Thailand’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa: Highly-Skilled Professionals
- Posted by Oscoworks
- On July 6, 2025
- 0 Comments
Dreaming of a Long-Term Stay in the Land of Smiles ? Consider the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa, an excellent option for those seeking a vibrant life with less bureaucratic, significant tax benefits and a simplified visa process.
What is the Thailand LTR Visa?
The LTR Visa is an attractive program designed for high-potential foreigners aiming to establish a long-term presence in Thailand. It offers a 10-year renewable visa, with initially granted for 5 years and extendable for another 5 years. The visa targets four key categories: Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, Work-from-Thailand Professionals and Highly-Skilled Professionals. Each category has specific eligibility criteria but with proper documentation and preparation, the application process can be straightforward
- Simplified work permit processes
- Reduced personal income tax capped17% for Highly-Skilled Professionals
- Annual address reporting instead of every 90 days
- Fast-track immigration at international airports in Thailand
- No requirement for employers to hire four Thai citizens per foreigner
- The ability to include No limit on the number of dependents Include legal spouses, children under 20, parents, and other legal dependents
If you’re passionate to build a career and live long-term, the LTR Visa for Highly-Skilled Professionals offers a unique opportunity to thrive in Thailand’s vibrant economy while enjoying significant tax and immigration benefits.
Highly-Skilled Professionals is designed to attract experts in industries critical to Thailand’s economic growth. These targeted industries and expertise areas:
- Automotive Industry
- Electronics Industry
- Affluent Tourism Industry
- Agriculture, food, and biotechnology Industry
- Transportation and logistics Industry
- Automation and robotics Industry
- Aviation, aerospace, and space Industry
- Biofuels and bio-chemical industry
- Petrochemical and Chemical Industry
- Digital industry
- Medical industry
- National defense industry
- Direct and significant supporting industries for the circular economy
Qualifications and Criteria for Highly-Skilled Professionals.
To qualify for the LTR Visa as a Highly-Skilled Professional, you must meet general requirements and specific criteria tailored to your expertise. Below are the updated 2025 requirements:
General Requirements
- Valid Passport: Must have at least 6 months of validity at the time of application.
- Passport Photo: 4 cm x 6 cm, taken within the last 6 months, with a neutral expression, white background and no headgear (except for religious purposes).
- For dependents: Marriage certificate, birth certificate, or proof of legal dependency.
Personal Income: You must meet one of the following income criteria:
- A minimum average personal income of USD 80,000 per year for the past two years.
- An average personal income of at least USD 40,000 per year for the past two years and hold a Master’s degree or higher in science and technology.
- No minimum personal income is required for professionals working for Thai government agencies.
Current Employer: Must be one of the following:
- A business in any of the targeted industries.
- A higher education institution, research, specialized training institution or Thai government agencies.
Experience: No work experience requirement for specialists
Health Insurance/Savings:
The main applicant must provide:
- Coverage for medical expenses in Thailand of at least USD 50,000 with a minimum of 12 months remaining at the time of application.
- Alternatively, Social Security covering full medical treatment costs in Thailand.
- Alternatively, proof of savings of at least USD 100,000 in a Thai or foreign bank account, held for at least 12 months.
Dependents must provide:
- Coverage for medical expenses in Thailand of at least USD 50,000 (with a minimum of 12 months remaining at the time of application).
- Alternatively, proof of savings of USD 25,000 per person (spouses, children under 20, parents, or other legal dependents) in a Thai or foreign bank account, held for at least 12 months.
How to Get Your LTR Visa Approval Quickly and Easily
The LTR Visa application process involves submitting documents to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) and obtaining the visa through Thai Embassies and Consulates or the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC) in Bangkok.
Follow these steps to ensure a fast and smooth approval:
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
- Verify that your job aligns with Thailand’s targeted industries (e.g., biotechnology, digital technology, or circular economy). Check with your employer or a visa consultant Oscoworks for clarity.
- Income Proof: Personal income tax returns and bank statements verifying your income for the past 2 consecutive years
- Ensure your income meets the requirements: USD 80,000/year or
- Income USD 40,000/year plus a master’s degree in science or technology
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
Prepare a complete and accurate document package to avoid delays. This includes all documents mentioned above as well as corporate documents of associated partners/companies in Thailand.
Tip: Have all documents translated into English or Thai language and certified. Consider using a visa consultant to pre-screen your application for completeness.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
- Register and create an account on the official LTR Visa online system.
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload the required supporting documents.
- Note: The dependent needs to create a separate account for each person and link their application to the main applicant.
- Processing Time: Your application and supporting documents will be verified by relevant Thai government agencies (Board of Investment, Immigration, etc.) within 20 business days. Incomplete or unclear documents can delay approval. So double-check everything before submission.
Step 4: Obtain Your Visa
- After BOI approval, you’ll receive a Qualification Endorsement Letter via email within 3-5 business days.
- You must then apply for the LTR Visa itself within 60 days of the endorsement letter issuance.
- Use this letter to apply for the LTR Visa at:
- A Thai Embassy and Consulate abroad OR
- Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC) in Bangkok (if you’re already in Thailand on a valid visa).
- The processing fee for the 10 years multiple-entry visa is THB 50,000 per person when collecting the LTR Visa in Thailand. Fees may vary if collected overseas.
Step 5: Post-Approval Steps
- Work Permit: If working in Thailand, apply for a digital work permit through the LTR Visa application portal. There is an annual fee of THB 3,000 for the digital work permit.
- Annual Reporting: Report your address annually to Immigration Office.
- Tax Registration: Register for a Thai Tax ID to benefit from the 17% personal income tax rate on Thai-sourced income.
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