Thailand Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa: The Full Guide

LTR Visa holders get access to the priority lane at the airport upon entering Thailand, thus saving you precious time spent at immigration.

Each category has specific requirements related to income, assets, employment, and expertise that must be met. The visa is valid for 10 years initially and can be renewed indefinitely as long as the eligibility criteria continues to be met.

Soon after the LTR visa was implemented, the Thai government announced a few positive improvements, including halving the visa application fee from 100,000 THB to 50,000 THB. The government hopes to bring in 1 million LTR visa holders over the next 5 years.

What are the Benefits of an LTR Visa?

Technically, the LTR visa isn’t permanent residence. It essentially gives you the right to live in Thailand on a permanent basis though, and offers a few additional perks including tax reduction.

Key benefits of the LTR visa are the length of stay and renewal options. The 10 year initial validity is far longer than a standard tourist or retirement visa.

LTR holders can renew indefinitely by maintaining the original criteria, saving the need to constantly reapply or visit immigration every 90 days.

Other benefits, like a streamlined process to obtain a work permits, certainly help make it easier to conduct business in Thailand.

LTR holders in the Highly-Skilled Professionals category also get a discounted 17% personal income tax rate. If you’re bringing enough money into Thailand, this perk alone could be worth the cost of the visa.

How to Qualify for an LTR Visa

The main eligibility criteria for the LTR visa relate to having substantial assets, income, or investment in Thailand. You’ll need to meet at least one of the four criteria below.

1. Wealthy Global Citizens need US$1 million in assets and $80,000annual income over 2 years. They must invest $500,000 in Thailand.

2. Wealthy Pensioners require $80,000 annual income at application. Those with $40,000-$80,000 can qualify with a $250,000 investment in Thailand.

3. Work-From-Thailand Professionals need $80,000 income over 2 years and employment at a major international company.

4. Highly-Skilled Professionals require $80,000 income, relevant work expertise, and often advanced degrees in key fields.

It’s worth mentioning that all applicants additionally need health insurance coverage of at least $50,000.