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The LTR visa is the best long-stay deal in Thailand if you can clear the bar: 10 years, a 17% tax cap, once-a-year reporting, and a work permit. This guide breaks down who qualifies and how to apply.
In my opinion, the long-term resident visa in Thailand, also known as the LTR visa, is one of the best visas available to expats in Thailand.
It’s a 10-year visa that comes with unique benefits. For example, you get a special 17% income tax rate instead of 35%. You also only need to file a notification once a year instead of every 90 days. To me, it’s like an upgraded version of a retiree visa or a business visa.
The only disadvantage of the LTR visa is the high requirements. Not everyone can get it.
In this article, I’m going to break down everything you need to know about the LTR visa, as well as how you can get it yourself.
Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Benefits
- Who is it for?
- Requirements
- Schemes
- How to Apply
- Application Fee
- LTR Visa vs. Privilege Visa
- LTR Visa vs. Retirement Visa
- LTR Visa vs. Business Visa
- Is The LTR Visa Effectively The New Digital Nomad Visa?
- Can You Get Thai Citizenship with the LTR Visa?
- Now, on to You
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the LTR visa valid?
- Do I need US$80,000 in income to qualify?
- Does the LTR visa still require health insurance?
- Does the 17% tax rate and tax-free foreign income apply to every LTR holder?
- Can I bring my family on an LTR visa?
- How much does the LTR visa cost?
- What replaces the 90-day report for LTR holders?
- What are the four LTR visa categories?
- Sources Cited
Key Takeaways
- The Thailand LTR Visa is currently the visa for Thailand.
- It allows you to stay in Thailand for 10 years.
- You are required to do a 90-day report once a year.
- You can obtain a work permit with it.
- It enables you to apply for permanent residency or Thai citizenship.
- There are four main categories.
- You need to have assets worth at least US$1 million and invest a minimum of US$500,000 in Thailand.
- You need to be at least 50 years old with a minimum annual income of US$80,000.
- You need to work for a large company with a minimum annual income of US$80,000.
- You need to work for a company in Thailand with a minimum annual income of US$80,000
- If you are eligible for it, it is recommended to get it.
Quick requirements
- Personal incomeUS$80,000/year, or US$40,000/year with extra conditions (varies by scheme).
- Health insuranceUS$50,000 coverage plus Thailand social security, or a US$100,000 deposit instead.
- CategoryWealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional, or Highly-Skilled Professional – each has its own asset, age, or employer criteria.
Documents to prepare
- Evidence of fundsProof of the income, assets, or investment required for your scheme.
- Education documentsNeeded if you’re using the reduced US$40,000-income path under the professional schemes, which requires a master’s degree.
- Employer-issued documentsSupporting letters from your employer, for the work-based schemes.
The BOI publishes a full document checklist per scheme – check it before you apply.
Phase A · Apply through the BOI LTR portal
Register on the BOI VISA service website and submit your online application with your supporting documents.
Processing takes around 20 working days. Once approved, you’ll receive an endorsement letter.
Phase B · Get your visa stamp
Take it with your passport within 60 days to get the LTR visa stamp – at your local immigration office if you’re already in Thailand, or at a Thai embassy or consulate if you’re abroad.
Phase C · Activate your work permit
Once you’re in Thailand, get your digital work permit there. This step only applies if you plan to work in Thailand.
If you need help applying for your visa, you can use a visa service from Baan Thai Immigration Solutions (sponsored).
Benefits
There are four unique benefits of the LTR visa.
10-Year Multiple-Entry Visa
The main benefit of the LTR visa is that it is valid for 10 years. Once your application for a visa is approved, you will be able to stay in Thailand for 10 years.
In practice, the 10 years is not one continuous block. The visa is issued as an initial five-year permit, then requalified and extended for a second five years, giving you 10 years in total.
In addition, the visa is renewable and is offered as a multiple-entry visa. This means that you can fly in and out of Thailand at any time.
Once-a-Year Reporting
With other types of visas, you have to do a notification of stay every 90 days. With an LTR visa, you will only have to report to the immigration once a year.
Dependents
Similar to many other types of long-term visas in Thailand, an LTR visa will allow you to bring your spouse and children (who are single and under 20 years old) with you.
Note that an LTR visa holder is only allowed to bring in a maximum of four dependents.
Following Thailand’s Marriage Equality Act (effective January 2025), same-sex spouses now qualify as dependents too. If you are weighing up how best to bring relatives, it is worth comparing this with a dedicated Thai family visa. The BOI has also proposed adding parents and removing the four-dependent cap, but that change has only been announced and is not yet in force.
Work Permit
With an LTR visa, you will be able to get a work permit, which is now available in digital form. This means you can legally work in Thailand.
Normally, in order to get a work permit, you need to be employed by a company in Thailand.
Personal Income Tax
The LTR visa carries two separate tax benefits, and they apply to different groups, so it helps to be clear about which one you actually get.
The first is a flat 17% personal income tax rate, instead of the regular progressive rate of up to 35%. This applies only to Highly-Skilled Professionals, and only on their Thai-sourced employment income.
The second is an exemption from Thai tax on foreign-earned income. This one applies to the Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, and Work-from-Thailand Professional categories. Highly-Skilled Professionals get the 17% rate instead of the exemption, not both.
Thai-Foreigner Ratio Exemption
With the exception of companies approved by the Thailand Board of Investment, companies in Thailand must follow the Thai-foreigner ratio when hiring employees, which requires having four Thai employees for every one foreigner. If you have a long-term resident visa, you will be exempt from this rule.
Fast Track Service
Like those who have visas that are processed by the Thailand Board of Investment, LTR visa holders will be allowed to use the fast-track lanes at international airports in Thailand.
Who is it for?
The LTR visa is not for everyone. It caters specifically to those who have a strong income, sizable assets, or an established employer. According to the Board of Investment website, the visa targets “high-potential” expats.
For example, those who wish to apply for it are required to have a minimum income of US$80,000 per year. This income test does not apply to Wealthy Global Citizens, who qualify instead on US$1,000,000 in assets plus a US$500,000 investment in Thailand (a change effective 4 February 2025).
Basically, there are three groups of individuals who are ideal candidates for the LTR visa:
- An investor who wants to invest at least US$500,000 in Thailand
- A retiree who wants to get a 10-year visa
- A professional worker who wants to get a 10-year visa
You can find out more about the requirements below.
Requirements
There are three main requirements to get a long-term resident visa. Note that requirements differ based on the schemes in which you want to apply.
- Personal Income – You need to have a minimum annual personal income of US$80,000, or US$40,000 but with additional conditions pertaining to making an extra investment, attaining a high level of education, and having a specific job assignment. This does not apply to Wealthy Global Citizens, who qualify on US$1,000,000 in assets plus a US$500,000 investment in Thailand instead of any income test (a change effective 4 February 2025).
- Health insurance – You need to have health insurance with a minimum US$50,000 coverage and Thailand social security; alternatively, you can make a US$100,000 deposit.
- Other requirements – These requirements — which refer to having certain work experience, assets, or employment status — may be necessary depending on the scheme you’re applying for.
Schemes
Applications for a long-term resident visa are offered under the following schemes:
Wealthy Global Citizen
The wealthy global citizen scheme is for anyone with assets worth US$1,000,000.
This scheme also requires an investment of at least US$500,000 in Thailand. Investment can be in the form of government bonds, direct investment, or property in Thailand.
Wealthy Pensioner
To apply for the wealthy pensioner scheme, you must be at least 50 years old and have a minimum annual personal income of US$80,000.
Alternatively, your annual personal income must be at least US$40,000 and you need to invest at least US$250,000 in Thailand. Investment can be in the form of government bonds, direct investment, or property in Thailand.
Work-from-Thailand Professional
This scheme is for anyone who’s working for a company outside of Thailand but wants to work in Thailand.
To be qualified for this scheme, you need to have a minimum annual income of US$80,000 during the past two years. Alternatively, your minimum annual income can be US$40,000, but you must have at least a master’s degree.
You also need to work for a publicly listed company, or a private company that has made at least US$50 million in revenue over the last three years.
In practice, this employer-size rule is the part most applicants get stuck on. Expats applying under this scheme often point out that if you work for yourself, a startup, or a small agency, you will not clear the US$50 million bar, no matter how high your own income is.
Highly-Skilled Professional
This scheme is for anyone who’s working for a company in Thailand.
To be qualified for this scheme, you need to have a minimum annual income of US$80,000 during the past two years. Alternatively, your minimum annual income can be US$40,000, but you must have at least a master’s degree in science or technology.
How to Apply
You apply for the LTR visa entirely online through the BOI’s LTR portal, and only travel to an embassy or a government office at the very end to collect the visa itself. The whole process runs in four stages: apply, get your qualifications endorsed, collect the visa, then activate your work permit if you need one.
Before you start, download the document checklist for your scheme from the BOI required-documents page. There is a separate list for each scheme (Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional, and Highly-Skilled Professional) and one for dependents, so make sure you are working from the right one.
Step 1: Create Your BOI LTR Account and Submit the Application
Register for an account on the BOI LTR portal, then complete the online application and upload your supporting documents. This is where your evidence of funds, education certificates, and employer letters go, depending on your scheme.
If you are bringing dependents, each one needs their own separate account, and you (the main applicant) have to start your application first before theirs can be linked. Submitting the application takes the BOI about three working days to register in the system.
Step 2: Wait for the Qualifications Endorsement
Once your application is registered, the BOI and the relevant government agencies review your qualifications. This normally takes around 20 working days, though it can run longer if they ask for extra documents.
If anything is missing or unclear, the BOI will request it through the portal or by email. You have 30 days to respond to each request, so keep an eye on your account and your inbox. If you miss the deadline, your application can be rejected. There is no BOI fee for this endorsement stage.
Step 3: Get Your Endorsement Letter
When your qualifications are approved, you get an email notification. If you are collecting the visa in Thailand, there is a short pre-approval step with immigration that usually takes one to three working days.
You then receive your qualifications endorsement letter. This letter is your ticket to the visa, and it is only valid for 60 days, so book your visa appointment inside that window.
Step 4: Collect Your LTR Visa
Take your endorsement letter and passport to get the actual LTR visa stamped. You have two options for where to do this:
- In Thailand: at the One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit in Bangkok, now housed at the One Bangkok complex near MRT Lumphini.
- Abroad: at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General. Some posts also offer an e-Visa through thaievisa.go.th, for which you upload your passport bio page, a photo, your BOI letter, and a declaration.
The visa fee is THB50,000 per person for the full 10 years when you collect it in Thailand. Collecting it abroad usually costs a bit more, since the fee is converted to local currency.
Step 5: Activate Your Digital Work Permit
This step only applies if you will actually work in Thailand, for example under the Highly-Skilled Professional scheme. Work-from-Thailand Professionals work remotely for a foreign employer, so they do not need a Thai work permit.
After your visa is issued, apply for the digital work permit through the LTR system. It is processed in about three to five working days and collected at the Department of Employment inside the One Stop Service Center. The work permit costs THB3,000 per year.
You can handle the whole application yourself through the BOI portal for free. If you would rather have help with the paperwork, the BOI also lets you apply through VFS Global’s paid service instead.
Application Fee
You need to pay THB50,000 for the 10-year LTR visa. In case you want to get a digital work permit, then it will cost you another THB3,000 per year.
LTR Visa vs. Privilege Visa
Having either the LTR visa or the privilege visa will let you stay long-term in Thailand, but you’re probably wondering which of the two is better.
To help you decide which one to get, here’s a head-to-head comparison:
Cost: The LTR visa charges a lower application fee: THB50,000 for 10 years. On the other hand, one tier of a privilege visa is going to cost you THB1,500,000 for a 10-year stay (THB150,000/year) in Thailand.
Notification of stay and work permit: With an LTR visa, you will only need to do the notification of stay (90-day reporting) once a year, and you can easily get a work permit. By contrast, you cannot get a work permit with a privilege visa.
Ease of application: It’s much easier to apply for the privilege visa. You can get one as long as you can pay for it. You also don’t need to invest US$500,000 in Thailand or show financial documents.
Read our in-depth article about the privilege visa to learn more about it.
LTR Visa vs. Retirement Visa
It’s easier to get a regular Thailand retirement visa than a long-term resident visa on the pensioner scheme.
Also, a retirement visa application requires much less proof of financial resources and health insurance coverage.
That said, it is possible for anyone to get a 10-year renewable visa under the LTR visa program. And if you are eligible for it, just get the LTR visa.
Find out more: The 10-Year LTR Visa for Retirees in Thailand: Is It Really Worth It?
LTR Visa vs. Business Visa
The LTR visa is basically an upgraded version of the business visa. Therefore, if you are eligible for the LTR visa, it’s best to go with it.
Is The LTR Visa Effectively The New Digital Nomad Visa?
Some digital nomads can apply for the LTR visa, but not everyone can apply for it.
For one, you need to have a minimum of US$80,000 annual income for the past two years. Or, you need to have at least US$40,000 annual income, and you need to have at least a Master’s degree.
But the dealbreaker for digital nomads who may be thinking of getting the LTR visa is that it requires an applicant to have an employer, either from overseas or in Thailand.
So, the Privilege Visa is still a popular option among digital nomads.
To learn more options, read our guide to visas for Thailand digital nomads.
If you are weighing up the two options remote workers ask about most, see our DTV vs LTR visa comparison.
Can You Get Thai Citizenship with the LTR Visa?
Since the LTR visa is considered a resident visa, having it means you can apply for Thailand permanent residence or citizenship after staying in Thailand for at least three to five years.
Now, on to You
We hope that this article answers all your questions about the LTR visa. Please note that the information here is subject to change at any time, but we will update this article as soon as new information becomes available.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the LTR visa valid?
Ten years in total, issued as an initial five-year permit and then requalified and extended for a second five years. It is multiple-entry throughout.
Do I need US$80,000 in income to qualify?
Not always. Since 4 February 2025, Wealthy Global Citizens qualify on US$1,000,000 in assets plus a US$500,000 investment in Thailand, with no income test. The US$80,000 threshold (or US$40,000 with extra conditions) still applies to the Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional, and Highly-Skilled Professional categories.
Does the LTR visa still require health insurance?
Yes. This requirement was not eased. Every category needs US$50,000 in health coverage plus Thai social security, or a US$100,000 deposit held for twelve months.
Does the 17% tax rate and tax-free foreign income apply to every LTR holder?
No, they are two separate benefits for two different groups. The 17% flat personal income tax applies only to Highly-Skilled Professionals, on their Thai employment income. The exemption from Thai tax on foreign income applies only to Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, and Work-from-Thailand Professionals. Highly-Skilled Professionals get the 17% rate instead of the exemption, not both.
Can I bring my family on an LTR visa?
Yes. You can bring your legal spouse and children under 20, up to four dependants, and this now includes same-sex spouses following Thailand’s Marriage Equality Act. A proposal to add parents and remove the cap has been announced but is not yet in force.
How much does the LTR visa cost?
THB50,000 per person for the full ten years if collected in Thailand, plus THB3,000 a year if you need the digital work permit.
What replaces the 90-day report for LTR holders?
A single report once a year instead of every 90 days, due from 15 days before to 7 days after your reporting date, filed at the One Stop Service Center.
What are the four LTR visa categories?
Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional, and Highly-Skilled Professional, each with its own financial thresholds.
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