LTR Visa Thailand

What is LTR Visa Thailand?

LTR Visa Thailand or the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa is a 10-year visa aimed at attracting high-potential foreigners who wish to relocate to Thailand on a long-term basis. As a leading economy in the ASEAN region, Thailand seeks to attract these individuals to bolster the country's standing and to stimulate overseas investment and economic development in the kingdom. The visa allows holders to live and legally work in Thailand for up to ten years and provides many benefits, including access to healthcare, education, tax incentives, and the ability to open a bank account.

Benefits of the LTR Visa

• Provides up to 10 years of uninterrupted stay in Thailand
• Provides a 5-year multiple-entry visa that’s renewable up to a maximum of 10 years
• Free access to immigration fast-tracking services upon arrival at Thai international airports
• Report to Thai Immigration every year (rather than the default 90-day reporting process that other visa holders are required to undergo)
• Tax exemption on foreign-sourced income*
• Holders of an LTR Visa in the Highly-Skilled Professionals category benefit from a flat income tax rate of 17%
• Facilitated work permit and immigration services at the One Stop Service Center
• The opportunity to legally work in Thailand for a Thai company
• Not considered as a foreigner under the employee quota regulations.

* Tax exemption only applies if the remitted income does not enter Thailand in the same year it was earned.

What are the Thailand LTR Visa Categories

The Thailand LTR Visa is offered to four categories of foreign individuals:

• Wealthy Global Citizens
• Wealthy Pensioners
• Work-From-Thailand Professionals
• Highly-Skilled Professionals

Thailand LTR Visa holders may also bring up to 4 family members; their legal spouse and children under the age of 20. Spouses and dependents will qualify for the same visa category as the LTR Visa holder.

How to Qualify for the LTR Visa Thailand

Each category has different eligibility requirements and applications are considered based on the set criteria for the category applied for. For each category, all requirements must be satisfied in order to qualify. Documents will need to be provided as evidence. Applicants for every category must also have health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or at least USD 100,000 deposit in a Thai bank account.

Thai LTR Visa for Wealthy Global Citizens

For wealthy individuals holding at least USD 1 million in assets.

• Assets of a minimum of USD 1 million.
• An annual income of at least USD 80,000 for the past two years.
• Minimum investment of USD 500,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, Thai property, or any combination.

Thai LTR Visa for Wealthy Pensioners

For retirees aged 50 years or older who have an annual pension or stable passive income.

• Passive income of at least USD 80,000 a year at the time of application.
• Applicants with a personal income ranging between USD 40,000 and USD 80,000 a year may also be eligible, granted they have a minimum investment of USD 250,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, Thai property, or any combination.
• Income from employment will not be considered under this category.

Thai LTR Visa for Work-From-Thailand Professionals

For remote workers of well-established overseas companies.

• An annual income of at least USD 80,000 for the past two years.
• Applicants with an annual income ranging between USD 40,000 and USD 80,000 may also be eligible if they have a Master's degree or above, own intellectual property, or have received Series A funding.
• Current employer must be a Public company listed on a stock exchange or a Private company that has been in operation for a minimum of three years with a combined revenue of at least USD 150 million in the past three years.
• Non-profit organizations and Government entities are not considered.
• The applicant must have at least 5 years of experience in the relevant fields of their current employment over the past 10 years.

Thai LTR Visa for Highly-Skilled Professionals

For professionals or experts in targeted industries working for Business entities, institutions, and government agencies in Thailand.

• Must already be holding a valid Non-Immigrant "B" Visa and Work Permit.
• An annual income of at least USD 80,000 for the past two years.
• Applicants with an annual income ranging between USD 40,000 and USD 80,000 may also be eligible if they have a Master's degree or above in science and technology or special expertise relevant to the job assignment in Thailand.
• There are no minimum income requirements for applicants who intend to work in government higher educational institutions, research centers, specialized training centers or government agencies.
• Business must be in one of the targeted industries.
• The applicant must have at least 5 years of experience in the targeted industries or have a PhD in relevant fields or work for a Thai government agency.

LTR Visa Thailand for Spouses and Dependents

• Must be legal dependents of the applicant (spouses and children under 20 years of age)
• Same-sex marriage or partnerships are currently not currently recognized under Thai Law.
• Health insurance with at least USD 25,000 coverage.
• Children will only be eligible as dependents until 20 years of age.

For more information about applying LTR visa for your spouse and dependents, check the page LTR Visa Thailand for Spouses and Dependents.

Other Long-Term Resident Visa Conditions

The requirements for the LTR Visa Thailand established by the BOI are subject to change, therefore if you are interested in this visa, it is encouraged to research the most up-to-date information or contact us for a consultation.

Applicants for the LTR Visa Thailand must submit their application and supporting evidence to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). The 10-year LTR visa Thailand is divided into two terms of five years each. The initial permission to stay in the country will be granted for a period of five years, which may then be extended for an additional five years, for a total length of stay not exceeding ten years.

Thailand LTR Visa holders and their dependents (spouses and children) must report their residence status to their local Immigration if they reside in Thailand consecutively for 365 days (1 year).

Thailand LTR Visa holders under the "Highly-Skilled-Professionals" category can benefit from a discounted personal income tax rate of 17%. A digital work permit will be issued at the same time as the visa. Thai LTR Visa holders under the "Work-from-Thaialnd Professional" category can not obtain a work permit. Other LTR Visa holders and dependents may obtain a work permit after the issuance of their visa.

The processing time for a Thailand LTR Visa is dependent on the strength of the application and supporting documents. The typical processing time is between 4 to 8 weeks. It is advisable to submit all required documents during the initial application to avoid future delays. The BOI reserves the right to request further documents during the application process as needed.

How to Apply for an LTR Visa Thailand

Siam Legal can assist with your Thailand LTR Visa application. First, we will review your documents in our initial consultation to determine your eligibility and the most suitable category for your application. After the consultation, we will gather all the necessary documents and prescreen them before the submission of the application. We will only submit your application if we are satisfied that your documents satisfy the criteria for your chosen category. Throughout the entire process, we will be in contact with government agencies and will inform you of any requests for additional documents.

If the application is approved, you will have 60 days to collect your visa. You can choose to collect your visa in Bangkok or at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate overseas. If you choose to collect your visa in Bangkok we will accompany you to the BOI to receive your visa.

Should you be interested in applying for an LTR Visa Thailand, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Alternatives for Thailand LTR Visa

If you find that the LTR Visa is not to your liking, there are other long-term Thai visas that you can consider instead.

The Thailand Elite Visa is one of them, offering membership periods from 5 to 20 years along with a large number of benefits. There’s also the Thai retirement visa which grants renewable year-long stays in the country with fewer requirements if you are at least 50 years old. Contact Siam Legal with any questions about these and other Thai visa options.