BoI LTR, Smart Visa Programme
BoI LTR, Smart Visa Programme refers to the Board of Investment of Thailand-administered Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa programme launched 2022 (10-year terms across 4 categories: wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, work-from-Thailand professionals, high-skill professionals) plus Smart Visa programme (4-year terms for startup founders, executives, investors, talent). Anchor of Thailand's targeted HNW retiree, digital-nomad, and skilled-professional inbound visa positioning alongside Thailand Privilege Card.
Profile overview
BoI LTR, Smart Visa Programme refers to the Board of Investment of Thailand-administered Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa programme launched 2022 (10-year terms across 4 categories: wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, work-from-Thailand professionals, high-skill professionals) plus Smart Visa programme (4-year terms for startup founders, executives, investors, talent). Anchor of Thailand's targeted HNW retiree, digital-nomad, and skilled-professional inbound visa positioning alongside Thailand Privilege Card.
Programme categories and criteria
LTR Visa categories
Four HNW segments
LTR Visa (launched September 2022) covers: Wealthy Global Citizens (net worth USD 1M, passive income USD 80k/year), Wealthy Pensioners (income USD 40k/year, age 50+), Work-from-Thailand Professionals (income USD 80k/year, employer abroad), and High-Skill Professionals (income USD 80k/year, target industry). 10-year validity, renewable.
Smart Visa categories
Innovation and talent
Smart Visa (active since 2018) covers: T (talent in S-curve industries), I (investors, min $579,710), E (senior executives of target-sector companies), S (startup founders, BoI-endorsed incubators). 4-year term. Issued in smaller volumes than LTR but targets higher-skill innovation segments.
Approval pipeline
Uptake as of 2024
Approximately 2,000-3,000 LTR visas were approved in the first two years (2022-2024), below the original 10,000 target per year. Processing bottlenecks at BoI and immigration documentation requirements have been cited as key friction points for applicant conversion.
LTR Visa vs. regional HNW visa peers
Thailand
Programme
LTR Visa
Validity
10 years
Min income/asset
USD 80k/year or USD 1M asset
Malaysia
Programme
Premium Visa Programme
Validity
5-20 years
Min income/asset
MYR 40k/month income
Indonesia
Programme
Second Home Visa
Validity
5-10 years
Min income/asset
IDR 2B deposit
Singapore
Programme
Global Investor Programme
Validity
5 years (PR track)
Min income/asset
SGD 2.5M investment
| Country | Programme | Validity | Min income/asset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | LTR Visa | 10 years | USD 80k/year or USD 1M asset |
| Malaysia | Premium Visa Programme | 5-20 years | MYR 40k/month income |
| Indonesia | Second Home Visa | 5-10 years | IDR 2B deposit |
| Singapore | Global Investor Programme | 5 years (PR track) | SGD 2.5M investment |
Watchpoints 2025-2026
LTR uptake acceleration
2025 process streamlining
BoI is implementing a digital portal and reduced documentation requirements to raise LTR approval volumes toward the 10,000/year target. Success depends on eliminating the parallel immigration-office re-filing step that currently adds 4-8 weeks to approval timelines.
S-curve industry alignment
EV and biotech targeting
BoI is actively promoting Smart Visa T and E categories to EV manufacturing and biotech professionals relocating to Thailand for S-curve investment projects. Coordinated promotion through EEC Office and BoI Bangkok offices is the key 2025 activation path.
Tax privilege clarity
17% flat income tax
LTR Visa holders are eligible for a 17% flat personal income tax rate on Thailand-sourced income. Clear enforcement guidance from the Revenue Department on what constitutes Thailand-sourced income for remote workers remains the top compliance ambiguity to resolve.
Related Market profiles
Peers, parents, partners, agencies, and other Long-Term Visa actors.
Competitor
Thailand Elite Visa program
Thailand Elite Visa programme rebranded 2023; 5-20 year visa tiers; ~30,000 cardholders; $17,391-2.5M tier pricing.
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Competitor
Thailand Elite Visa Programme (legacy)
Pre-2023 Thai premium long-stay visa; rebranded 2023 as Thailand Privilege Card; still ~30,000 active.
Open Market profile →
Sector peer
LTR Visa Thailand (10-Year)
Thai LTR visa programme; 10-year residence; BoI-administered; HNW, remote-work, retiree segments.
Open Market profile →
Reports featuring this profile
Related Market profiles
competitor
Thailand Elite Visa program
Thailand Elite Visa programme rebranded 2023; 5-20 year visa tiers; ~30,000 cardholders; THB 600k-2.5M tier pricing.
competitor
Thailand Elite Visa Programme (legacy)
Pre-2023 Thai premium long-stay visa; rebranded 2023 as Thailand Privilege Card; still ~30,000 active.