Residence permit of Thailand

Thailand is a popular migration and tourist route. The country attracts relocants, students, digital nomads, businessmen, wealthy cosmopolitans. Some foreigners can come for holidays or treatment for a short period without visas. At the end of the term, if necessary, they request a tourist multi visa, long-term Non-immigrant, smart or "golden" visa for a period of 5 years.

Why do you need a residence permit?

Different types of permits are available to investors, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and pensioners. The visas are opened at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand. They allow you to legalize yourself and, after 3-5 years, apply for permanent residence, subject to compliance with the requirements prescribed by law. 

Types of residence permit

For temporary residence, the authorities issue non-immigrant visas of different categories to foreigners. They differ by duration of stay on the territory, bonuses, and cost. The visa types are marked with an English abbreviation. The symbols help border guards to determine the purpose of the visit, to record the statistics of non-residents.

Depending on the plans for life and work, Thais offer the following types of visa:

• IB for investors;
• B – businessmen;
• ED – students;
• O – family reunification.

There are 20 types of non-immigrant visas in Thailand. Of these, only 4 are eligible for citizenship after the naturalization period. For example, a student or pension Non-O visa does not serve as a basis for issuing a Thai passport in the future.

Residency permit upon purchase of real estate

There is no provision for obtaining a residence permit (TPL) and a passport for investments in Thailand, but in return for subsidies, the authorities are willing to open a long-term Thai Elite visa for 5-20 years. It is equivalent to the Thai Permanent Residency.

Please note

The Law on the Land Code prohibits foreigners from purchasing plots, but allows them to rent for a period of 90 years. The number of objects to obtain status does not matter. Collectively, the amount must be at least 10 million baht.

Foreigners more likely to purchase new condominiums from $270,000 directly from developers, along with club premium memberships for $16,000 – $66,500.

List of documents

For the file, it is necessary:

• original passport; 
• property contract;
• confirmation of membership in the Thailand Elite Flexible One project;
• documents of family members in Thai/ English language with notary's signature;
• confirmation of the currency transaction;
• land administration estimate; 
• statement of the deposit amount.

Based on the file, a permit is issued for 90 days. At the end of the term, the file is again submitted to the immigration service for extension and receives a visa for 5 years.

Student residency permits

Non Immigrant ED visas with a term of 3-12 months are issued to people up to 50 years old for studies at an accredited educational institution and not only. Applicants are required to prove enrollment in a university or language/ culinary course, Thai boxing school. In the future, family expats in 90% of cases arrange children to local schools, open TPL for them, and visas for guardians for themselves.

List of documents

The approved list is published on the website of the Migration Bureau.

Key points:

• passport scan; 
• apartment rental contract;
• agreement with an educational institution;
• photo 4 x 6;
• a copy of the blue book and the owner's ID;
• registration form TM-30.

Residency permit for financially independent expats

A digital nomad program has been launched since July 2024 for qualified employees, IT specialists of foreign companies, and freelancers. People with an annual income of $80,000 or more apply for the digital nomad visa.

Advantage

$40,000 is enough for specialists with a master's degree and intellectual property patents. At the same time, nomads must work in a company with an annual capital of 150 million or trading on the stock exchange.

List of documents

The file for a Destination Thailand Visa includes:

• a statement of ฿500,000 or its equivalent in another currency;
• contract with a foreign employer;
• curriculum vitae (CV); 
• diploma; 
• a certificate of proof of 5 year work experience;
• tax return for 2 years;
• health insurance. 

DTV is issued for 10 years with the possibility of a single extension for 180 days.

Residency permit by marriage

Building a relationship with a Thai citizen opens the prospect of obtaining a marriage Thai visa and social freedoms. It paves the way for an unhindered Work Permit and reduced naturalization term.

When can you apply for citizenship?

After 3 years, the spouse can apply for citizenship. In the case of the birth of a child, the adaptation period for a woman does not exceed one year. It is sufficient for the applicant over 50 years of age to be married for 2 years.

List of documents

Standard package:

• marriage certificate; 
• ฿400,000 deposit;
• certificate of salary of the spouse ฿40,000;
• a letter from the bank about the transfer of funds no later than 2 months ago:
• a police certificate of permanent residence;
• health certificate; 
• payment of state duty – ฿95,700.

Family reunion

The Thai authorities issue residency permits for humanitarian reasons, including to relatives with temporary/ permanent residence. This category includes adopted children and children of a wife/ husband under the age of 20, dependents in need of guardianship. Parents can move to the country if they have a minimum deposit for a year ($11,046) or earn up to $1,100. The father and mother of the student are required to prove the osession of an account in a Thai bank in the amount of $3,800, opened 3 months before application submission.

List of documents

Candidates are required to:

• application; 
• metrics and documents to confirm kinship;
• a copy of the marriage certificate;
• documents of the inviting party.

Residency permit for work

Work Permit Application or Non-B is issued to employees and business founders for 1 year. A foreign citizen who held a position in a company with a capitalization of $270,702 during the year, received from $1,344 per month over the past 2 years, has the right to request TPL. The company must be engaged in tourism and attract up to 5,000 people a year, or earn up to $537,483 on exports. If the company is engaged in another business, it must have a turnover of 5 million baht. Thai subsidiaries with capital of 2 million baht may also apply for permission. Foreign companies submit applications to the Ministry of Labour, subject to the importation of 3 million baht per employee.

List of documents

The file is collected by expats and employers.

Applicants provide:

• passport and visa; 
• copies of all passport pages and 3 photos;
• form TM.6 (optional);
• CV and a certified copy of the diploma;
• a certificate of solvency;
• if one has a Thai spouse, a marriage certificate is required.

The legal entity is obliged to submit an opinion on the registration of the company, a list of shareholders, certificates Phor 20/30, financial statements on the annual turnover, confirm the staff in the ratio: 1 expat and 4 Thais. After 7 days, a visa for 3 years is applied for in the passport in the presence of the applicant. When changing employers, foreign workers are required to collect a new package of documents. Annual fee ~$80.

Residency permit for businessmen and individual entrepreneurs

Smart visas are available for investors, entrepreneurs and businessmen who are ready to develop the economy in 14 areas. The authorities are happy to see managers, heads of digital startups, biotechnology specialists, and creative entrepreneurs. Foreigners can apply for 1 of the 5 categories.

1. The T-code visa is suitable for experts in the field of technology and science. Applicants are required to enter into a contract with the company and earn $2,850. For young companies, the financial threshold has been lowered to $1,420.
2. Type E visa is open to certified managers with 10 years of relevant experience. The minimum income to join the program is $5,700.
3. S-type visas are issued to novice entrepreneurs and startups for 6-24 months. Conditions – ownership of a quarter of the authorized capital, availability of a deposit of $17,000.
4. The O category is opened by a family member under the age of 20. For each, the main applicant deposits $5,110.

List of documents

• a diploma to confirm the qualification;
• business plan;
• medical insurance;
• resume; 
• account statement.

Renewal of residence permit in Thailand

Non-immigrant visas are issued for 90 days. Temporary residents extend the visas for 3-12 months for various reasons. For this, 2 weeks before graduation, they visit the Immigration Office with a completed file.

It shall include:

• form TM-7;
• 2 passport photos;
• scan the ID card of the property owner. 
• a copy of the lease agreement or a separate certificate;
• a certificate from work or school.

Foreigners residing in the territory for more than 3 months provide quarterly reports for 3 years. In case of non-compliance with the residency permit regime, the residency permit is automatically canceled.

Cost of visa

The cost depends on the type and term. The price of a single-entry permit for family reunification is $58, an annual multi visa is $149. The cost of a one-time student visa is $30. Multiple entry visas for 3 months cost $515, half year – $575, annual $860-$1,720. Renewal Surcharge – $55-$145. A re-entry permit is required when leaving the country.

Digital nomads pay fees of ~$1,300. Long-term smart visas and LTRs are also being extended. This rule does not apply to elite programs. After 5 years, holders pay additional membership fees and pass to a new level, and live on them for another 10-25 years. The price of participation in the program depends on the number of family members.