Wealth-based applicants
Prepare evidence of assets, qualifying investment in Thailand, income or passive income, ownership and the source of funds. Shared ownership and asset location can matter.
BOI long-stay programme
Thailand LTR Visa: categories, qualifications and ongoing compliance
The Long-Term Resident programme is a specialist route for defined groups of wealthy or high-potential foreign residents. It is not a generic retirement, tourist or digital-nomad visa. This guide explains the four principal categories and the evidence logic behind them.
Match your profile to the LTR category
Four principal LTR applicant profiles
The BOI programme describes four main types. The category is selected by the applicant’s profile, not simply by a desire to stay longer.
| Category | Who it is designed for | Qualification focus |
|---|---|---|
| Wealthy Global Citizen | Individuals with substantial global assets who make the required qualifying investment in Thailand. | Assets, Thai investment, income/financial evidence and health coverage or accepted alternative. |
| Wealthy Pensioner | Applicants aged 50 or over with qualifying passive or unearned income. | Passive-income threshold, possible Thailand investment where applicable, and health/financial evidence. |
| Work-from-Thailand Professional | Remote workers employed by qualifying well-established overseas companies. | Income, employer structure, employment relationship, professional evidence and health/financial evidence. |
| Highly Skilled Professional | Professionals working for qualifying Thai or related entities in targeted industries or institutions. | Income or qualification evidence, employment/assignment, targeted-industry or expertise evidence and health/financial evidence. |
LTR is qualification endorsement first. The BOI process is not the same as an ordinary eVisa submission. The application is assessed for qualification endorsement, and the LTR visa is issued after the required endorsement and appointment steps are completed.
What the published programme makes clear
The official LTR programme describes a renewable ten-year structure, with permission granted initially for five years and extendable for a further five years if qualifications continue to be met. It also describes programme benefits such as one-year reporting, work-permit facilitation and other privileges, but these benefits depend on the category and continuing compliance.
The programme publishes an income benchmark of USD 80,000 per year for the past two years for several professional or wealth categories, with lower-income alternatives that require additional qualifications or investment. These figures are programme-specific and must not be copied into ordinary retirement, work or tourist pages.
Evidence map by applicant type
Before collecting documents, identify the proof that actually demonstrates your profile.
Remote professionals
Prepare the employment contract and evidence about the overseas employer’s legal and financial profile. A freelance intention is not the same as employment by a qualifying company.
Highly skilled professionals
Prepare employment, salary, field, qualification and targeted-industry evidence. A job title alone does not prove that the position meets programme criteria.
Dependants
Spouses and children may have a separate dependent application and relationship evidence. The BOI programme’s current age, insurance, financial and family conditions must be checked for each dependant.
LTR process in practical order
01
Qualification application
Submit the application and supporting evidence through the programme process.
02
Endorsement review
Relevant agencies review the complete file; additional information may be requested.
03
Notification
Receive the qualification-endorsement result and follow the instructions for issuance.
04
Visa issuance
Book the appropriate appointment and present the endorsement and required documents.
05
Maintain conditions
Continue meeting the category’s requirements and complete reporting or work-related steps.
Internal long-stay comparisons
LTR visa FAQs
Is LTR the same as a digital nomad visa?
No. Work-from-Thailand Professional is one LTR category with employer and qualification criteria. LTR is a defined BOI programme, not a general label for every remote worker.
Can any retiree use Wealthy Pensioner?
No. Age alone is not enough. The category has passive-income, possible investment and health or financial requirements.
Does LTR automatically give a normal work permit?
LTR holders have programme-specific work-permission and digital work-permit arrangements. The job, employer and process must still fit the programme rules.
How long does LTR qualification take?
The BOI publishes an application timeline and may request further documents. Do not promise a universal completion time because the file and review can vary.
Can I stop meeting the requirements after approval?
The programme states that conditions must be maintained. A change in employment, investment, insurance or financial position can require action.
Independent-information disclaimer. VistoRoute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Government of Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Bureau, any Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General, the Board of Investment, or any other Thai authority. Visa rules, fees, documents, processing practices, reporting duties, and entry decisions can change and may vary by nationality, residence, purpose, passport type, and responsible mission. Verify the latest requirements with the relevant official authority before applying or travelling.