Smart Visa Thailand

The Thailand SMART Visa program is designed to attract foreign professionals to Thailand for employment, investment, or launching new businesses in targeted industries within the country. This visa is intended for high-level and high-tech workers, and is not as common or easy to acquire as the standard Thailand Business Visa.

What is the Thailand SMART Visa?

The Thailand SMART Visa was designed for working professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, startup company owners, and executives who contribute to the development of Thailand’s economy through targeted industries. These targeted industries, also known as "S-Curve industries," include:

• Automotives  
• Electronics
• Tourism (affluent, medical, or wellness) 
• Agriculture and biotechnology
• Future food
• Automation and robotics
• Transportation and logistics
• Biofuels and biochemicals
• Digital technologies
• Medicine and medical hubs
• National Defense
• Aviation and aerospace
• Management of Technological Innovation and Startup Ecosystem
• Targeted technological development
• International Business Center (IBC)
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Human resource development in science and technology
• Environmental research
• Renewable energy

Thailand SMART Visa Benefits

The SMART Visa allows experts to utilize their skill set in the Kingdom, share in its growth, and enjoy the following benefits:

• The ability to reside in Thailand for up to 4 years (excluding applicants who applied through the Startup stream).
• Annual reporting to the Thai immigration office instead of the usual 90 days as with other visas.
• The option to bring family members to Thailand on a Non-Immigrant Visa.
• The opportunity to work in any of the targeted industries without a work permit. 
• A multiple-entry visa that eliminates the need to apply for a re-entry permit each time you travel in and out of Thailand.

Thailand SMART Visa Categories

To secure a SMART Visa, you will have to apply through a stream. There are a total of 4 different streams, with each having its own unique eligibility conditions to fulfill.

SMART Talent (T) Visa

This stream is available to talented foreign working professionals wanting to continue working in a targeted industry in Thailand. If you’ve accumulated experience in "S-Curve industries", you can apply for a SMART Visa through this stream. The standard requirements for the SMART Talent (T) Visa are as follows:

• Must earn at least 100,000 THB (or the international equivalent) per month
  • Retired experts or startup company employees only need to have an income of 50,000 THB (or the international equivalent) per month. 
• Must have work experience in a science and technology field related to a targeted industry. Your expertise here has to be endorsed by a government agency from the Strategic Talent Center (STC) network. 
• Must have an employment or service contract with a company in Thailand with a validity of 1 year remaining.
• Must be endorsed by one of the following government agencies:
  • National Innovation Agency 
  • Digital Economy Promotion Agency 

If you are working for either a government agency, a higher education institute, a specialized training institute, or dealing with Alternative Dispute Resolution, you do not have to meet the above requirements. Instead, you will have the following requirements to meet:

• You must provide evidence that you are working for any of the above institutes/agencies (this can be a proof of employment document or an employment contract).
• If you are working for a government agency, the employing body must validate your expertise in any of the targeted industries. 
• If you are working for a higher education or specialized training institution, your experience must be endorsed by the employing body within the Strategic Talent Center (STC) network. 
• If you are delivering Alternative Dispute Resolution services, your level of expertise in this must be endorsed by an arbitration institute. 

It is important to note that remote workers and digital nomads who do not have an employment contract with a Thai entity, an assignment to work in Thailand, or are not under a contract between an overseas company and a Thai company are not eligible for a SMART Visa. Alternative visa options for remote workers include the Destination Thailand Visa, Thailand Elite Visa, and LTR visa.

SMART Investor (I) Visa

If you’re an investor, you are also considered eligible for the SMART Visa program. Your investments, whether in shares, property, goods, services, or funds, help drive Thailand’s economy forward, making you a prime candidate for the SMART Visa. The requirements for this stream are as follows:

• Must meet one of the investment requirements:
  • Must invest at least 20 million THB into technology-based companies or 5 million THB in a startup or accelerator/incubation program (if you are an individual investor).
  • Must invest at least 20 million THB into technology-based companies (if investing through a capital venture).
• The company must manufacture or provide services in any of the targeted industries (if you are investing in a technology-driven business).
• The businesses you invest in must be endorsed by one of the following government agencies:
  • National Innovation Agency 
  • Digital Economy Promotion Agency 
  • Technology Development Agency

SMART Executive (E) Visa

This stream is geared towards anyone working in an executive position. To apply through this stream, you will need to meet the following requirements:

• Must hold an executive position (such as a Chairman or Managing Director) in a company.
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree or a higher level education degree.
• Must have at least 10 years of work experience in a targeted industry.
• Must earn a minimum of 200,000 THB per month (or the international equivalent).
• Must have an employment contract with a company in Thailand with 1 year of validity remaining.
• Your employer must be certified as a technology-based business that either manufactures or delivers services by one of the following government agencies:
  • National Innovation Agency 
  • Digital Economy Promotion Agency
  • National Science and Technology Development Agency

SMART Startup (S) Visa

This stream is different as it gives you the option to reside in Thailand for 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years (depending on your situation) rather than the default 4-year duration. This is an ideal choice for you if you:

• Have created a startup or business in the country
• Have joined an accelerator or incubation program
• Plan to open a business in Thailand

Requirements for a 6-Month Visa

To apply for the 6-month visa, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• You must have either: 
  • An official plan to launch a tech startup company that has been endorsed by government organizations such as the National Innovation Agency.
  • Be actively engaged in startup activities (such as a Startup Camp) that have been endorsed by a government agency such as the National Innovation Agency or the Board of Investments (BOI).
• You must be covered by health insurance in Thailand for your entire stay.

Requirements for a 1 or 2-year Visa

To apply for the 1 and 2-year visa, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Must have at least 600,000 THB (or the international equivalent) in a Thai or foreign savings account that’s been maintained for at least 3 months.
  • If you’re being accompanied by any family members, each additional applicant needs to hold at least 180,000 THB (or the international equivalent) in their savings account and have it maintained for a minimum of 3 months.
• Must be covered by health insurance for the entire length of your stay in Thailand.
• Must have set up a startup in a targeted industry endorsed by one of the following government agencies:
  • National Innovation Agency 
  • Digital Economy Promotion Agency

However, it is important to note that this stream only offers a visa if you are in one of the following circumstances:

• If you hold no less than 25% of the company’s share or hold a position as a director in that company, you are eligible for a 2-year visa.
• If you are participating in an accelerator or incubation program, then you are eligible for a 1-year visa:
  • This program must be endorsed by a government agency such as the National Innovation Agency or the Digital Economy Promotion Agency.
  • If not currently participating in an accelerator or incubation program, you must receive joint venture funding with a public sector company or be endorsed by a relevant government body.

Adding Family to Your Thailand SMART Visa

Once you have acquired a Thailand SMART Visa, you have the opportunity to bring your spouse and children with you to Thailand. The requirements for bringing dependents are as follows:

• You must already hold a SMART Visa.
• Each additional applicant must be an immediate family member, meaning only your spouse and legally recognized children are eligible.
• Children must be below the age of 20 to be eligible. If you applied through the “Talent” stream, however, your child might be considered if they are over 20 years old.
• Each family member must be considered a dependent (this excludes family members of a 6-month SMART Visa holder).
• If you applied for a SMART Visa under the “Startup” stream, your family member(s) need to demonstrate 180,000 THB (or the international equivalent) in their savings for 3 months.
• Health insurance is required and must cover each additional applicant for the entire duration of their stay.

Thailand SMART Visa Application Process

After meeting the requirements for your desired stream, you would then need to go through the application process. The application process consists of the following steps:

1. You must select a stream and create an account on the SMART Visa section of the Board of Investment website: https://smart-visa.boi.go.th/ 
2. You must complete the online application and provide a PDF version of all the required documents.
3. Your application will be transferred over to the One Stop Center for Visas and Work Permits (OSS) to be screened. 
4. Within 30 days, the OSS will then notify you of the results. If successful, you will be issued a Letter of Qualification Endorsement. 
5. You can then apply for the SMART Visa via the following organizations:

• Royal Thai Consulate or Thai Embassy (if abroad)
• One-Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits (if in Thailand)
• EEC Labour Administration Center in Chonburi (if in Thailand)

1. You will have to book an appointment to get your SMART Visa issued at your desired location. 

The Thailand SMART Visa costs 10,000 THB (or the international equivalent if applying abroad) per person, and you will have to pay the fee every year.

Affixing the Thailand SMART Visa

After you’ve completed the application process, you would need to get it affixed. There are two ways to do this.

Getting the Thailand SMART Visa in Person

If you are obtaining your visa in person, you will need to present several documents before heading to the institution you’ve selected. These documents include a:

• Valid passport with at least 2 to 3 blank pages remaining
• Recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant (with a white background)
• Letter of Qualification Endorsement
• Completed SMART Visa application form
•  TM6 Arrival Card
• Completed STM.6 Form (Criteria and Conditions Acknowledgement Form For The Temporary Stay Permit In The Kingdom)
• Two completed acknowledgment documents:
  • Acknowledgment Form of Penalties For a Visa Overstay
  • Acknowledgment Form of Practices For Recipients of SMART Visa
• Recent 90-day report receipt (only applicable to previous holders of a non-immigrant visa that has been previously extended)
• Work permit (only applicable if the applicant was a previous non-immigrant B visa holder)

Prepare these documents and present them to either the One Stop Service Center or the EEC Labour Administration Center. There will be staff there who will be able to guide you in acquiring your SMART visa sticker.

Getting the Thailand SMART Visa Overseas

If you’re applying overseas, you must select a Royal Thai Consulate or Embassy to affix your SMART Visa. To prevent complications, you should give yourself 1 month in advance to obtain the visa before flying to Thailand. Here are the steps you must follow:

1. You need to inform the Board of Investment (BOI) of which location you’ve chosen. You can send this request via email at: smartvisa@boi.go.th 
2. The SMART Visa unit at the Board of Investment (BOI) will coordinate with the Thai Embassy in your country which will then send a notification to you via email. This process lasts 7-14 days. 
3. Upon receiving the notification, you can book an appointment with the embassy to get your visa sticker. The embassy will inform you of the fees and documents you will need to send.  
4. After receiving the visa, you can apply for a Certificate of Entry and book a flight to Thailand. The Certificate of Entry serves as proof that you are given the right to enter the country. 

You should also be aware of any possible inaccuracies on your visa sticker and arrival stamp, as failure to do so may create issues such as your entry into Thailand being denied. Upon arrival in Thailand, you can also send a copy of your arrival stamp and SMART Visa sticker to the Board of Investment (BOI) via email to receive a Notification Letter of Rights for SMART Visa Holders.

Thailand SMART Visa Alternative: LTR Visa

If you’re looking to stay in Thailand for longer than 4 years, consider the LTR Visa Thailand, also known as the Long-Term Resident Visa. It comes in 4 categories that each cater to a variety of expat professional lifestyles including digital nomads, investors, and individuals looking to work for Thai companies.

The LTR Visa provides you with a 10-year visa, a renewable 5-year multiple-entry permit, annual reporting to the immigration office, and expedited immigration processing at airports.

If you are a working professional in Thailand, you will also enjoy a significantly lower flat tax rate of 17% compared to Thailand’s progressive income tax rate which could go as high as 35%. Digital nomads enjoy complete exemption from Thai taxes on their foreign income in the remote worker stream.

And like with the SMART visa, if you’re a family looking to move to Thailand together, the LTR Visa also grants you the ability to add up to 4 immediate family members.