Long-Term Resident LTR Visa

Thailand Visa

What is an LTR Visa?

A Thai Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa is a long-stay visa offering an easy pathway for you to relocate to Thailand. It was created specifically to allow international professionals with certain expertise and skills to generate more value for the Thai economy. Being a leading economy in the ASEAN region, the Thai government is keen to attract more foreigners to move into the Kingdom to work or invest and increase the nation’s standing further. As such, with an LTR Visa, you can stay in the country long-term without frequent "border runs" or immigration reports while also having the option of working legally.

This visa is perfect for:

  • Working professionals
  • Investors
  • Business owners
  • Affluent retirees
  • Digital nomads

Acquiring an LTR Visa nets you the following benefits:

  • 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 the Thai Immigration Office every year (rather than the default 90-day reporting process that other visa holders are required to undergo)
  • Rewards certain tax incentives
    • Holders of an LTR Visa in the Highly-Skilled Professionals category are given a 17% discount on their personal income tax rate
  • Facilitated work permit and immigration services at the One Stop Service Center
  • The opportunity to legally work in Thailand for a Thai company
  • A complementary work permit free of the fees acquiring one normally incurs
    • Available to those in the Highly Skilled Professional category

What are the Thailand Long Term Visa Categories

The Thailand Long-Term Resident LTR Visa is offered to four categories of foreign individuals:

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.

Meeting eligibility requirements for an LTR Visa

While it provides numerous advantages to foreigners, you still need to fulfill a set of criteria to qualify for the visa. These requirements are established by the Thailand Board of Investments (BOI) but are subject to change.

To qualify for the LTR Visa, applicants must fulfill these requirements:

  • Hold a foreign passport valid for at least one year or more from the time of application.
  • Have health insurance that provides $50,000* in coverage (Applicants who aren’t able to meet the health insurance requirements must deposit at least $100,000 in a Thai or foreign bank account and hold it there for at least a year).
  • Applicants must pay a 50,000 THB** application fee when applying for an LTR Visa
  • Report to the BOI after receiving the LTR Visa once the applicant has resided in Thailand for over 365 consecutive days.

*NOTE: While this guide lists the currency in United States dollars, applicants from other countries simply have to pay the international equivalent of the amount listed.

**NOTE: While this seems like a significant amount, you only need to pay this fee once the background check for your LTR Visa application has been approved.

Each of the 4 different LTR streams exhibits its own set of distinct requirements to fulfill:

Wealthy Global Citizens

  • Yearly income of $80,000in the last 2 years
  • Assets weighted at $1,000,000
  • Minimum investments of $500,000in either government bonds, foreign direct investment, and/or property in Thailand

Wealthy Pensioners

  • Must be at least 50 years old
  • Yearly passive income of $80,000 (excluding income from employment)
  • Minimum investments of $250,000 held in government bonds, foreign direct investment, and/or property in Thailand (only if the applicant’s income is between $40,000 and $80,000)

Work-From-Thailand Professionals

  • Yearly income of $80,000 in the last 2 years
  • A total of 5 years of work experience within the past 10 years
  • Must have a master’s degree (or above), series A funding, or ownership over intellectual property (only if the applicant’s income is between $40,000 and $80,000)
  • The applicant’s current employer must be:
    • A public company listed on the Thai stock exchange
    • A private company in operation for at least 3 years with a revenue of $150,000 within the last 3 years

Highly-Skilled Professionals

  • Yearly income of $80,000 in the last 2 years***
  • A total of 5 years of work experience in a targeted industry, holding a PhD in a relevant field or working for a Thai government agency.
  • Must have a master’s degree (or above) in a technology or science field of study, or a unique expertise related to the applicant’s job in Thailand (only if the applicant’s income is between $40,000 and $80,000).
  • Your current employer must be from a targeted industry with the following business types: Thai government agency, higher education institution, specialized training institution, or research center.

***NOTE: If you intend to work in a Thai government agency, then you do not have to fulfill any personal income requirements.

How to apply for an LTR Visa

Timeline: 4-8 weeks on average (depending on the strength of your application)

Required Documents:

  • A completed Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa application form (TM94)
  • Criteria and Conditions Acknowledgement Form (STM.8)
  • Photocopy of the applicant’s passport (in color, valid for at least 6 months)
  • A recent passport-sized photo of the applicant (in color, against a white background)
  • Proof of income documents, including:
    • Recent tax returns
    • Bank statements procured from your bank
    • Pay slips from your employer
  • Any supplementary documentation (if applicable), such as:
    • Employment contracts
    • Education certificates

Applying for an LTR Visa can be a somewhat strenuous and often challenging procedure, which is why it's highly recommended that you enlist professional assistance from a law firm. Seeking expert support is essential in reducing the chances that any delays or rejections will crop up during the journey, ensuring that the application process you are undergoing will be smooth and stress-free.

Applying with Family

Applicants are also allowed to attach up to 4 family members to an LTR Visa. This includes children under the age of 20 and spouses. These must be legal family members through marriage, birth, or adoption, as common law unions are not recognized. Same-sex marriages or partnerships are also not recognized by Thai law, so spouses in such relationships are not eligible to be added to the application.

Inviting a spouse or child requires some conditions and requirements to fulfill:

  • Any additional family member added must be a dependent of the main applicant and originate only from their immediate family.
  • Each family member added to the LTR application must have health Insurance covering them for at least $25,000.
  • Children are only considered dependents of the main applicant if they are below the age of 20.
  • The main applicant will also have to provide additional documents as proof of their dependent’s relationship to them (this can include documents such as a marriage certificate or household registration certificate).

Applying for an LTR Visa with Siam Legal International

If you want professional assistance to ensure your LTR visa application is swift, stress-free, and successful, then look no further than Siam Legal International. We have been in operation for over 20 years and our team of immigration attorneys and visa consultants have a highly successful track record with complicated legal and immigration issues.

Once you’ve engaged with Siam Legal, we will host a consultation session between you and a member of our Thai visa team to discuss which stream you should move ahead with, what documents you need, and any questions you might have. We will also provide you with a checklist of what documents you require as well as any forms for you to complete.

After you have sent the necessary documents to us, we will examine them carefully to ensure all the information is error-free and nothing important has been omitted. We will then submit your application to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). This step is particularly important, as improperly prepared applications are a common reason for rejection.

Once you have been approved, you will soon receive what’s known as a Board of Investment (BOI) Endorsement Letter. Upon receiving this letter, you will have 60 days to collect your new visa. You can acquire it either at the Royal Thai Consulate if you’re overseas or the Board of Investment Office if you are in Thailand. If you’re collecting your visa at the BOI office, a Siam Legal consultant will accompany you to ensure there are no issues and you can start enjoying your new visa as soon as possible.

The Siam Legal team will also be continuously liaising with the Thailand Board of Investments throughout the application journey, giving you updates on the status of your application and informing you if anything needs to be amended. Our assistance provides you with confidence in knowing that your application is secured and there is a minimal risk of rejection. It also saves you a lot of time by streamlining your application process, as all reviews and submissions are performed entirely by us.

Alternatives

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.

If you think a Thai LTR Visa might be right for you, then contact Siam Legal today to book your first consultation session or fill out the form below.

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Long-Term Resident LTR Visa
LTR Visa Overview LTR Visa for Wealthy Global Citizens
LTR Visa for Wealthy Pensioners Work-From-Thailand Professionals LTR Visa
LTR Visa for Highly Skilled Professionals
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