Bangkok skyline: Long-Term Resident Visa Thailand

Thailand Visas

The Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR)

Complete LTR Guide

The LTR is Thailand's most premium long-stay programme, administered by the Board of Investment (BOI) rather than standard immigration. It offers 10 years of legal residency with annual reporting only, fast-track airport immigration, significant tax advantages and, for some categories, the right to work legally in Thailand: a complete package for high-net-worth individuals, retirees and senior professionals.

10 years
Validity, renewable
Annual only
Reporting requirement
50,000 THB
Government fee

The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and is based on publicly available sources as of June 2026. LTR eligibility criteria, fees and processing times are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the Board of Investment (BOI) before applying.

The Four LTR Categories

The LTR is not a single visa. It comprises four distinct categories with their own eligibility criteria, financial thresholds and tax benefits. Identifying the right category is the critical first step.

Wealthy Global Citizen
High net worth individuals

Wealthy Global Citizen

  • →Minimum total net assets: USD 1 million (Thailand + abroad)
  • →Minimum Thai investment: USD 500,000 in Thai government bonds, real estate or BOI (Board of Investment)-approved FDI (foreign direct investment)
  • →Note: personal income requirement removed as of February 2025
Foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand exempt from Thai personal income tax
Wealthy Pensioner
Retirees 50+

Wealthy Pensioner

  • →Option A: USD 80,000/year passive income (pension, rental, dividends)
  • →Option B: USD 40,000/year passive income + USD 250,000 invested in Thai assets
  • →Employment income does not qualify
Foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand exempt from Thai personal income tax
Work-from-Thailand Professional
Remote workers, large foreign companies

Work-from-Thailand Professional

  • →Option A: USD 80,000/year income for last 2 years
  • →Option B: USD 40,000/year plus a master's degree, intellectual property ownership, or Series A funding of at least USD 1 million
  • →Employer must be either a publicly listed company (on a stock exchange) or a privately held company, in either case operating for at least 3 years with at least USD 50M in combined revenue over that 3-year period. Wholly-owned subsidiaries of qualifying companies are also eligible.
  • →This category accounts for approximately 37% of all LTR approvals, the largest share of any category
Foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand exempt from Thai personal income tax
Highly Skilled Professional
Specialists working in Thailand

Highly Skilled Professional

  • →Option A: personal income of USD 80,000/year averaged over the last 2 years, from any employer or country, plus a current employment contract or job offer with a qualifying Thai employer, BOI-targeted industry employer, university, research centre or Thai government agency at the time of application. You do not need to have already worked in Thailand to qualify.
  • →Option B: USD 40,000/year plus a master's degree in science or technology. No minimum years of work experience required as of the 2025 BOI eligibility update.
  • →Must work for a Thai company, government agency, university or international organisation in Thailand
  • →Targeted industries: digital economy, medical, automotive, aerospace, robotics, biotech and more
Flat 17% income tax rate on employment income + standard Thai work permit

Key insight

Health insurance: mandatory for all categories

All applicants must hold health insurance with minimum USD 50,000 coverage, or maintain a deposit of at least USD 100,000 in a Thai or overseas account. Unlike the O-A and O-X retirement visas, the LTR does not require your insurer to be on the Thai Office of Insurance Commission's approved list, reputable international insurers are accepted. This is one of the most frequently overlooked requirements and a common reason for rejection.

The LTR is not for

✕Freelancers, self-employed individuals or business owners: the DTV is the right visa
✕Remote workers employed by small or recently founded companies (< 3 years or < USD 50M revenue)
✕Applicants who do not meet the financial thresholds of any of the four categories
✕Professionals not working in a BOI-targeted industry (for the Highly Skilled category)

LTR Visa Costs: What to Budget

All fees and costs associated with your LTR application, from the BOI qualification endorsement to your visa stamp.

ItemCostNotes

Government application fee

50,000 THB (~€1,350)

One-time, non-refundable. Paid at visa issuance.

Document translations (if applicable)

€50–150 per document

For non-English, non-Thai documents requiring certified translation. Some documents also require consular legalisation or notarisation before submission, and costs vary significantly by category and nationality. Thailand does not yet accept apostilles; full consular legalisation remains required until the country's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention takes effect on 28 February 2027.

Health insurance (mandatory)

25,000–80,000 THB/year

Minimum USD 50,000 coverage required. Local and international plans are accepted as long as this threshold is met.

See insurance options →

Professional application assistance (recommended)

Variable

Some applicants use a visa consultant to reduce rejection risk. Contact us for trusted partners.

Contact us

Prices are indicative and can vary by category, provider and exchange rate. Always confirm current costs before budgeting or applying.

Need help with your LTR application? We can guide you through the process and connect you with trusted partners.

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Required Documents

Document preparation for LTR visa
  • ✓Valid passport with at least 18 months of remaining validity
  • ✓Passport-size photograph (4×6 cm, white background)
  • ✓Proof of qualifying health coverage: either a health insurance certificate with minimum USD 50,000 coverage from a reputable insurer (Thai OIC approval is not required for the LTR, unlike the O-A/O-X), enrolment in Thailand's Social Security Office (SSO), or a USD 100,000 deposit held in a Thai or overseas bank account for 12 months.
  • ✓2 years of certified income tax returns from country of tax residence (for Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional and Highly Skilled Professional applicants; Wealthy Global Citizen applicants are assessed on net assets rather than income and are not required to submit this)
  • ✓Criminal background check issued within 3 months by country of residence

How to Apply for the LTR Visa: Step by Step

LTR visa application: Thailand BOI

Confirm which category applies to you and that you meet all financial and income thresholds. Several visa specialists offer a paid pre-screening service to check your eligibility before you commit to the non-refundable government fee. Getting this right prevents wasted time and money later.

Contact us: we'll connect you with a trusted partner →

Gather your core documents (passport, proof of financial standing, health coverage, background check) plus the additional documents specific to your category. See the full breakdown in the Required Documents section above.

Submit your complete application through the LTR Visa online portal at ltr.boi.go.th, whether you are inside or outside Thailand. This initial application step is online-only, there is no in-person submission option, even at a Thai embassy. The BOI does not charge a fee for this endorsement step, the 50,000 THB government fee is only paid later, at visa issuance. The BOI may request additional documents.

The BOI assesses your application. If approved, you receive a Letter of Approval.

Key insight

Your qualification endorsement is valid for only 60 days. You must complete the visa issuance step within this window. Do not delay after receiving your approval letter.

With your BOI Letter of Approval, obtain your LTR visa stamp at the TIESC (if in Thailand) or at a Thai embassy abroad. Government fee of 50,000 THB paid at this stage. Total estimated timeline: 2 to 3 months for a straightforward, well-prepared application, extending to 3 to 4 months if additional documents are requested or your case involves overseas document legalisation.

Contact us for application help →

Your Obligations Once You Arrive in Thailand

This applies to every foreigner staying in Thailand, whatever visa they hold, including the LTR. Your address must be declared to the local immigration office within 24 hours of arrival or any change of address. In practice this is usually handled by your hotel or landlord, who is legally responsible for filing the TM30. If you are renting a private property, your landlord must file it on your behalf; if they do not, you can file it yourself online or in person. Without an up-to-date TM30 on file, you cannot complete your annual report or apply for a visa extension.

See our full TM30 guide →

This is the LTR's main administrative advantage: one address report per year instead of one every 90 days. The submission window is the same as for other visas: 15 days before to 7 days after the date shown on your notification card. Unlike the DTV's 90-day report, this cannot be filed online or by post. You must go in person, or authorise someone to go on your behalf with a signed TM.61 form, to the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC), 6th floor, One Bangkok, with your passport, your latest arrival document (TDAC or TM.6) and a completed TM.95 form. If you leave and re-enter Thailand before your report is due, the one-year clock restarts from your latest arrival date.

LTR visa obligations Thailand

Is the LTR Right for You?

Advantages

✓10-year legal residency, renewable: the longest available in Thailand
✓Annual address reporting only, no 90-day check-ins
✓Significant tax advantages: foreign income exemption (Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional) or flat 17% rate on Thai employment income (Highly Skilled Professional only)
✓Fast-track airport immigration at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket International
✓Thai work permit via Digital Work Permit (Highly Skilled Professional); no work permit needed for Work-from-Thailand Professional, since employment is with a foreign employer
✓Spouses and children under 20 eligible for LTR Dependent visas, up to a maximum of 4 dependents in total
✓All applications and visa issuance handled through the TIESC (Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center) at One Bangkok, separate from standard immigration
✓All LTR categories are exempt from the standard 4 Thai employees per 1 foreign employee requirement for their employer

Limitations

✕Government fee of 50,000 THB, five times the DTV fee
✕High financial thresholds that exclude most freelancers and remote workers at small companies
✕Complex application process: 2 to 3 months minimum for a well-prepared application, professional assistance strongly recommended
✕Work-from-Thailand requires a large established employer, freelancers are not eligible
✕BOI qualification endorsement valid for 60 days only: tight window to finalise visa issuance
Premium Thailand residence: LTR visa

Ready to Apply for the LTR Visa?

The LTR application is complex and the BOI criteria are strictly applied. A complete, correctly formatted dossier is the difference between approval in 6 weeks and months of delays. We connect you with trusted immigration specialists who handle LTR applications from eligibility assessment to visa issuance.

Frequently asked questions