VISA FOR THAILAND

FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THAILAND VISA HERE

IF YOU WANT TO STAY IN THAILAND FOR A LONGER PERIOD, OR EVEN WORK, YOU NEED A THAI VISA AND, IF NECESSARY, A WORK PERMIT. VIOLATIONS ARE SEVERELY PUNISHED IN THAILAND

As described in detail below, the matching "Visa Thailand" generally depends on the reason for your stay. Be it for an employment visa, a retirement visa Thailand, a visa to support the family or an “LTR Long-Term Resident" visa, tell you how it works. Sanet Legal, the Thai Visa Service in Bangkok, also takes care of the sometimes-confusing Visa Thailand Extension.

VISA OR PERMIT?

There is a fundamental difference between a visa for Thailand and a permission for a stay of up to 60 days in Thailand without a business purpose. This includes tourist trips or, for example, visiting relatives and friends

This permit is usually issued by the official at the immigration counter when you enter the country. The duration of the permitted stay is noted in your passport. if you do not apply to the Office of Immigration before, exceeding the time limit will be expensive at your departure date. Yet, an Office of Immigration can even be found in some shopping centers in Bangkok. So watch the deadline of your stay.

ATTENTION: Under no circumstances may you work with such a permit in any way. You cannot work whether to pay or free of charge. This also counts for example if you help friends or relatives with their business

THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE, EXTENSION, COSTS

Visas issued abroad must be extended in most cases. The application must be submitted at the Office of Immigration before the visa expires. The requirements can vary from year to year, and the officer also has certain discretion as to what additional evidence he or she requires - sometimes even during the ongoing extension process.

In any case, it is advisable to incur the costs of a professional Visa Service Thailand such as Sanet Legal & Accountancy. This can often avoid waiting times of several days and new, unexpected requirements.

THE "NON-B" VISA FOR TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT AND FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE

"NON-B" means "No Immigrant - stay for Business Purposes". It is always limited in time. As a rule, it is used for longer business trips or for taking up a professional activity or employment. Please note:

• As a rule, the NON-B visa must be applied for at the Thai embassy or consulate abroad before entering the country.

• The NON-B visa for employment must be applied for by submitting an employment contract and various documents and is initially valid for four weeks. The work permit must be issued within this period so that the visa can then be extended to one year.

ATTENTION: Applying for and obtaining a visa for Thailand to take up employment is always the responsibility of the applicant, not the employer. The employer only provides the required company documents. He will not and cannot apply for a work permit if you enter the country without a qualified visa.

THE "NON-O" VISA TO SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS

The same applies to the "NON-O" (no immigrant - stay for other purposes) visa as to the NON-B visa. It may be used to apply for a work permit.

• It is issued to foreigners who have a Thai wife and/or family in Thailand and contribute to their maintenance. Here, too, there are numerous documents that must be presented when the permit is first issued abroad and when it is renewed annually. It is also issued to 1st grade relatives to NION-B Visa holders, yet it will not allow to apply for a work permit.

These requirements are at the discretion of the Office of Immigration. This usually includes a marriage certificate valid in Thailand or proof of paternity. New proof of cohabitation is also often required every year, for example in the form of documents and pictures from the shared home or registration of residence, or from school.

People who are at least 50 years old and come from certain countries, including most EU countries, can apply for this visa.

It entitles the holder to stay in Thailand on a long-term basis. This visa is particularly popular for people who are attracted by Thailand to spend their retirement there. Here too, this visa must be applied for in advance in the home country or in any case outside Thailand before entering the country.

ATTENTION: Retirement visas do not entitle the holder to take up employment or apply for a work permit. Pensioners in Thailand also need health insurance.

According to a double Tax Agreement, German social security pensions no longer must be taxed in Germany when moving to Thailand. Thailand then taxes them as soon as the money is brought into the country. Since 2024, this has been the case regardless of when the money is transferred to Thailand. In any case, it must be taxed here upon receipt in Thailand.

The "O-A" Retirement Visa

This visa is initially issued abroad for 3 months and can then be extended in Thailand for one year at a time. These are the conditions:

• Proof of a monthly income of 65,000 THB
  (approx. 3,200 USD)

• Proof of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account

• Proof of health insurance valid for Thailand

THE RETIREMENT VISA THAILAND (VISA O-A OR O-X)

The "O-X" Retirement Visa

This visa entitles you to stay in Thailand for 5 years, after which it can be extended for a further 5 years.
The conditions are:

• Proof of income of THB 1.2 million (approx. USD 36,000)

• Proof of at least 1.8 million THB (approx. 55,000 USD) in the Thai bank account

• Proof of savings of at least THB 3 million (approx. USD 90,000) in a Thai bank account

• Proof of health insurance valid for your place of residence in Thailand

OVER 10 YEARS FOR "HIGH POTENTIAL" FOREIGNERS

The "Long-Term Resident" (LTR) visa has been available since September 2022. This visa program was introduced with the aim of attracting "foreigners with high potential" in terms of assets, talent or technical knowledge to Thailand and thus promoting the economy

The Visa must be applied for at the Thai Board of Investment (BOI). The visa offers a 10-year residence permit, a 10-year work permit and a flat-rate personal income tax of 17% on all taxable income.

Further advantages of the LTR visa

• Tax exemption from income tax on foreign income imported into Thailand.

• Abolition of the requirement that employers must employ four Thai nationals per foreigner.

• Priority service at Thailand's international airports.

• Waver of the 90-day notification to the immigration authorities.

However, the requirements are extremely high:

• Sufficiently "wealthy world citizens" are persons who can prove that they have assets of USD 1 million, of which at least USD 500,000 is invested in Thai government bonds, company shares, or Thai real estate.

• Pensioners (persons over the age of 50) who can prove that they have an annual pension of at least USD 80,000 also qualify. If the pension is less than USD 80,000 (but at least USD 40,000), an additional USD 250,000 must be invested in Thai government bonds, company shares, or real estate.

• Remote workers who are employed abroad can obtain an LTR visa under the following conditions:

  • Applicants must have worked in the industry in which they are employed at the time of application for 5 years.

  • They must have an annual salary of at least the equivalent of USD 40,000, or a master’s or higher academic degree.

  • They own intellectual property (e.g., patents) or have received Series A financing in Thailand.

  ATTENTION: The applicant's foreign employer must also either be a listed company or have achieved a total turnover of 150 million dollars in the last three years.

• High-skilled professionals are eligible to apply if they have earned USD 80,000 in each of the last two years and work in a list of target industries. This list includes certain technological sectors such as sustainable energy, environmental technology, and robotics. Anyone earning less than USD 80,000 per year but more than USD 40,000 fulfills the "High Skill Professional" requirement if they can prove that they have at least a master’s degree or relevant specialist knowledge.

• All applicants for an LTR visa must have health insurance in Thailand or deposit at least 100,000 USD.

THE "SMART VISA" FOR 4 YEARS

This visa is also issued by the Thai Board of Investment (BOI). It can be issued for a period of 4 years. A separate work permit is not required for this visa. The 90-day notification period to the immigration authorities is also replaced by an annual notification. The visa entitles the holder to use the "fast track" for unlimited entry and exit to Thailand.

A distinction is made between the following visa categories:

The Talent Visa "T" is issued

• if the applicant is employed by a Thai company with a monthly salary of at least THB 100,000, or is employed by a start-up in Thailand with a monthly salary of at least THB 50,000.

• It is also granted if you are a retired expert certified by competent authority and employed in a supporting position.

• As an employee of a foreign company, you can also obtain a T visa if you will be employed in Thailand for at least one year.

The Investor Visa "I" is issued

• if the applicant, together with others, invests at least THB 20 million (approx. USD 600,000) in one of the target industries, or individually invests THB 5 million in a start-up.

The Executive Visa "E" is issued

• For applicants who have been employed for one year in a management position (Managing Director or CEO) in a company in the target industry with a salary of at least THB 200,000 per month.

The Startup Visa "S" is issued to applicants,

• who hold at least 25 % of the shares in a startup

• are its director, and

• Provide proof of at least 600,000 THB (approx. 20,000 USD) in a foreign bank account three months before submitting the application. The startup must be certified by a government authority for one of the target industries.

THE ELITE VISA THAILAND

The elite visa falls under the category of tourist visas. Issuer is a private company issued by a private company in cooperation with the Thai Tourism Authority. It comes with some amenities such as discounts at recreational facilities like golf courses, limousine service, and the "fast track" on entry. The application process takes about 3 months.

ATTENTION: The elite visa does not entitle you to work in or from Thailand. In connection with very large foreign investments, a Thailand work permit can be granted since 2025.

A distinction is made between the following memberships:

• Gold membership for 900,000 THB (approx. 25,000 USD)

  5 years of unlimited entry and exit for a maximum of 1 year each.

• Platinum membership for THB 1.5 million (approx. USD 45,000)

  A total of 10 years of unlimited entry and exit for a maximum of 1 year each. Family members can be included for THB 1 million (approx. USD 30,000) each.

• Diamond membership for THB 2.5 million (approx. USD 75,000)

  A total of 15 years of unlimited entry and exit for a maximum of 1 year each. Family members can be included for THB 1.5 million (approx. USD 45,000) each.

• Reserve membership for THB 5 million (approx. USD 150,000)

  A total of 20 years of unlimited entry and exit for a maximum of 1 year each. Family members can be included for THB 2 million (approx. USD 60,000) each.

THE "DESTINATION THAILAND VISA" (DTCV)

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a 5-year visa that allows multiple entries for a maximum of 180 days at a time. It is intended for "digital nomads", participation in Thai soft power activities (Muay Thai course, Thai cooking course or similar) or for medical treatments in Thailand.

Prerequisites are:

• The applicant must provide proof of savings of at least THB 500,000 (approx. USD 15,000).

• The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

"Digital nomads" as applicants must provide proof of a certificate of employment issued by their country or, in the case of self-employed persons, a professional portfolio.

ATTENTION: Digital nomads may carry out their online work in Thailand without being active on the Thai market. The visa is not a work permit.

Participation in Thai soft power activities must be proven by the applicant by means of a confirmation from the Thai provider of these activities.

Medical treatment must be confirmed by a Thai hospital or medical center. Spouses and children under the age of 20 are entitled to apply for a visa for the same duration depending on the applicant.

THE PERMANET RESIDENT VISA (PR) VISA

The Permanent Resident Visa (PR visa) entitles foreigners to live and work in Thailand. It is a permanent visa, which means that it does not have to be renewed every year. Holders of the visa are required to report to the Office of Immigration only once a year. The number of Visa Is restricted to 100 per year.

Benefits of the PR-Visa

In addition to the permanent right of residence in Thailand, holders of a PR visa enjoy privileges, some of which are mentioned here:

• Working in Thailand becomes easier. Visa holders receive a work permit without the employer having to hire four Thai citizens in order to employ the PR visa holder.

• The right to purchase a condominium without having to pay the purchase price from abroad or with foreign currency, and the right to be receive in a household registration.

• In practice, privileges, for example, when billing for medical services. In many social areas, visa holders are being treated comparably to citizens.

• The right to apply for citizenship to become a Thai national.

• The right to take a seat on the board of directors at a Public Company regardless of whether the board is composed of a majority of Thai nationals.

• The right to purchase a vehicle or apply for a driver's license.

Who qualifies for a Thai PR visa?

Basic requirement to apply for a PR visa is an uninterrupted annual visa for 3 years. In a language test before a committee of the Office of Immigration, the applicant must also prove sufficient basic knowledge of the Thai language.

There are several grounds on which a foreigner can be granted such a permanent residence permit. These include:

• Investors who have invested at least 10 million Thai Baht in Thai listed companies or government bonds.

• Businesspeople in a managerial position at a company with at least 10 million THB of capital, whose business benefits the country and in which the applicant has invested at least 5 million THB and earns a certain minimum income.

• Salaried employees without management positions, provided they have been legally permitted to work in Thailand for at least three years prior to applying for a residence permit. The applicant must prove a monthly income of at least 80,000 THB for two consecutive years or must have paid at least 100,000 THB in income tax in two consecutive years.

• Foreigners with Thai family ties who support that family or are living with that family for humanitarian reasons. Family members include spouses, biological children or one biological parent who is a Thai citizen. A sufficient family income must be secured.

• Experts in a field that is in demand in Thailand or for other special reasons that the government has previously stated.