Thailand Long-Term Residency (LTR) Visas

The LTR is the Thailand retirement visa alternative with a 5 + 5 year term for wealthy individuals, retirees, professionals and remote workers. Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa is a long-term residency program (5 years, renewable for 5 more) designed for four distinct applicant categories: wealthy individuals, retirees, highly-skilled professionals, and remote workers. The program provides extended legal residence in Thailand without requiring physical presence obligations. It does not offer a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship.

The qualification framework varies by category. Remote Workers and Highly-Skilled Professionals must demonstrate minimum average personal income of US$80,000 per year for the past two years. Wealthy Pensioners require minimum passive income of US$80,000 per year. Applicants earning between US$40,000 and US$80,000 may qualify if they meet additional qualifications or investment criteria.

Wealthy pensioners need an investment of US$250,000 (bonds, business or property) only if their passive income is between US$40,000 and 80,000; from US$80,000 the income alone is sufficient. The specific requirements depend on which of the four applicant categories you pursue.

The LTR Visa operates as a long-term residence permit valid initially for 5 years, renewable for a further 5 years if you still meet the requirements. No minimum stay requirements apply once residency status is granted. The program remains purely a residence solution, it does not create eligibility for Thai permanent residence or naturalization at any stage.

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The Thailand LTR visa requires a minimum capital commitment structured differently across the four eligibility categories. All applicants must maintain at least US$100,000 in a Thai bank account for the 12 months preceding application, this is a baseline requirement independent of category-specific investment thresholds.

Category-specific investment requirements are as follows:

• Wealthy Global Citizens: Invest minimum US$500,000 in Thai government bonds, registered Thai companies, or Thai property.
• Wealthy Pensioners (50+): Passive income of at least US$80,000 per year, or US$40,000 to 80,000 plus an investment of at least US$250,000 in Thai government bonds, companies or property. From US$80,000 of income, no investment is required.
• Remote Workers: No mandatory investment requirement beyond the US$100,000 Thai bank account maintenance.
• Highly-Skilled Professionals: No mandatory investment requirement beyond the US$100,000 Thai bank account maintenance.

For Wealthy Global Citizens and Wealthy Pensioners, the investment is directed toward Thai government bonds, Thai-registered business entities, or Thai real estate. These represent one-time capital deployments; no fixed timeline for capital recovery is specified in the visa terms. The US$100,000 Thai bank account balance must be maintained continuously during the visa validity period.

The income threshold depends on your LTR category.

• Highly-Skilled Professional and Work-from-Thailand Professional: average personal income of at least USD 80,000 per year over the past 2 years. Between USD 40,000 and 80,000 you also need a master's degree (Highly-Skilled: in science or technology; Work-from-Thailand: alternatively intellectual property ownership or Series A funding of at least USD 1 million).
• Work-from-Thailand Professional: your employer is publicly listed or has operated for at least 3 years with combined revenue of at least USD 50 million over the last 3 years.
• Wealthy Pensioner (aged 50 and over): at least USD 80,000 per year in passive income at the time of application, or USD 40,000 to 80,000 plus an investment of USD 250,000 in Thailand.
• Wealthy Global Citizen: no income requirement.

Since 2025 there is no minimum work experience requirement.

The visa fee is THB 50,000 per person (when issued in Thailand).

The digital work permit costs THB 3,000 per year.

In every category you need health insurance covering at least USD 50,000 for at least 10 months. Alternatively, Thai social security benefits or a deposit of at least USD 100,000 in a Thai or overseas account, held for at least 12 months, are accepted.

Wealthy Global Citizens also show assets of at least USD 1 million in Thailand or worldwide and invest at least USD 500,000 in Thailand.

Every applicant must hold health insurance covering at least US$50,000 and maintain a minimum of US$100,000 in a Thai bank account for the full 12 months preceding the application date. These two requirements apply universally across all four categories.

Beyond the baseline criteria, qualification depends on which category you apply under:

• Wealthy Global Citizens: You must hold at least US$1 million in total assets and invest at least US$500,000 in Thai government bonds, Thai-registered companies, or Thai property.
• Wealthy Pensioners (50+) need passive income of at least US$80,000 per year, or US$40,000 to 80,000 plus an investment of at least US$250,000 in Thai government bonds, companies or property. From US$80,000, the income alone is sufficient.
• Remote Workers: You must work remotely for a well-established foreign company, either a public company listed on a stock exchange or a private company with minimum combined revenue of USD 50 million over the past three years. You must show minimum average personal income of US$80,000 per year for the past two years. If your income falls between US$40,000 and US$80,000, you may qualify by holding a master's degree or higher, or by meeting other specified qualifications.
• Highly-Skilled Professionals: You must work in targeted industries for qualifying entities, business entities, higher education institutions, research centers, specialized training institutions, or Thai government agencies. You must demonstrate at least five years of work experience in the past ten years within your targeted industry. This requirement is waived if you hold a PhD or work directly for a Thai government agency. You must earn minimum average personal income of US$80,000 per year for the past two years. If your income is between US$40,000 and US$80,000, you may qualify through additional qualifications.

LTR Visa holders receive simplified immigration procedures that eliminate the recurring documentation burden typical of annual visas. You can enter and exit Thailand through fast-track immigration lanes at airports. Processing: The BOI checks eligibility within 20 working days; endorsement follows within 1 to 3 working days. The program imposes no minimum physical presence requirements, allowing you to maintain residency status without mandatory time in Thailand.

The LTR visa is valid initially for 5 years and can be renewed for a further 5 years if you still meet the requirements. You receive work authorization through the digital work permit, which costs THB 3,000 per year. Dependants: spouse and children under 20, up to 4 persons in total per LTR holder.

The program offers access to tax benefits structured specifically for LTR holders. Thailand maintains a low cost of living compared to Western jurisdictions. The country provides a warm climate year-round. Infrastructure in major cities supports international business operations and digital work.

Thailand's regulatory environment prioritizes safety and security for long-term residents. Banking access, healthcare systems, and telecommunications infrastructure meet international standards. Geographic location provides connectivity across Southeast Asia.

Applications are directed to The Expatriate Services Division of the One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit (OSS). This division handles processing for all LTR visa categories.

The program is established under Cabinet Resolution of September 14, 2021, and operates under Ministerial Regulation No. 29 (B.E. 2565). These instruments form the legal foundation for all LTR visa issuance and administration.