Thailand is introducing a new visa called “Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa” which is a program that provides a range of tax and non-tax benefits to enhance the country’s attractiveness as a regional hub for living and doing business for ‘high-potential’ foreigners. Today, Thailand is already home to multinational corporations from all over the world and one of the most important tourist destinations in Asia.

Types of LTR visa

Wealthy individuals holding at least usd 1 million in assets

• At least USD 1 million in assets
• Personal income of a minimum of USD 80,000/ year in the past two years
• Investment of at least USD 500,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, or Thai property
• Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand or at least USD 100,000 deposit

Retirees aged 50 years and older who have an annual pension or stable income

• Personal income of at least USD 80,000/year at the time of application
• In case of personal income below USD 80,000/year but no less than USD 40,000/year, applicants must invest at least USD 250,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, or Thai property
• Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand or at least USD 100,000 deposit

Remote workers working for well-established overseas companies

• Personal income of a minimum of USD 80,000 / year in the past two years
• In case of personal income below USD 80,000/year but no less than USD 40,000/year in the past two years, applicants must have a Master’s degree or above or own intellectual property or receive Series A funding
• Public company on a stock exchange or; Private company in operation for at least three years with combined revenue at least USD 150 million in the last three years
• At least 5 years of work experience in the relevant fields of the current employment over the past 10 years
• Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand or at least USD 100,000 deposit

Professionals or experts in targeted industries working for business entities or higher education institutes or research centers or specialized training institutions in thailand or thai government agencies

• Personal income of a minimum of USD 80,000 / year in the past two years
• In case of personal income below USD 80,000/year but no less than USD 40,000/year in the past two years or before retirement, applicants must have a Master’s degree or above in science and technology or special expertise relevant to the job assignment in Thailand
• No minimum personal income for professionals working for Thai government agencies
• Business in any targeted industries
• Higher education institution, research institution, specialized training institution, or Thai government agency
• At least 5 years of work experience in the targeted industries except for applicants with a PhD or above in the relevant fields of the targeted industries or applicants working for Thai government agencies
• Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand or at least USD 100,000 deposit

Spouse and children under 20 years old of ltr visa holders (maximum 4 dependents in total per one ltr visa holder)

• Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand or at least USD 25,000 deposit
• Must be the legal dependants (spouse and children). (Same-sex marriage or partnerships are not yet currently recognized by the law of Thailand.)

To be eligible for a permanent residence permit in Thailand, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Employment: You have a work visa and work permit in Thailand for at least three years, and:
• You have an extension of stay based on employment at the time of application
• You have worked at your current company for at least one year at the time of application
• You have had a monthly salary of at least 80,000 baht for two consecutive years, or you have submitted a tax return with an annual income of at least 100,000 baht for two consecutive years
• Investment: You have invested at least 3 million baht in a limited or public company in Thailand
• Family: You are a close family member of a Thai citizen (parent, child or spouse)
• Expert: You have at least a bachelor's degree and work in a position that requires you to work for at least three consecutive years.
• Other categories that the Immigration Department deems appropriate.

However, in addition to this, anyone applying for a permanent residence permit in Thailand cannot exceed the number of permits allocated for each country. The Thai government issues only 100 permanent residence permits per country each year.

You must apply for a residence permit in Thailand at your local Thai immigration office.

The application process is as follows:

1. Collect the necessary documents. Usually, a large number of documents must be submitted to obtain a permanent residence permit. Therefore, you need to start collecting them in advance, especially since there are certain deadlines when applications are accepted.

2. Wait for the opening date. There is a period of time during which you can apply for permanent residency in Thailand. Usually this is from October to December, although in 2019 the application deadline for PMP was announced from June to December.

3.  Apply at your local Immigration Department office where you must:

• Pass an interview and take a multiple-choice test, both of which are conducted in Thai.
• Pay the fee for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Thailand (THB 7,600 per person)
• Submit your fingerprints

4. You will receive a 180-day extension of stay, allowing you to remain a legal resident while your application is being processed.

5. Once your application is processed and approved, you will receive a home registration (Ta Bian Ban) and you must apply for a foreigner's certificate at your local police station.

The fee for issuing a permanent residence permit in Thailand is 7,600 Thai baht.

If your application is approved, you must pay one more fee for a certificate of permanent residence:

95,700 Thai baht if you applied for permanent residence based on marriage to a Thai citizen.

191,400 Thai baht if you applied for permanent residence based on employment, investment, expert, etc.

What documents do I need when I apply for permanent residence in Thailand?

When you apply for permanent residence in Thailand, you must have several documents to support your application. The documents differ depending on the type of visa you had at the time of application. However, they roughly include:

• Your passport together with a copy of all relevant pages of your passport (personal information page, date of issue/expiry, previous Thai visas and entry and exit stamps)
• Completed and signed application form for permanent residence in Thailand (TM.9). The questionnaire should be filled out on a computer. Forms filled in by hand are not accepted for obtaining a Thai visa.
• Your registration book (Yellow Tabien Baan) and its copy
• A copy of your work permit
• Certificate of work experience issued by the Department of Employment Control for Foreigners of the Department of Employment.
• A copy of the monthly income tax form
• A copy of your financial statements such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, etc. for the previous 3 years.
• Fee for processing an application for permanent residence

Your passport size photographs taken within the last six months (including about 12) with the following characteristics:

• Dimensions: 4 x 6 cm
• White background

Any documents that the Immigration Department requires you to submit.

What is a residence permit in Thailand?

A Thai residence permit is issued to any foreigner who resides permanently or temporarily in Thailand. This is a document that confirms your legal status of residence in Thailand and indicates your current address in Thailand.

You need this document for several reasons, such as obtaining/renewing a driver's license, opening a bank account in Thailand, or purchasing a vehicle.

How can I get a residence permit in Thailand?

There are two ways to obtain a certificate of residence in Thailand:

• At the embassy of your country in Thailand
• At the local immigration office

When you apply for a residence permit in Thailand, you must have the following documents with you:

• The original of your passport, as well as signed photocopies of the following pages:
• Your personal information and photo page
• The page that displays your Thailand visa
• Card TM.6 (departure).
• Completed and signed residence permit application form (you can find it at the Immigration Office when you apply). The questionnaire should be filled out on a computer. Forms filled in by hand are not accepted for obtaining a Thai visa. 
• Two passport-sized photographs of you, taken within the last six months, that meet the following requirements:
• Dimensions: 4 x 6 cm
• White background
• Proof of address in Thailand, such as a lease/lease agreement or house registration book
• Form TM.30 signed by your landlord

Applications for obtaining a residence permit in Thailand are processed in approximately 10-15 working days. 

In Thailand, for foreigners living in Bangkok, opened a service for online extension of residence permits in the country.

By applying for a residence permit extension in Thailand online, you will not need to stand in a long queue at the immigration service. You can submit all the necessary documents and information and pay the visa fee from your home or office. If your E-Extension application is approved, you will be sent an approval decision to your registered email address.

Please note!

The system is still in test mode, so a visit to the Immigration Bureau office on Chaeng Wattana Rd is required to confirm your identity.

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The process of online renewal of your Thai residence permit consists of 3 steps:

Step 1: Provide application details and upload required documents

Step 2: Book an appointment and pay online

Step 3: Receive the E-Extension visa stamp at the Immigration Office

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Processing Time

The processing time for e-extension of your Thai residence permit is usually 1-7 business days.

If you choose the express service, your application will be processed within the next day.

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Visa fees

The fees paid for online extension of Thai residence permit (non-refundable online processing fee inclusive of all fees) will be as follows:

- Visa fee: 1900 THB

Service Fee:

• For normal service: 500 THB
• for express service: 1500 THB

*Fee for emergency service will be 5000 THB. You can also apply for an emergency service to receive an e-extension decision within the next day (business day only).

To learn more about the application process and required documents, please follow the link.

Who is eligible for Thai citizenship by naturalization?

You can apply for Thai citizenship through naturalization if you meet the following requirements:

• You are at least 18 years old
• You have lived in Thailand as a permanent resident for at least five years before applying*.
• You must have lived in Thailand during these years on the same visa type as when you applied.
• You have a clean criminal record and are on good behavior
• You work in Thailand
• You can understand, speak and write Thai
• You can sing the national anthem of Thailand, Sanserm Phra Baramee
• You get at least 50 points out of 100 in Thailand's points-based citizenship system

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They are not needed if you:

• Are the spouse or child of a person who has obtained their own Thai citizenship through naturalization
• Are the husband of a Thai wife
• Once had Thai citizenship
• Acted in a way that is to the benefit of Thailand

In these cases, you can obtain Thai citizenship after three years of residence under the Thai Visa Extensions program without even obtaining a PMP.

How to apply for Thai citizenship?

1. You must apply for Thai citizenship at the special branch of the police headquarters in Bangkok or wherever you live.
2. You should contact the police headquarters when you decide to apply for Thai citizenship for a checklist of the documents you need to submit.
3. Submit the necessary documents. If everything is not in order, you may have to submit additional documents.
4. If everything is in order, your application for Thai citizenship will be submitted and you must pay a processing fee and submit your fingerprints.
5. You must visit the Ministry of Home Affairs and participate in an interview in Thai and sing the Thai national anthem.
6. Wait for your application to be processed. During this time, Thai immigration officials will visit your home to verify that the details you have provided are correct.
7. If your application for Thai citizenship is approved, you must take the oath of citizenship at the police headquarters.

How long does it take to process an application for Thai citizenship?

The processing time for applications for Thai citizenship is from 6 to 12 months from the moment of submission of the completed set of documents.

How much does it cost to apply for Thai citizenship?

The cost of applying for Thai citizenship is:

• 10,000 Thai baht per application for applicants who have reached the age of 18 years or older
• 5,000 Thai baht per application for children of applicants and minors
• 1,000 Thai baht for a naturalization certificate
• 2,000 Thai baht for an application for restoration of Thai citizenship

What documents do I need when I apply for Thai citizenship?

The documents you must submit to apply for Thai citizenship vary for each circumstance. It is the responsibility of the police headquarters to which you are contacting to provide you with a complete checklist of documents. However, the required documents for Thai citizenship include:

• Copies of your passport
• Copies of your alien book
• Copies of residence permit
• Copies of the house registration
• Copies of your work permit
• Self image
• Certificate of existence of personal income tax
• Employment certificate together with company documents
• Marriage and/or birth certificate if you are married/have children
• Copies of identity documents of two Thai citizens who can vouch for you
• Any additional documents you need to have with you

Please note that the staff responsible for reviewing your application may ask for any documents they deem necessary, even after they have been submitted. You must always be polite and respectful as the outcome of your citizenship depends on them. 

1. Look for long-term accommodation locally. Book a hotel for the first few days after arrival, drop your bags, rent a scooter, and take your time finding a nice villa or house.

2. Arrive before the start of the high season. In September - early November, you will save on airfare and rent a house for 15 thousand baht, which in December will be rented for 25 thousand. During the season, prices automatically double, on New Year's holidays - three times or more, just like in other tourist destinations around the world. The season is the period from November to April.

3. Buy vegetables, fruits, seafood and meat at the market: it is cheaper there than in supermarkets and even more so in tourist stalls. It's a good idea to buy water from vending machines: 1 liter costs 1 baht, and you can order a 20-liter bottle of water to take home cheaply.

4. Get around by public transportation, scooter or bicycle.

5. Take the time to learn about Thai culture, traditions, and social etiquette. Thais highly value respect and politeness. Understanding local customs, such as removing your shoes before entering someone's home or temple, can help you integrate better into the community and avoid unintentional disrespect.

6. While English is widely taught in schools, especially in urban areas, learning some basic Thai phrases can significantly enhance your daily interactions. Locals appreciate when foreigners make an effort to speak their language. Knowing common phrases for greetings, directions, and simple conversations can make your daily life smoother and more enjoyable.