Category Thai Immigration

The Thailand Long-Term Residency Visa is a special program introduced to attract skilled professionals, wealthy individuals, retirees, and highly qualified workers. This visa provides significant benefits, including the ability to stay in Thailand for up to 10 years while enjoying streamlined processes for work permits, immigration reporting, and other bureaucratic formalities. It represents Thailand’s effort to enhance its appeal as a global destination for living and investment.

1. Eligibility Categories for the LTR Visa

The LTR Visa targets specific groups, each with tailored criteria:

a) Wealthy Global Citizens

• Criteria: Minimum annual income of USD 80,000 for the past two years and assets worth at least USD 1 million.
• Investment: Requires an investment of USD 500,000 in Thai government bonds, real estate, or qualifying funds.

b) Wealthy Pensioners

• Criteria: Age 50+ with an annual income of USD 80,000 or a reduced income threshold with significant investments in Thailand.
• Requirement: Investment of USD 250,000 in specified Thai assets.

c) Work-from-Thailand Professionals

• Target Group: Digital nomads and remote workers employed by international companies.
• Criteria: Minimum annual income of USD 80,000 (or USD 40,000 with a master’s degree, specialized skills, or employment in a company with revenue exceeding USD 150 million).

d) Highly Skilled Professionals

• Target Sectors: Includes technology, healthcare, engineering, and research industries.
• Criteria: Minimum annual income of USD 80,000 (or USD 40,000 with a master’s degree or relevant experience).

2. Benefits of the LTR Visa

Holders of the LTR Visa enjoy various privileges:

• 10-Year Residency: Extendable up to 10 years for long-term stability.
• Streamlined Work Permit: The visa includes a digital work permit, eliminating the need for separate applications.
• Immigration Simplifications:
  • Reduced requirements for the 90-day reporting.
  • Priority at immigration checkpoints.
• Tax Incentives: Foreign income brought into Thailand is exempt from taxation under certain conditions.
• Family Inclusion: Spouses and up to four dependents can be included in the application.

3. Application Process

The application process involves the following steps:

a) Initial Eligibility Assessment

Applicants submit preliminary documents for evaluation, including proof of income, assets, and qualifications.

b) Document Submission

Key documents include:

• Passport (valid for at least 6 months).
• Proof of financial stability (bank statements, tax returns).
• Investment certificates (if applicable).
• Employment contracts for work-from-Thailand or highly skilled professionals.

c) Approval and Visa Issuance

The Board of Investment (BOI) reviews applications, which may take 20-30 business days. Approved applicants receive a notification to collect their visa at the Thai Embassy or Consulate.

4. Associated Costs

Applicants must consider the following fees:

• Application Fee: Approximately THB 50,000 (USD 1,400).
• Additional Costs: Legal and administrative fees for document preparation.

5. Challenges and Considerations

Despite its advantages, the LTR Visa has certain challenges:

• High Financial Thresholds: The income and investment requirements may limit accessibility for some applicants.
• Sector-Specific Approvals: Skilled professionals must demonstrate employment in BOI-targeted industries.
• Tax Planning: Foreign income brought into Thailand may require careful planning to comply with tax exemptions.

Conclusion

The Thailand Long-Term Residency Visa is a forward-thinking initiative that offers a secure and flexible pathway for individuals seeking to live, work, or retire in Thailand. While the eligibility requirements may be stringent, the benefits of long-term stability, tax incentives, and simplified processes make it an attractive option for eligible candidates. Engaging experienced legal professionals can ensure a smooth application process and compliance with Thai immigration and tax regulations.

Thailand Long-term Resident Visa. Travelers and expatriates alike have long been enthralled with Thailand’s beautiful scenery and rich cultural tapestry. The Thailand Long-term Resident Visa is an important step forward for anybody looking to establish a deeper long-term relationship with the Land of Smiles. The Long-Term Resident Visa in Thailand is thoroughly examined in this article, along with its qualifying requirements, application procedure, and advantages for individuals who decide to make Thailand their permanent home.

I. Revealing the Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa

For foreign people wishing to remain in the Kingdom for a lengthy period of time, there is a unique visa category called the Thailand Long-term Resident Visa. It gives holders the opportunity to live in Thailand for an extended length of time, allowing them to get more deeply connected to the kind people and dynamic culture of the nation.

II. Qualification Standards

A. Age Requirement: At the time of application, candidates must be at least 50 years old.

B. Financial Stability: Applicants must show that they have the resources to support themselves while living in Thailand, either by a minimum monthly income or a sizeable lump sum in savings.

C. Clean Criminal Record: It is required that the applicant have no criminal convictions, both in Thailand and in their home nation.

D. Health Insurance: Documentation of current health insurance that pays for medical costs in Thailand during the resident’s stay.

III. Necessary Records

A valid passport is one that still has at least a year on it.

B. Financial Records: Proof of sound financial standing, such as bank or pension records.

C. Health Insurance Certificate: Accurate records of health insurance that satisfy the required standards.

D. Medical Certificate: A document from a medical professional attesting to the applicant’s health and lack of infectious diseases.

E. Criminal Record Check: A certificate of police clearance attesting to a spotless criminal history.

IV. How to Apply for a Long-Term Resident Visa

A. Application Submission: The applicant submits his or her application for a Long-term Resident Visa to the Thai embassy or consulate in the nation of origin.

B. Processing period: Depending on the applicant’s nationality and the particular criteria of the Thai consulate or embassy, the processing period for a Long-Term Resident Visa may differ.

C. Notification of Approval: The applicant will receive notification of approval along with instructions on how to get their visa.

V. Advantages of Long-Term Resident Visa

A. Extending Stay: Individuals with a Long-Term Resident Visa are permitted to live in Thailand for a maximum of five years, with the possibility to extend.

B. No Need for Work Permit: In order to reside in Thailand, holders of long-term resident visas are exempt from the need for a work permit.

C. Cultural Immersion: Spending more time in the area enables a more thorough understanding of Thai culture and a better integration into the local society.

Conclusion

Entering Thailand, a nation well-known for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and kind people, is made possible by the Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa. Through comprehension of the qualifying requirements, assembling the required paperwork, and following the application procedure, people can confidently and enthusiastically set off on their adventure. In the Land of Smiles, the Long-term Resident Visa presents a singular chance to forge enduring relationships and make lifelong experiences.

If you want to live and work and in Thailand then speak to us at Thailand Law Firm for more information. With offices in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai we are best able to serve your needs in Thailand. Speak to us about marriage registration, your Thai visa or retirement in Thailand or even leasing property or about buying property. See our full listing for all our offices in Thailand. If you are arriving in Bangkok then visit our Head Office in Bangkok for more information and guidance.

Offices located in Thailand

Bangkok

Interchange 21 Building,
399 Sukhumvit Road, North Klongtoey,
Wattana, Bangkok 10110

Phuket
Moo 5, Bangtao Place T. Cherngtalay, A. Thalang,
Phuket 83110, Thailand

Pattaya
Moo 6, North Pattaya Road,
Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Thailand

Chiang Mai
Curve Mall,
215/2 Chang Klan Road, Mueang,
Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand

When you are in Thailand you must much like Thai citizens carry your passport on you at all times. The very same goes with work permits. The work permit and passport must be with you at all times. An interesting note that when the local newspapers asked Phuket Immigration about the issue after a number of foreigners had been arrested in Phuket for not having their passports on them during the raid on the nightclub.

“The law here is that all foreign tourist must have their passports to hand when the police ask for them. Tourists being in possession of their passports is similar to Thai people having identity cards – they must keep their ID cards with them for when police want to check their identify. However, if you are worried about losing your passport you can make a photocopy and carry that instead. At present we have problems in this country with international criminals, so inspection of passports is essential for safety and security reasons.” Pol Lt Col Panudej Sookwong, Superintendent of Phuket Tourist Police.

So always ensure that you have your passport on you while in Thailand. If you are afraid that you might misplace the passport on a night out on town then at the very least keep a copy of the front page of the passport and the TM card and also the entry and valid until stamp in your passport and the visa. Those are the 3 pages you would need to have to show.

• – Face page of your passport;
• – TM card in your passport;
• – Visa in your passport;
• – Entry date and due date stamp in your passport.

Those are the very same stamps and pages that Thai Immigration asks for when you apply for a work permit so ensure that those 4 pages are what you have when you make a copy. You can normally do this on 1 A4 page. This however changed a few months later when the reply to the Phuket Gazette was as follows

“The Gazette notes that the “photocopy rule” appears not to apply everywhere. Pol Maj Phanthana Nutchanart, of the Bangkok Investigation Tourist Police (Division 2) stresses:Tourists must carry their passports with them at all times. This is an international rule. A passport is like an ID card; if you don’t have it with you, the police may arrest you.

Better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t have the original then at least the photocopy. The work permit is another issue as they do not accept a copy for the work permit. You need to ensure that this is on you at the office, on your way to and from work. Better yet staple it to your passport to make much easier.

What is normally used is the following law:

Section 58: Any alien who has no lawful document for entering the Kingdom under Section 12 (1); or has no Residence Certificate under this Act; and also has no identification in accordance with the Law on Alien registration, (I have yet to find this Law on Alien Registration) is considered to have entered into the Kingdom in violation to this Act.

Then this is followed by:

There are 2 major issues with overstay in Thailand. The first is admitting that you have overstayed, bought your ticket out of Thailand and going to Thai immigration to pay your overstay fine. The overstay fine has been 500 Baht per day to a maximum of 20,000 Baht. It makes no difference if it is a 1 month overstay or a 1 year overstay the maximum is 20,000 Baht. That normally goes off well however getting back into Thailand may become an issue as it is up to the immigration officer to allow you in or not. There are no rights to entering Thailand. If you are on a long overstay if is always advisable to take a lawyer with you to immigration as it could become a problem as you might be blacklisted.

The second is being caught by the police on a overstay. This becomes a major issue as they will arrest you and send you to Bangkok for processing. You would normally be taken to a court in Bangna where you will be charged with overstaying your Thai visa. At this point in time you need a lawyer as you are more likely than not going to plead guilty. The court will then issue a deportation order and you would need to find the 20,000 Baht overstay fine money and also a ticket out of the country. Some embassies may give you a loan however you will not allowed to have your passport again until your loan had been repaid in your country.

Once arrested you can expect to see the court with the next 10 days and this will depend on where they caught you and how far the IDC (Immigration Detention Center) is from where you had been caught. In the IDC they tend to split people into common nationalities in order to avoid fights and chaos. Cambodians with Cambodians and Westerners most times with other Westerners. Once you have paid your fine and have your ticket you need to pay the police to deliver you to the airport. The day before you are allowed fresh clothing and they will bring you to the airport 4 hours before your flight.  Yes you arrived chained and you have to pay 800 Baht for the ride to the airport.

Once you stamp out of Thailand at immigration at the airport they will hold you in a special room to ensure you do not runoff. Once the plane loads a police officer will walk you from the room to the plane and ensure that you get onto the plane. Normally they are very friendly on your way out. If you have not been blacklisted you can apply for a new visa and return to thailand again.

Take advice – don’t overstay your visa in Thailand!