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Updated June 2023

For many digital nomads, Thailand is an appealing destination for remote work due to its affordable living costs, tropical climate, and rich cultural heritage. However, obtaining legal permission to reside and work in the country can be challenging. This is where the Thailand digital nomad visa comes into play, allowing digital nomads to work in their desired country– the “land of smiles.”

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Thailand digital nomad visa 2023

The LTR (Long Term Residents) visa, Elite visa, and Smart visa are some options available for digital nomads looking to relocate long-term to Thailand. These visas provide attractive benefits and opportunities for foreigners seeking to live and work in the country.

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LTR visa

LTR visa is suitable for digital nomads, as it mainly attracts professionals who “work from anywhere,” specifically foreign residents, technologies, and talents contributing to Thailand’s economy. It has four categories: Wealthy Global Citizens (at least USD 1 million assets), Wealthy Pensioners (retirees), Work-from-Thailand Professionals (remote work), Highly-skilled Professionals, and Spouses and dependents.

Eligibility

Based on these categories, it is pretty apparent that the digital nomads would fall into the category of Work-from-Thailand Professionals, as it is mainly for remote workers working for a well-established overseas company. However, a digital nomad must meet the following eligibility criteria:

personal income of a minimum of USD 80,000/year in the past two years
- in case you did not meet this, you must have a master’s degree/above/own intellectual property/receive Series A funding
public company on a stock exchange or; Private company in operation for at least three years with combined revenue of 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

Required documents

Getting this kind of visa requires more documents and effort. Therefore, to be more successful, be sure to get ready with the following documents:

Mandatory documents:

passport that is valid for at least 6 months and has 2 blank pages
international health insurance
- or evidence showing valid social security benefits which cover hospitalization and treatment in Thailand;
CV showing your expertise, educational and professional background related to the work assignment or position in a company
recent passport-size photograph
- white background, facing straight towards the camera, wearing business attire but not a t-shirt. Avoid glasses or headgear, and ensure that the photo was taken within the last 6 months

Evidence of employment and corporate:

a letter from the employer, signed by an authorized person, stating the current position and granting permission for remote work from Thailand
audited corporate’s annual financial statement/financial report showing the company’s revenue of more than USD 150 million in the last 3 years or evidence of listing in the stock exchange
employment/service contract with an overseas company signed by an authorized person

If applicable:

evidence of qualification (i.e. copy of master’s degree)
evidence of total and complete intellectual property ownership (i.e. patents)
a verified letter from the applicant’s country or residence, not more than 3 months old, stating that there is no criminal record
Thai police certificate issued by Police Clearance Certificate Center, Special Branch, Royal Thai Police

Application process

Issuing an LTR visa to a digital nomad is a complex process, so ensuring you complete all the necessary steps is essential.

application submission: register and submit online an application for qualifications endorsement and supporting documents for LTR Visa
pending: officer will review your application (within 3 working days)
application registered: the officer will register your application
consideration by government agencies: your application will be considered by relevant agencies (within 20 working days)
qualifications approved: you will be notified if your qualifications are approved
document review: you will update information and upload additional documents
pre-approved visa: your visa will be pre-approved by immigration, and you will have to make an appointment to get your visa
appointment: attend your appointment at One Stop Service Center for a Visa and Work Permit with the Department of Labor
complete: your LTR visa will now be issued

Cost

The digital nomad visa, specifically the LTR visa, has a one-time application fee of THB 50,000 and no yearly charges.

Thailand elite visa digital nomad

If you are a digital nomad who wants to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle in Thailand, you may want to consider applying for the Thailand elite visa membership. The Thailand Elite Visa is a long-term visa issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand through its subsidiary, the Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited. The visa is available for 5, 10, or 20 years and offers several exclusive benefits, such as VIP immigration services, airport privileges, accessible golf courses, and spa treatments. Additionally, there are discounts on hotels and restaurants included in the package.

This elite visa has five membership categories, each with different benefits.

Elite Easy Access: 5-year visa with access to VIP airport services and exclusive lounges, complimentary treatments at selected venues, discounts on various services, and a member contact center.
Elite Family Excursion: 5-year visa with VIP airport services, lounges access, treatments, and discounts.
Elite Family Alternative: 10-year visa with the same benefits as Elite Family Excursion
Elite Superiority Extension: 20-year visa package with maximum benefits
Elite Ultimate Privilege: 20-year visa with additional perks like unlimited short-haul airport transfers, golf & spa treatments, plus yearly health check-ups

Eligibility

The applicant/member must have and maintain to have the following qualifications:

holder of a foreign passport
being allowed to stay in Thailand by the immigration laws, which means the applicant has no overstay record in Thailand
not having been sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment in any country except for an offense committed to negligence
not having been adjudicated bankrupt
not having been declared as a person of unsound mind, incompetence, or quasi-incompetence

Required documents

Prepare the following requirements in order to process your application:

copy of the profile page of your passport
a colored ID photo with white background
accomplished Thai Elite Visa application form
copy of proof of relationship for any family member applying with the main applicant

Application process

Once you’ve gathered all the required documents, you may opt to contact them for a free consultation to get your self more familiarized with the process. Nevertheless, you must follow these steps to successfully acquaint yourself with this visa.

visit Thailand Elite’s website and click Apply Now
submit your Thailand Elite application for the selected membership
wait for approval from the immigration; expect 4 to 9 weeks, depending on your nationality
pay the fees by bank transfer or credit card
collect your visa at the Thai embassy or consulate

Cost

Depending on the program that you subscribed to, the cost varies.

Elite Easy Access: THB 600,000
Elite Family Excursion: THB 800,000
Elite Family Alternative: THB 800,000 and a yearly fee of THB 10,000
Elite Superiority Extension: THB 2,000,000
Elite Ultimate Privilege: THB 2,140,000 and an annual fee of THB 21,400

Smart visa

The Thailand Smart visa is an excellent option for digital nomads seeking to work and invest in Thailand’s targeted technology, innovation, and development industries. This visa is designed to attract highly skilled professionals, investors, executives, and startups in automation, robotics, biotechnology, and, most importantly, the digital economy.

The Smart visa offers several benefits over other types of visas, such as longer validity, no work permit requirement, no re-entry permit requirement, and work eligibility for dependents.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Thailand Smart visa, you must belong to one of the following categories:

Smart T (Talent): You are a highly skilled professional or a science and technology expert who works for a company or an institution in Thailand in one of the targeted industries. You must have a minimum salary of THB 200,000 per month.
Smart I (Investor): You are an investor who invests at least THB 20 million in a technology-based company in one of the targeted industries.
Smart E (Executive): You are a senior executive working for a technology-based company in one of the targeted industries. You must have a bachelor’s degree or higher with at least 10 years of work experience. You must also have a minimum salary of THB 200,000 per month.
Smart S (Startup): You are a startup entrepreneur who wants to set up a technology-based company in one of Thailand’s targeted industries. You must have a deposit of at least THB 600,000 and health insurance.

Required documents

Once you got your category figured out, you must now prepare the following documents:

completed application form
passport with at least six months’ validity
notarized proof of a clean criminal record
notarized health certificate
copies of any academic qualifications, certificates, or endorsements you have that are related to your area of expertise
copies of any publications, research projects, intellectual property, and awards you may have
proof of previous employment
if someone else submits the application on your behalf: include a power of attorney.

For the different categories, you might be asked additional requirements.

Smart T

employment or service contract
hiring company’s annual report

Smart I

company’s list of shareholders, not older than 3 months, or a document that shows the ownership of the shares and company value
company’s annual report, brochures, catalogs, and the latest annual financial statement of the corporate (if applicable)

Smart E

employment or service contract
corporate’s organization chart
company’s annual report, brochures, catalogs, and the latest annual financial statement of the corporate (if applicable)
company’s list of shareholders, not older than 3 months

Smart S

pitch deck
company’s list of shareholders and/or a transfer slip not older than 3 months
company’s annual report, brochures, catalogs, and the latest annual financial statement of the corporate (if applicable)
proof of acceptance into the incubation or accelerator program
proof of participation in startup promotion activities
proof you have a deposit of at least BHT 600,000

Application process

To apply for a Thailand Smart visa, you need to follow these steps:

submit your application online
attach PDF copies of all required documents
the BOI and other relevant authorities will verify and qualify your application
collect your visa
pay the required fees

Cost

The fee for a Thailand Smart visa application is THB 10,000 per year. However, the exact amount may vary depending on the local currency of the country where you apply. The fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application.