Answered7 years ago

What Are the Steps and Benefits of Obtaining a Smart Visa in Thailand?

Smart Visa Chiang Mai Visa Application

Munly *******

asked Jan 14, 2020

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I got the 6 month smart visa approval letter today. Still two more steps for insurance and to get some stamp 30 days from now before I actually have it. I'm the first ever for this category ("startup promotion") and maybe the first smart visa period for Chiang mai.

Between the insurance cost (example given was 18500 baht) and the medical check hassle it's a lot easier just to use an education visa

The Chiang Mai depa office is still needing more applications to build authority to approve these themselves and I know one other person applied tonight, first for the new year. Now's a good time to do it, if Chiang Mai can approve it's a lot easier / faster than Bangkok during this phase

Don't hold out for a nomad visa guys. It is still considered low priority, nothing much has changed despite recent lobbying. They still prefer smart visa caliber folks over travel and experience focused nomads.

This year's Nomad summit is a long shot to change their minds. It'll be the first one the Thais will be paying attention to :)

Answer summary

The user shares their experience of receiving a 6-month Smart Visa approval letter in Chiang Mai and outlines the additional requirements, such as insurance and medical checks. They note the advantages of applying in Chiang Mai over Bangkok and caution against relying on the nomad visa, which remains low priority.

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Robert *******

At this web page of the Board of Investment, you can find more information about this Smart Visa and how to apply.

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7 years ago

Robert *******

So you think being an illegal alien is smarter than using a smart visa? i guess you missed the point that with a Smart Visa you are allowed to work, with an ED visa you sit in a school to study something and be Employment Prohibited.

7 years ago

Brian ********

@Munly ******

how much would you pay to avoid having to live in fear every time you try to re-enter the country, that your Ed Visa will be declined? Or stuck in Cambodia with a denied visa and a life back in Chiang Mai?

Not to mention you can come and go last minute as you please and presumably they treat you better at immigration in terms of wait time and other BS?

Depends on cost obviously...

Plus, you’re now technically “a resident” and not “a tourist” anymore. That’s kinda cool.

Go get a drivers license and welcome to Thailand. 🙂

7 years ago

Munly *******

the vast majority of using education visas to uhhh build t heir businesses and then relaxing relatively on smart visas and even studying Thai because they actually want to says a lot about what the education visa does right that the govt can learn from

7 years ago