What are the challenges and requirements of Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa for expats?

Jul 6, 2022
2 years ago
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers around the recently introduced Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa in Thailand, which many commenters criticized as being overly restrictive and unattractive to potential applicants. Key points raised include the complicated income requirements, such as the necessity for digital nomads to work for publicly listed companies, and the financial hurdles tied to investment criteria. Many expressed disappointment with the lack of incentives for a broader range of expats, particularly digital nomads and wealthy individuals, while questioning the purpose and efficiency of the visa requirements. Questions about documentation, costs, and practical implications for existing visa holders were also highlighted.
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Robert *****
The current LTR Pre-screening webpage for the BOI lists $100,000 per dependent in lieu of insurance. Your document above says it is $25,000 for each dependent beyond the principal visa-holder ($100,000). Which is correct?
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ****
Latest update we had mentioned 100,000 USD for the main applicant, and 25,000 USD for each dependent.

However this may still be subject to change.
Robert *****
@Thai *****************************
Thank you for the reply.
Dimitris ************
Whats the cost of this visa?
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dimitris ***********
50,000 thb if you apply on your own.

(1,600 USD if you apply through the US)
Lindsey **********
Todd *********
Finally!!! Great idea. Let’s get it rolling. Works for some at least
Rog ***********
Will your current retirement visa which expires next year still be valid after September?
David **********
Whoever came up with this foolishness was probably already someone sitting out his career in a closet in the PM’s office. This should get him fired for sure.
Maarten ****
It’s good opportunity to get 10 years visa . I already approach Thai Visa Centre to apply . But they said need to wait until Sep
Mars ************
@Maarten ***
same here...lets wait and see the details...
Mars ************
They were quick to reply with good factual points but the details are what need to see - ie how often in a 10 yr LTR visa do you need to prove funds...once only then get 10 yr visa ? Doubt it
Maarten ****
@Mars ***********
they said they receive lots of application but most of them are unqualified … seem like people taking a chance to apply lol
Juls ******
@Maarten ***
oh ? I did the same, but I go ask at my immigration center....
Maarten ****
@Juls *****
they inform me it’s a brand new visa which will launch in this Sep ?
Mike *******
So 10 years cost 5000 baht and 5 years in Thai elite cost 600k baht. Makes Thai sense. Just another pointless visa. Why can't they just make it simple, visa per years you want to stay. Name a cost for 1year with no hoops to jump through and see how many people go for it. Some people only want to be in Thailand for a year or 2
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike ******
The current government visa fee for the LTR is 50,000 THB.

For some elite holders this visa type may be a better option if they meet all the requirements. But to fully determine this we would need to wait until all of the information is released (including tax requirements for all sections).
Mike *******
@Thai *****************************
read the rest of the comments throughout all the groups. This visa is just dumb. It will cover less than 1 percent of people and most likely add to more money laundering through fake Thai businesses. Thailand never makes it simple for people who want to come here and stay maybe a year or 2. I'm turning 50 in 1 month and would love to stay in Thailand for another year or 2, but I refuse to tie up 800k of my money in Thai bank. As I stated in my comment, thailand should have 1 year legit visas where you can just pay to stay in Thailand with multiple entries and not have to go to your home country to apply.
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike ******
We assist with situations like you have mentioned.

As for the LTR visa we are only relaying the current requirement's, and will be assisting the 1% that meet those requirements as long as nothing drastic changes between now, and september 1st.
Mike *******
@Thai *****************************
yes I've heard about your agency.
Siddhartha *********
People as trader trading in their own accounts or via broker account via registered company/exchanges having certificate as trader and filling tax as business income in their home country (not crypto)do they fall in this digital work criteria ? Or what are the supportive documents or income needed?
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siddhartha ********
To meet income requirements it would need to be attached to your name.

Also please note that for some job categories they also have minimum requirements.

- Public company on a stock exchange or; Private company in operation for at least three years with combined revenue at least USD 150 million in the last three years
Siddhartha *********
@Thai *****************************
will wait when it’s actually processed and the list of documents hand out for given digital work criteria !
Barnaby *******
@Thai *****************************
Regarding the income requirements what will be required? Pay stubs-pension statement-taxes? Will it have to be notarized? And the additional bank statements for the previous 2 years? Will a statement suffice or an notarized copy? Thanks, BB
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Barnaby ******
In the past they required documents that may be required to be certified by your local embassy (which is not possible for all nationalities).

As for proving pension as long as the money is coming into thailand you would use your bank statements (similar to how some of the existing retirement visa options function).

A lot is still unknown, so we will have to wait, and see exactly what they will require as this visa will be going through the BOI, not only immigration/consulate like the NON-O, OX, OA.
Gee ******
Hmm. I’m not sure this gives much incentive to those who qualify.

Possibly there’s some benefit for the employees on record from 4 to 1. But many people are making companies easily enough already so this may still not be much incentive
Maxim ***********
This LTR visa only apply to 1% of foreigners.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Maxim **********
Yes, some old people (sorry, Wealthy Pensioners), who already had it easy to stay long time before. For Work from Thailand Professionals and Wealthy Global Citizens, the conditions are not suitable for their respective target group. Guess the uniforms did not know that.
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank-Steven **********
Yes the following requirements will not apply to many working professionals:

- Public company on a stock exchange or; Private company in operation for at least three years with combined revenue at least USD 150 million in the last three years

However for those that it does this is a great option, and an incentive for larger companies to have long term work-cation type of options.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Thai *****************************
The matter of the fact is, that 99% of (high income) people that actually can and want wo work remotely, do so either on a freelance basis for several clients or by running their own small or medium size company offering their services. The requirements here asking for a current (direct) employer being either a public company or a USD 150 million revenue company excludes almost everybody. Yes, during COVID times even the big old traditional companies sent their people into home office to work remotely. BUT, and that is a big BUT, many already call their staff back into office. And also, while those employees were permitted to work remotely, they were only permitted to do so from their home, thus the phrase "home office". Big, old school, traditional companies will almost never allow their direct employees to work remotely from a different country (for tax, insurance and what not other reasons). So, to conclude, it is and remains an utter failure on the side of who ever invented this new visa in Thailand to try to dictate what kind of work relationships applicants in the remote work from Thailand category should be in and what kind of companies they get paid from. Unfortunately a very common occurrence in Thailand to contradict good ideas with unsuitable overregulation that eventually render the whole thing inert.
Frank-Steven ***********
This visa is an utter joke and a big, big disappointment. A failed opportunity, once again. It will not attract even "remotely" the amount of people desired - maybe with the exception of retirees (who already had it easy coming to Thailand before, by the way). All the other LTR categories have been messed up and made inapplicable or unattractive in the details. I mean come on! A "digital nomad" remote worker visa, where remote workers may only work with a fixed work contract with publicly listed companies? Not that 99% of those high income nomads work on freelance basis with multiple companies, mostly startup-businesses with high venture capital funding. Give me a break, guys! Who makes shit like this up all the time? Why not include and ask people that actually belong to desired target group for once, when defining new visa criteria? What a mess! Or take the "Wealthy Global Citizen": Sure, I'd be willing to come as a millionaire. But NOT if you force me to invest half a million into some government bond or what not! Trust me on this: millionaires like to choose where (in the world) and into what assets we invest money! And why bother at all? Be happy about every new millionaire citizen, irrespective of where he or she invests their money - as long as they spend well on their life in Thailand. And why make different criteria for wealthy people below the age of 50 and wealthy pensioners again (the latter not being forced into certain investments)? And final word on investments: As long as I cannot even 100% own a Thai Limited company, but being forced in sharing it with two Thai nationals with me being reduced to a minority shareholder in my own company: Dream on about attracting millions from abroad. Man! What a mess. Always! #RantOver
Todd *********
@Frank-Steven **********
some very fair points in there
THAI ******************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Many remote workers in Thailand do not pay income tax to Thailand (including Elite Visa holders).

We are still waiting for final clarification from the BOI to determine if the 17% tax will be applied to the income used to meet these requirements. If that is a requirement then the Elite Visa will remain a very popular option for remote workers.
Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
there's no need for a work contract which was the biggest hurdle to SMART visa. You just have to be able to show you meet the income requirements for 2 years. Definitely not possibly for everyone, but those that can show it have a "steady" job and income and won't potentially become the problem for Thailand when their freelance contracts dry up and they're out of money.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
If only that were true. If only proving sufficient income and experience alone would be sufficient. But the details circulated everywhere regarding the LTR suggest that remote workers must have a work contract with a “well established company abroad”, which they define as either a) a publicly (stock exchange) listed company or b) a company with at least 150m USD annual revenue over the recent 3 years. That excludes the absolute vast majority of remote worker that otherwise would easily meet the income and experience requirement.
Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
this is from the official BOI document

**************************************************
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
And on the following page there they detail again that “current employer” needs to be either. I am hoping I wrong - but experience tells me, they are going to make this visa once again applicable to nobody in the end.
Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
I've yet to see any articles that say contract. Please show me where you've seen this. I've researched this as much as possible over the last month, but still waiting for them to publish the actual rules.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
Even in the document linked in this post, the requirements say that the “current employer” needs to be either a or b. Employer suggest a work contract. A relationship with that company as an employee. So even if people have regular freelance clients amongst that sort of companies, I doubt it will suffice. I wonder what documents they will require for evaluation anyways. I guess we will see.
Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
I don't think Thailand wants anything to do with freelance and I don't think that will change. It's not steady income. It's the same reason retirees must keep money deposited. No steady income, not welcome to a long term stay.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
Maybe Indonesia (Bali) and other destinations currently working on remote working visa will lead the way, and then Thailand will follow in a few years with LTR 2.0, when they finally get it (or actually co-create criteria with people who get it). We will see.
Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
you're giving the government a lot of credit there.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
The big traditional companies, if they still offer “home office” at all, don’t even allow their employees to work from outside their respective countries. The criteria here are a total mismatch and shows once again, that some Thai uniforms invent wishful things here, they don’t know anything about.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
If they want steady income, all they should ask for, check and enforce is steady income, then. But this way, they exclude the vast majority of remote workers, like highly skilled developers and such, mostly working for high venture capital funded startups and the like.
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