Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
Thailand THA
Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa is a 10-year, renewable visa with four sub-categories targeting wealthy retirees, high-net-worth individuals, remote workers, and skilled professionals in targeted industries. It offers significant tax benefits and a streamlined one-stop government service.
Program Details
- Category
- Passive Income
- Processing Time
- 1 months
- Application Fee
- $1,400
- Minimum Income
- $3,330/mo
- Minimum Investment
- $250,000
- Family Included
- Up to 4 family members (spouse and dependents) included at no additional investment; each receives a 10-year LTR visa
- Path to PR
- No
- Path to Citizenship
- No
- Physical Presence
- No minimum stay requirement; must re-enter Thailand at least once per year
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- LTR visa holders working remotely for overseas employers are exempt from Thai personal income tax on foreign-sourced income. Those in the Wealthy Global Citizen or Wealthy Pensioner categories are taxed only on income remitted to Thailand.
- Renewal Cost
- $1,400
Varies by category: Wealthy Pensioners require $40,000/year passive income or $250,000 in assets. Wealthy Global Citizens require $80,000/year income or $1,000,000 in assets. Digital nomads (Work-from-Thailand) require $40,000/year income. Remote workers require $40,000/year from an employer in business for 3+ years.
Key Requirements
- ✓Meet one of four categories: Wealthy Global Citizen ($80K/year income), Wealthy Pensioner ($40K/year passive income or $250K assets, age 50+), Work-from-Thailand Professional ($40K/year income), or Highly-Skilled Professional
- ✓For remote workers: employer in operation for 3+ years
- ✓Health insurance with $50,000 coverage minimum, or 40,000 THB in a Thai bank account
- ✓Criminal background check
- ✓Application via BOI Thailand (Board of Investment)
- ✓Government fee of 50,000 THB
Am I eligible for Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $3,330/month.
Minimum investment / capital
Programme requires $250,000.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Confirm eligibility under one of four LTR sub-categories
home countryBOI LTR has four tracks: (1) Wealthy Global Citizen – $1M assets + $80k income/yr; (2) Wealthy Pensioner – $80k annual pension; (3) Work-from-Thailand Professional – $80k income/yr from foreign employer; (4) Highly Skilled Professional – qualifying employer letter + specific sector. Self-assess before preparing documents.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 02
Register on BOI LTR portal and submit application
onlineCreate account at ltr.boi.go.th. Upload all required documents. BOI reviews within 20 working days.
Typical duration: 4-6 weekssource ↗
- 03
BOI approval + pay LTR visa fee
onlineBOI issues approval letter. Pay THB 50,000 (approx. USD 1,400) LTR visa fee via portal. Approval letter valid 60 days to apply for visa.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 04
Apply for LTR visa at Thai consulate or in-country
home countryPresent BOI approval letter + documents at Thai embassy/consulate abroad OR at One Stop Service Centre (CW Tower, Bangkok) if already in Thailand on valid status.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 05
Enter Thailand + TM30 address registration
destinationOn first entry, ensure landlord files TM30 registration within 24 hours. Collect LTR sticker in passport.
Typical duration: 1 week
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport (12+ months validity) | Home country | No | — | 365 |
| Financial proof (assets $1M+ or income $80k+/yr depending on track) | Bank / financial institution | No | en | 90 |
| Health insurance (min $50,000 coverage in Thailand) | Insurer | No | en | 365 |
| Criminal background check | Home country authorities | No | en | 180 |
| Employment contract / pension letter (for WFT or Pensioner tracks) | Employer / pension authority | No | en | 90 |
| BOI approval letter | BOI Thailand | No | — | 60 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
THB 50,000 (≈USD 1,400) LTR visa fee paid to BOI. Renewal every 5 years at same fee. Work Permit (if needed for Thai employer) is additional ~THB 3,000/yr.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait1–4 weeks
- Residence card issuance2 weeks
- Total to residence card6–14 weeks
BOI processing typically 20 working days. One Stop Service Centre in Bangkok fastest for in-country applicants.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 60 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 60 months
- Renewal fee
- $1,400
- Requirements
- Renew every 5 years. Must continue to meet original financial threshold. Same BOI portal process. Health insurance must remain active.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 999
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 999
- Language test
- Yes (A2)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 180 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Territorial (in-country only)
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Thailand 2024 Foreign Income Remittance Rule0-35% progressive on remitted foreign income
Tax residents (180+ days/yr) who remit foreign-source income earned in the same tax year. Effective 1 January 2024. Pre-2024 rule allowed tax-free remittance of prior-year income.
source ↗ - LTR WFT Tax Flat Rate17% flat income tax rate
Work-from-Thailand track LTR holders employed by foreign companies, on application to Revenue Department.
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Minimum coverage
- $50,000
Examples: AXA, Cigna Global, Pacific Cross, BUPA Thailand
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Dependent LTR spouse cannot work in Thailand unless they independently qualify for LTR WFT track
- Child school enrolment
- Children under 20 can be added as LTR dependents. International schools widely available in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket.
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠CRITICAL — 2024 tax rule change: foreign income remitted to Thailand in the same tax year is now taxable (180+ day residents). Pre-2024 loophole of delaying remittance to next year closed.
- ⚠LTR does NOT lead to Thai Permanent Residency or citizenship — it is a pure long-stay visa
- ⚠Work Permit privilege covers work for foreign companies only; working for Thai employer needs separate BOI work permit endorsement
- ⚠Spouse and children (under 20) can be added as LTR dependents — each requires same health insurance coverage
- ⚠90-day reporting to Immigration required (online possible via TM90 app)
- ⚠THB 50,000 fee is per applicant — dependents pay reduced rate
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Asset/income documentation insufficient or older than 90 days
- •Health insurance policy does not meet $50,000 Thailand coverage minimum
- •Criminal record (any conviction is disqualifying)
- •Applying from wrong sub-category (income source must match track)
Recent Legislative Changes
2024-01-01
Revenue Department Instruction No. Por 161/2566 effective 1 Jan 2024: foreign income remitted to Thailand in the same calendar year is now assessable Thai income for residents (180+ days). Prior-year savings no longer tax-free on remittance.source ↗
2022-09-01
Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa programme launched by BOI, replacing older Elite-style programs.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LTR visa worth it vs the older Elite / Privilege card?+
LTR offers a work-from-Thailand endorsement and a flat 17% tax rate for WFT track holders — advantages Elite does not offer. Elite costs less upfront for pure long-stay without work needs. High earners/investors typically prefer LTR; pure lifestyle expats may prefer Elite.
How does the 2024 Thai tax change affect LTR holders?+
From 1 January 2024, Thai tax residents who spend 180+ days/yr in Thailand must pay income tax on foreign-source income remitted to Thailand in the same tax year. The old strategy of waiting until the next calendar year to remit no longer works. LTR WFT holders can apply for the 17% flat rate on qualifying income.
Can I get Thai PR on an LTR visa?+
No. Thai PR requires continuous residence on a qualifying Non-Immigrant visa (B, O, etc.) for 3+ years with Thai income tax paid, and annual PR quota of only 100 per nationality. LTR years do not count toward PR. In practice, Thai PR is extremely difficult to obtain.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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