Thailand LTR Visa: the four categories and who qualifies
Last updated: 2026-06-07
How the Long-Term Resident visa works in Thailand, the four applicant categories, and where it fits next to the Smart Visa and a standard work permit.
What it is
The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa is a 10-year Thailand visa run by the Board of Investment. It launched in September 2022 to draw high-income and high-skill foreigners to live and work in Thailand on one long-dated permit, instead of the annual renewal cycle of a standard Non-B visa and work permit.
The visa is granted for an initial five years and is renewable for a further five if the holder still meets the qualifying criteria, and it is multi-entry. For the categories that involve work, it comes with a digital work permit issued through the BOI, so an LTR holder does not run the separate Department of Employment work-permit process.
The four categories
Wealthy Global Citizen is for high-net-worth individuals. The benchmark is worldwide assets of at least USD 1 million, including at least USD 500,000 invested in Thailand. As of the 2025 update, this category no longer carries a minimum personal income requirement.
Wealthy Pensioner is for retirees aged 50 and over with passive income such as a pension. The income benchmark is at least USD 80,000 per year, or at least USD 40,000 per year when paired with a qualifying investment of USD 250,000 in Thailand.
Work-from-Thailand Professional is for remote employees of an established company based outside Thailand, the track most relevant to people who earn abroad but want to be based in Bangkok. It requires personal income of at least USD 80,000 per year over the past two years, and the overseas employer must meet a revenue threshold, which the 2025 update lowered to USD 50 million over three years from USD 150 million.
Highly-Skilled Professional is for specialists and senior experts working in a targeted industry for a Thai or foreign employer, and now also covers lecturers in higher and vocational education. The 2025 update removed the prior work-experience requirement for this category and for the Work-from-Thailand track.
What it gives you
A 10-year multi-entry visa, a digital work permit for the working categories, and the 90-day report replaced by a once-a-year report, along with an exemption from the separate re-entry permit. LTR holders also get a fast-track lane at international airports.
On tax, the programme lists an exemption on income earned overseas, and a flat 17% personal income tax rate that applies specifically to the Highly-Skilled Professional category in place of the standard progressive rates. The flat rate is tied to that one category, so it does not apply to the others.
An LTR holder can also sponsor dependents on linked visas. The original rule covered a spouse and children under 20, capped at four. The 2025 revision widened this to include parents and a broader set of family members and removed the fixed cap, though some elements depend on implementing announcements, so confirm the current dependent rules on the official programme page before counting on a specific arrangement.
LTR versus Smart Visa versus a work permit
The LTR and the Smart Visa overlap, and the right one depends on the profile. The Smart Visa is built around startup founders, investors, and company-sponsored experts in targeted industries, and it runs up to four years. The LTR runs to ten years, leans toward higher income thresholds, and adds the remote-worker and retiree tracks that the Smart Visa does not cover.
If you run an operating Thai company and need to sponsor yourself and staff, a standard work permit or BOI promotion is often still the practical baseline. The LTR is strongest for high earners who want a long horizon with little renewal overhead, remote professionals paid from abroad, and retirees with stable passive income.
Practical notes
The income and investment thresholds for the LTR are set in US dollars and have been revised since launch, most recently in 2025. Because the BOI adjusts the criteria from time to time, treat any specific figure here as a starting point and confirm the current number on the official programme page before you apply.
Applications go through the BOI rather than a standard immigration office, and the qualification check covers proof of income, assets, employer standing, and health insurance or a qualifying deposit. The review takes several weeks before the visa is endorsed, and most applicants assemble the financial documentation with help from an agent or law firm for the first application.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Thailand LTR visa valid?
The LTR visa is granted for an initial five years and can be renewed for a further five, for up to ten years in total, and it is multi-entry. Renewal depends on the holder still meeting the qualifying criteria for their category.
Does the LTR visa include a work permit?
Yes. For the working categories, the LTR comes with a digital work permit issued through the Board of Investment, so the holder does not need the separate Department of Employment work-permit process.
What is the LTR visa tax rate?
The programme lists a flat 17% personal income tax rate for the Highly-Skilled Professional category, in place of the standard progressive rates, plus an exemption on income earned overseas. The flat rate applies only to that category.
What is the difference between the LTR visa and the Smart Visa?
The Smart Visa targets startup founders, investors, and company-sponsored experts and runs up to four years. The LTR runs up to ten years, sets higher income thresholds, and adds remote-worker and retiree categories that the Smart Visa does not cover.
Sources
This page is a plain-English reference. It is not legal advice. For specifics that affect your business, consult a qualified Thai law firm.
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