Thailand LTR Visa: Fee, Income Tests and Categories

The LTR visa costs THB 50,000 per person for the 10-year multiple-entry visa when you collect it in Thailand. The Board of Investment charges nothing for the qualification endorsement. There are four categories: Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional and Highly-skilled Professional, each with its own income or asset test.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

The LTR visa is a 10-year residence route run by the Board of Investment (BOI). The tests below come from the BOI announcement of 4 February 2025.

Thresholds by category

All four categories need health cover or a deposit, shown further down. The investment and qualifying assets must already be in place on the application date.

Wealthy Global Citizen

• Investment in Thailand in your own name of at least USD 500,000.
• Total assets, in Thailand and abroad, of at least USD 1 million.
• Qualifying investments include Thai Government bonds with at least five years left to maturity.

Leasehold property needs at least 10 years left on the lease at the application date.

Wealthy Pensioner

• Age 50 or over and retired at the time of application.
• Pensions or fixed personal income of at least USD 80,000 a year.
• Between USD 40,000 and USD 80,000 a year, you also need at least USD 250,000 invested in Thailand in your own name.

Monthly withdrawals of principal do not count as passive income unless they clearly come from retirement accounts, private pensions or provident funds. Retirees on the Non-O route should read the retirement visa guide.

Work-from-Thailand Professional

• Average personal income of at least USD 80,000 a year for two years before you apply.
• USD 40,000 a year if you hold a Master’s degree or higher, own intellectual property or have Series A funding.
• Employment with a foreign employer that is a listed company on any stock exchange.
• Or a private company in operation at least 3 years with combined revenue of at least USD 50 million over those 3 years.

This category gets no work permit. You cannot work for Thai employers or earn income in Thailand. The DTV is the lighter route for remote workers who do not meet the income test.

Highly-skilled Professional

• A contract of employment or services with an enterprise with an assignment to work in Thailand, in a targeted industry.
• Average personal income of at least USD 80,000 a year for two years.
• USD 40,000 a year with a Master’s degree or higher in science and technology, or expertise in the field of work.
• Employment at a public university, research agency or other public agency waives the income test.

Health cover for every category

Show a health insurance policy of at least USD 50,000 with at least 10 months of cover left on the endorsement date. Social security benefits covering medical costs in Thailand also qualify. So does a deposit of at least USD 100,000 held for 12 months.

Dependants

The BOI announcement names the legitimate spouse, parents, and children under 20 or legal dependants of the main holder. Dependants can apply with you or later. The BOI application site still shows a maximum of 4 dependants.

Each dependant needs USD 50,000 of cover, social security cover, or an extra deposit of at least USD 25,000 per person held for 12 months.

Same-sex marriages are eligible. An unmarried partner is not.

Fee, timing and how to apply

Applying is free. Once approved, you pay THB 50,000 for the visa. The BOI charges nothing for the endorsement. If you collect the visa at an embassy or by e-visa, the fee varies and may be considerably more than THB 50,000.

1. Apply online for qualification endorsement.
2. The endorsement result comes within 20 working days of the BOI receiving the application.
3. Complete pre-approval, which takes 1-3 working days.
4. Collect the visa within 60 days of the endorsement letter.

The LTR unit is at the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center, One Bangkok, Rama IV Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330.

Work permit

Holders working for an entity in Thailand pay THB 3,000 a year to maintain the work permit. The Work-from-Thailand category is the exception.

Tax

Two tax rules apply by category.

• Highly-skilled Professionals pay a 17 percent withholding rate on employment income from targeted-industry companies.
• Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners and Work-from-Thailand Professionals are exempt on foreign income of a previous tax year that they bring into Thailand.

The exemption covers foreign income brought into Thailand. For the general tax-resident rule see the DTV guide.

Reporting while you hold the visa

LTR holders report once a year instead of every 90 days and need no re-entry permit.

• Holders staying more than one year consecutively report their address once a year, in person or through an authorised person.
• You can file from 15 days before to 7 days after the date on the notification card.
• On re-entering Thailand the next report falls due one year from your latest arrival.
• TM30 notification is still required.
• Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card every time you enter Thailand.

Renewal and changes

The first permission is for five years, extendable for five more. For the extension you apply for endorsement at least 20 working days before your permission expires. The advised filing window is 120 to 60 days before expiry. The second period needs no visa fee.

• Changing category means reapplying for endorsement.
• If your passport is lost or expires, transfer the visa to the new passport before the old one expires, or the visa is invalid.

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Not confirmed: Dependants: the BOI announcement names the spouse, parents and children, with no cap. The application criteria on the BOI portal still set a maximum of 4 dependants. Email ltr@boi.go.th before you apply for a parent or a fifth dependant.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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