure investments, including data centers, cloud centers, and high-performance computing.
Thailand’s AI industry will also prioritize the development of a Thai language model. The government hopes that offering incentives for AI infrastructure investment will attract large corporations, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a digital hub.
As of now, Thailand doesn’t have a dedicated digital nomad visa, but there are alternative visa options that some digital nomads can still take advantage of, like the country’s Long Term Resident (LTR) visa — if they qualify for the stricter eligibility requirements. However, a dedicated digital nomad visa offering from Thailand remains to be introduced.
The economic benefit of attracting international remote workers and talent is reflected in the number of countries currently offering digital nomad visas. Over 60 countries now offer digital nomad visas, including Barbados, Peru, Canada, Spain, and Japan, among many others. With global competition for talent getting fiercer, Thailand could be the next addition on the growing list of countries accepting digital nomads with open arms.
