The Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa is open for applications as of 28 October 2026. The Work-from-Thailand Professional category suits remote employees of large overseas companies. It gives a 10-year visa to people who meet set income and employer rules. This guide covers the requirements, costs, and steps, based on official pages checked on 28 October 2026.
What the LTR visa is
The LTR visa is a 10-year residence visa with four categories. They are Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional, and Highly-Skilled Professional. The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) reviews applications at ltr.boi.go.th. The Immigration Bureau then issues the visa itself.
Remote workers fit the Work-from-Thailand Professional category. It is built for well-paid employees of large overseas companies. Freelancers and small business owners usually do not fit its rules. The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is the usual route for them, and our Thailand DTV guide covers it.
BOI reported 12,010 total approvals in its October 2026 update. Of these, 1,043 were Work-from-Thailand Professionals, about 8.7%. Applicants from the United States form the largest group, followed by Japan and the United Kingdom.
Requirements for remote workers
BOI sets five main rules for this category.
- Income. You need average personal income of at least USD 80,000 a year over the past two years. The monthly figure is about USD 6,667. A lower level of USD 40,000 a year applies with one extra item. The extra item can be a master’s degree or higher, full ownership of intellectual property, or Series A funding of at least USD 1 million. BOI’s web page lists only the master’s degree. Its document PDF and several law firms list all three options, so confirm which ones apply to you.
- Employer. You need an employment contract with an overseas employer. The employer must be listed on a stock exchange. A private company also qualifies if it has operated for at least three years. It must also have earned more than USD 50 million combined over those three years. A wholly owned subsidiary of either type also qualifies.
- Work experience. BOI removed the work experience requirement on 4 February 2025.
- Insurance. You must show one of three things. Health insurance of at least USD 50,000 with 10 months or more remaining works. So does Thai social security or a USD 100,000 deposit held for 12 months. BOI lists USD 25,000 per dependent for the deposit option. For plan ideas, see our guide to health insurance for digital nomads.
- Passport. BOI’s criteria list no passport restrictions. Readers with passports from outside the West can also read our guide to visas for non-Western passport holders.
Income rules differ widely between countries. Our guide to digital nomad visa income requirements compares them side by side.
The criteria point to a core set of documents. Expect to show your passport, your employment contract, two years of income records, and proof of insurance or a deposit. BOI publishes the full list for this category as a PDF on its site. Our application documents checklist gives a general view of the paperwork other countries ask for.
Work rights in Thailand
- Overseas employer only. This category does not give a Thai work permit. You may work only for your overseas employer. Thai employers and Thai-sourced income fall outside the rules.
- Digital work permit. BOI lists a digital work permit at 3,000 THB a year for Highly-Skilled Professionals, Wealthy Global Citizens, and dependents. Anyone who plans Thai-based work should ask BOI which permit applies.
Dependents
- Who counts. BOI’s page names a spouse and children under 20. Same-sex spouses are eligible. Unmarried partners are not.
- Number limit. BOI’s page sets a maximum of four dependents in total. Some law firms and news reports say BOI removed the cap and widened the wording to include parents. One firm warns that immigration rules may not match the new wording. Email BOI at ltr@boi.go.th to confirm before you apply.
- Marriage proof. A marriage certificate must be no more than six months old and notarized.
- Fee. Each dependent pays 50,000 THB.
Compare other countries in our guide to visas with family and dependent provisions.
How to apply
BOI rolled out an integrated digital portal in September 2026, so screens may differ from older guides. The steps below follow BOI’s published process.
- Register. Create an account at visa.boi.go.th/register and submit the online application. BOI charges no fee for this stage.
- Preliminary review. BOI checks your file first. This takes about three working days.
- Government review. Officials take about 17 working days, which brings the total to around 20. The time is longer if BOI requests more documents. Reply within 30 days of a request or the application risks rejection.
- Endorsement letter. BOI sends this letter once your application is approved.
- Pre-approval. The Thai Immigration Executive Service Center (TIESC) pre-approves the visa. This takes one to three working days.
- Visa issuance. Have the visa issued within 60 days of the endorsement letter. You can go to TIESC on the 6th and 7th floors of One Bangkok, Parade Zone, Rama IV Road. You can also apply at a Thai embassy or consulate. Bring forms TM.94 and STM.8 and a 4 x 6 cm photo. Pay in cash or by Thai QR, and follow the business dress code. The embassy e-visa fee is non-refundable, and fees are often higher abroad.
BOI warns about fraudulent “authorized agencies”. A paid VFS Global agent is optional, and BOI lists no other agents. Allow about one month for BOI review alone.
Cost
- Visa fee. The fee is 50,000 THB per person for 10 years. At BOI’s rate of 33.6 THB per USD, this is about USD 1,488. It works out to 5,000 THB, or about USD 149, a year.
- BOI endorsement. The online application and endorsement are free.
- Dependents. Each dependent pays 50,000 THB.
- Insurance or deposit. These costs come on top of the visa fee.
For comparison, the DTV costs 10,000 THB, or about USD 298.
Validity, renewal, and reporting
- Length. The visa lasts 10 years, issued as two periods of five years.
- Year-five check. BOI re-verifies your file after the first five years. Apply 120 to 60 days before the first period ends. BOI charges no second visa fee. BOI has not yet announced the document list for renewal. Our guide to renewal and extension rules explains how other countries handle it.
- Conditions. You must keep meeting the requirements for the whole period. A job change, a drop in income, or a lapsed insurance policy can put the visa at risk.
- Reporting. One annual report on form TM.95 replaces the 90-day report (TM.47). The one-year clock resets when you re-enter Thailand. The TM.30 address notice still applies.
- Entry. Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) on each entry. The visa allows multiple re-entries, and airports offer fast-track lanes.
- Banking. BOI lists Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank for LTR holders opening accounts.
Tax basics
Tax rules sit apart from immigration rules. Staying 180 days or more in a calendar year generally makes you a Thai tax resident.
BOI lists an overseas income tax exemption for LTR holders. HLB Thailand cites Royal Decree No. 743 and says it covers foreign income earned in a prior tax year and brought into Thailand. The Revenue Department sets conditions. Khonsu Legal notes that holding the visa does not automatically give the exemption. The 17% flat tax rate applies only to Highly-Skilled Professionals.
Your home country may tax you too. Read more on US citizens filing taxes abroad or UK tax rules for digital nomads. This section gives general information and is not tax advice. Speak with a tax adviser before you move.
LTR visa vs DTV
- Length. The LTR lasts 10 years. The DTV lasts five years, with 180 days per entry and one 180-day extension.
- Cost. The LTR costs 50,000 THB. The DTV costs 10,000 THB.
- Money rules. The LTR uses an income and employer test. The DTV asks for 500,000 THB in funds, about USD 14,881.
- Work. Neither visa allows work for Thai employers.
- Who fits. The LTR suits employees of large overseas companies. The DTV suits freelancers and smaller operators.
- New DTV paperwork. Since 31 August 2026, DTV applicants need a criminal record clearance issued within six months. UK and Ireland applicants also need proof of permanent residence, according to Erickson Immigration Group.
Who should apply and who should skip
- Good fit. Employees of listed or large overseas companies who earn USD 80,000 a year or more, and who want a stable base for years.
- Weak fit. Freelancers, self-employed workers, and employees of small companies. The DTV suits them better.
- Short stays. People who plan a few months in Thailand may prefer the DTV at 10,000 THB.
Plan your trip to Thailand
Once your approval timeline is clear, you can plan the trip itself. FlyBibe offers flights and tours for the laptop lifestyle, with routes to Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Visit FlyBibe to compare flights and find tours for your first weeks in Thailand. Many applicants wait for the endorsement letter before booking, because the visa must be issued within 60 days of it.
Before you apply
Visa rules change often. This guide reflects BOI pages and law firm updates checked on 28 October 2026. Confirm current requirements with BOI at ltr.boi.go.th, a Thai embassy or consulate, or an immigration professional before you apply. This guide gives general information and is not legal or tax advice. Official source: Thailand Board of Investment, ltr.boi.go.th.