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What should I know about the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa in Thailand for retirement?
LTR VisaRetirement VisaVisa Options for ExpatsThailand ImmigrationWealthy Pensioner VisaPassive Income RequirementsHealth Insurance and VisaBOI Visa ProcessVisa Agent Recommendations
Mar 21, 2024
2 years ago
Chuck ******
ORIGINAL POSTERI met with Visa Agent in Bkk today, for retiring from USA. We reviewed Retirement Visa, Elite Gold, and then they shared with me LTR. LTR seemed too good to be true? Any advice or warnings on LTR would be much appreciated. Thanks!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa is gaining attention from retirees aiming to settle in Thailand. Many participants affirm that it's a viable option if one meets specific requirements—primarily demonstrating $80,000/year in passive income and procuring health insurance. Users generally highlight the ease of application, lack of annual reporting, and no required funds in a Thai bank account as advantages. However, challenges arise with documentation, particularly for those with complex income sources. Discussions also stress the necessity of understanding the eligibility criteria and related financial implications before proceeding.
LONG TERM RESIDENT (LTR) VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic LTR Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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Phil ********
**********************
I am British, applied and got the Wealthy Pensioner LTR Nov 2022 (although it took 3 months rather than the 20 working days advertised). I emailed the BOI with questions - about 4 weeks to reply but received a detailed response.
My passive income was made up of lots of “bits” - state pension - solar panel feed in tariff- rent a room scheme - cash isa interest etc.
My house in the UK counted as my asset (they don’t ask how big your mortgage is.
Apply online, upload as much supporting info as you can. The site lets you save and go back to it later.
You can get a work permit with the pensioner LTR.
Unlimited entries, can use the fast track through immigration at the airport.
Cost was 50,000 baht for visa and about 40,000 for insurance (I am pretty ancient though!)
Chuck ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Phil *******
Thanks Phil!Reply to
Chuck ******
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Patricia *******
I never heard of LTR. Where can I find further information?
Marty *********
@Patricia ******
Google LTR BOIReply to
Marty *********
Reply
Huỳnh *******************
LTR is a good choice 👍
Recommend it
Recommend it
Gio *****
Can you please share ur agent and how's its going
Chuck ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gio ****
I will post Agent info once I can endorse referenceing them. They are breaking the fee into phases, phase one is to just send them what docs/tax returns they need to see if if I can qualify; which I am confident I will. Stay tuned!Gio *****
@Chuck *****
thank youReply to
Gio *****
Reply
Monti ********
Can you share your agent. I have a friend looking to retire here and wanting options. Thank you.
William ******
$
*****
is a lot of passive income so not probably for everyoneMarty *********
@Dennis ******
On the BOI website it is advertised as being for wealthy pensioners. Not so wealthy in the US but here in Thailand . . . I guess soReply to
Marty *********
Reply
Jessie ******
It's not to good to be true it's just not for everyone if you qualify and you want to.jump through the hoops go for it
Duncan *********
I have LTR. Best option if you qualify.
Ian *****
LTR is the way forward as long as you really meet the criteria and will again in 5 years . It's fairly simple and does what it says....I got mine 2 months ago
Dave **********
@Mark **********
takes a special written Tricare Letter DM me and I will dig up the address to write to . Turn around was 2 days.Cody *******
@Dave *********
could you possibly do this also? Thanks in advance!Dave **********
@Cody ******
DM SentReply to
Dave **********
Reply
Mark ***********
@Dave *********
DM sentDave **********
@Mark **********
reply sentDave **********
Reply to
Dave **********
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Frances ********
What’s LTR stand for?
Pui *****
@Frances *******
long term resident. It's a specific category of visas, with different ways to qualify.Frances ********
@Pui ****
thanks!Reply to
Frances ********
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Brandon ************
@Frances *******
long term residentReply to
Brandon ************
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Sam ********
LTR is great and it’s easy to apply online, however, only do this is your tax return is simple and shows the $80,000 passive income otherwise they are not qualified at the office to interpret anything else. For instance, I have corporate income and tried relentlessly to help them understand corporate income tax and shareholder dividends. I was there 3 times and each time they just kept asking for my personal tax return which doesn’t exist.
Needlesstosay, I was rejected despite my efforts.
Needlesstosay, I was rejected despite my efforts.
Sam ********
@Don ********
80k is a joke. Not worth the price. Since the LTR only costs 50,000 and if it doesn’t work the. Just get the regular 2000 Bhat retirement visa. It’s adds up to 20,000 over 10 years just more reporting.John ******
@Sam *******
i believe a misunderstanding here. You say 80 k is a joke. Yes if that is the price of an ltr. But it is the passive income that you need to show. The 80.000 stays in your pocket.Sam ********
@Don ********
want country you from. Don’t you have a tax treaty with Thailand. You’re only going to get taxed on unreported income, not everything that they are claiming. It’s not true.Reply to
Sam ********
Reply
Dawn **********
@Sam *******
I fell in a similar situation. But my tax returns do not show my guaranteed income. I produced the beginning and ending statement for each year for 10 years. I also produced the last tax return (as I don’t have to file returns) that was for documentation because I sold a house that was untaxable. You have to get creative with the proof. I wrote an executive summary and they understood. They even commended me on my use of the tax system. I was approved in less than a month when they first opened the program.Nina ********
My husband and I applied for the LTR remote worker visa (qualified in all aspects) but after repeatedly being requested to resubmit the same information multiple times we have finally given up. The BOI staff was helpful but just could not understand unlimited private international health insurance (even with a policy summary and highlights) and then they started requesting the financial statements of our NYSE employer. We could never get past customer service in our numerous calls to them. Eventually, after a couple months, the remaining months on the health insurance policy became too low which would have required a purchase of a separate policy. Also, the requirement to reapply and pay another 100,000B (2 people) when we switched from remote work to wealthy pensioner in 5 years wasn’t worth it.
Sam ********
@Nina *******
I went to the office in BKK person. They just don’t get it. They aren’t up to speed. Was suppose to issue 1,000,000 LTR in 2023 and only managed to issue 40,000Jeffrey *********
@Sam *******
They've had fewer than 7,000 applications (including dependents) since the program began, so they've certainly issued far fewer than 40,000!Michel *************
@Sam *******
1 million LTR?!? Pretty ambitious... Where did you get this number?Jeffrey *********
@Michel ************
That was their stated goal when they announced the program (not for one year, but in total). It was clearly more "aspirational" than realistic.Reply to
Jeffrey *********
Reply
Nigel **************
Your post is a bit confusing.... u want to retire in the USA? Presume u mean Thailand
George *********
@Nigel *************
'from USA'Nigel **************
@George ********
okay been corrected nowReply to
Nigel **************
Reply
Don *********
One lesser known (but in my opinion huge) benefit of the LTR is tax free overseas income.
Last time I checked there are only 2 licensed agents for LTR visas - might be worth checking whether the people you met are one of those
Last time I checked there are only 2 licensed agents for LTR visas - might be worth checking whether the people you met are one of those
Michel *************
@Don ********
four agents at this moment. I am using oneDave **********
@Don ********
did my own as easy.John ******
@Don ********
i doubt i you are right..oversees income is either charged in Thailand or if dubbeltaxtreaty then in other country. That is for retired ltr person. But indeed one of the four ltr visa, the one with which you work in Thailand gives you a taxbenenefitPeter *******************
@John *****
This is buried on BOI’s site, but Section 5 lays the exemptions out pretty clearly.Peter *******************
@John *****
*************************************
%20Decree%20issued%20under%20the%20Revenue%20Code%20No.743%20(EN).pdfBrandon ************
@John *****
the highly skilled professional category has a flat Thai tax rate. But the other 3 categories are specifically tax exempt from Thai taxes. The published law in the royal gazette even says so.John ******
@Brandon ***********
not so!Reply to
John ******
Reply
Jonathan *******
@Don ********
you don't need a licence to assist with the LTR application. They don't have resellers like the Elite. It's offered through the BOI insteadReply to
Jonathan *******
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Mark ***********
I seem to remember a retired military member saying Tricare for Life could be used to satisfy the insurance requirement. If someone can confirm this I would appreciate a DM from them.
Steve **********
@Ma**
I did not do it but I asked that specifically in another group.Mark ***********
@Steve *********
thanks. I need to figure out who in Tricare will provide the coverage letter.Steve **********
@Ma**
if you access the Tricare website like you do for claims it’s a ready made letter there. I honestly can’t tell you where but it’s there.Reply to
Steve **********
Reply
Steve **********
I know two retired military Americans with the LTR and both swear it’s easy as it looks and 100% as real as they come.
Kenny *******
@Steve *********
how do retired military qualify?Steve **********
@Ke***
pensions and health insuranceReply to
Steve **********
Reply
Dave **********
@Steve *********
still love my LTR on year two with it, .Reply to
Dave **********
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Marty *********
I got my pensioner LTR in January, 2023. If you meet the $80,000/yr passive income requirement then it is a good option. If your passive income isn’t complicated then you don’t need an agent. It also requires health insurance or $100,000 in your bank.
Mike ******
@Marty ********
I am over 50 years old..pay 1900bt per year..takes 2 hours in phuket..job doneMarty *********
@Mike *****
I did the same with my OA visa for 6 years. I meet the income requirements for the LTR and already had the insurance even before it was a requirement for the OA. The LTR is 50,000 baht for 10 years. It is about the same as the 1,900 yearly fee depending on how you look at it. Surprisingly I really like not doing 90 day reports. I was very efficient about gathering the documents for yearly extensions but it is nice not doing that either. There are also no money in the bank requirements for the LTR. I thought about in it 2022. It was a close call but I’m happy I got the LTR. The application was very easy as well.
Mike ******
@Marty ********
thank you for the info...I will look into it..Reply to
Mike ******
Reply
Mike ******
Insurance is not a requirement...but I have it..
Reply to
Mike ******
Reply
Pat *****
@Marty ********
you need to bring to thailand 80k usd passive income every year?Marty *********
@Pat ****
No. I showed them my tax return which showed over $80,000/yr in the US. My income is a work pension and Social Security. It’s what you receive, pre-tax, outside Thailand.Pat *****
@Marty ********
thanks!Reply to
Pat *****
Reply
Chuck ******
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you for the replys Gents!
Chris ****
Can say LTR is my favorite.
John ******
I agree. Took it about a year ago. As said good option , easy to get, if you qualify. And all help from the boi so no problems with nasty immigration officers. Boi most helpfull!!
Michel *************
@John *****
I am in the process of getting it. May I kindly ask you how long it took?John ******
@Michel ************
I applied when ltr was brandnew so maybe they were not very busy. Took about 2 or 3 months but i had to get a health insurance . That took some times so maybe if i had submitted my health insurance earlier i would have taken shorter. Be aware that the health insurance has to have at least seven months or so validity. ! It took quite some time at the the insurer before he was prepared to change the time schedule of the policy!Michel *************
@John *****
many thanks! Health insurance was submitted with my pack of docsReply to
Michel *************
Reply
Stuart *********
LTR is a good option if you qualify.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
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