Thailand's Long Term Resident Visa - Everything you need to know

Last updated: February 2025

Thailand has launched the new Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa.

It is aimed at attracting ‘high potential’ foreigners who would like to live and work in Thailand for a ten year period.

There are four target groups under the LTR visa:

• Wealthy global citizens
• Wealthy pensioners
• Work-from-Thailand professionals
• Highly skilled professionals

LTR visa holders will be entitled to bring an unlimited number of family members with them, including parents and legal dependents. They can also apply to legally work and pay taxes in Thailand.

Here’s a rundown of the four streams and the associated eligibility criteria.

Wealthy Global Citizens

High Income Individuals are eligible to apply if they satisfy all of the below criteria:

• USD 1 million in assets
• Invest $500,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign business investment or Thai property
• Health insurance with $50,000 coverage or $100,000 deposited in Thai or overseas bank account for at least 12 months preceding application

Wealthy Pensioners

Retirees are eligible to apply for the LTR visa if they satisfy the following:

• Be aged 50 years and older
• Current annual income of $80,000 (unearned or passive income only)
• If income is lower than $80,000 but higher than $40,000 – you must invest $250,000 in Thai government bonds, business investment, or Thai property
• Health insurance with $50,000 coverage or $100,000 deposited in Thai or overseas bank account for at least 12 months preceding application

Work-from-Thailand Professionals

Remote workers can apply for the Long Term Resident visa if:

• Income of $80,000 per year over the last two years
• If income is less than $80,000 but more than $40,000 – must have either a Master’s degree, own intellectual property or receive Series A start-up funding of $1 million
• Employed by a publicly listed company or private company in operation for three years with $50 million revenue over three years. This can include the revenue of a parent company if you work for a subsidiary
• Health insurance with $50,000 coverage or $100,000 deposited in Thai or overseas bank account for at least 12 months preceding application

Highly Skilled Professionals

Professionals working in targeted industries can apply if:

• Income of $80,000 per year over the last two years
• If income is less than $80,000 but more than $40,000 – must have a Master’s degree in science and technology or relevant special expertise
• No income requirement for professionals working for Thai government agencies
• Working in higher education, research institution, training institution, Thai government agency or other targeted industries
• Health insurance with $50,000 coverage or $100,000 deposited in Thai or overseas bank account for at least 12 months preceding application
• Targeted industries include automotive, electronics, tourism, agriculture, food processing, robotics, aviation, biochemistry, digital technology, medical, defense, development and sustainability, disaster and risk management, integrated innovation and teachers working in vocational and higher education

If you’re looking for low cost travel and medical insurance that is designed specifically for digital nomads and remote workers, check out SafetyWing. Their Nomad Insurance is a global travel medical insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country – COVID-19 coverage included. It works as a monthly subscription that can be switched on and off for whenever you need it.

Who is the LTR visa good for?

There was some excitement in remote worker circles when the Long Term Resident visa was first announced. It was being touted as a digital nomad visa and a big reform in Thai immigration policy to suit the 21^st century.

The LTR visa is primarily focussed on bringing wealthy foreigners into Thailand. Unfortunately it isn’t a good match for most digital nomads as many will not meet the asset requirement. For people in this category there are other options available for staying in Thailand so not all is lost, such as the Destination Thailand Visa.

If you are a digital nomad or remote worker who earns over $80,000 a year then this will be a great opportunity to come and live in Thailand for an extended period. And to enjoy all the perks that come with that.

How are foreigners on the LTR visa taxed?

There is a tax exemption in place for wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, and work-from-Thailand professionals who bring foreign income into Thailand that was derived in a previous year.

The personal tax rate for highly skilled professionals will be set at a flat 17%.

Successful applicants of the Long Term Resident visa will be eligible to apply for a work permit. This enables you to legally work in Thailand and treat Thailand as your tax residency base.

What are the other features of the Thai LTR visa?

Thailand LTR visa holders will also benefit from the following:

• Multiple entry permit
• Annual reporting rather than 90-day reporting
• Digital work permit
• Five year visa that can be extended a further five years – Ten years total
• Exemption from 4:1 Thai/Foreigner employment ratio

We have done our best to ensure the information provided here is accurate at the time of publishing. But changes in immigration policy can happen at short notice so please be aware of that.

If you would like assistance applying for the Thai LTR visa or any further information regarding the visa you can do that here.

You can also contact Thai immigration for more information.