Many foreign citizens who decide to spend longer periods of time in Thailand need to apply for a Thailand long-term visa. The procedure and the conditions for applying for a long-term visa in Thailand can be answered by our Thai law firm in order to support our clients in their initiative to relocate to Thailand. The most frequent questions from our clients have been gathered and we have provided answers that we hope to be useful to everyone interested in the subject.
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1. Can anyone apply for a long-term visa in Thailand?
There are many categories of applicants who have the right according to the law to obtain a long-term visa in this country. One such category is represented by students who intend to spend their formation time in Thailand. The long-term visa is open as well to people over 50 years old, who have decided to retire in Thailand and who have enough financial means to sustain their retirement projects. Marriage as well as tourism can also stand as grounds for obtaining a long-term visa in this country. Furthermore, if you are thinking about immigration to Thailand, get in touch with our agents. In addition to the required paperwork, applicants for the Business “B” visa need a letter of approval from the Ministry of Labor (copies of passports, pictures, application forms, etc.). Usually, the employer participates in this process by providing the required documentation and copies of company documents. A 90-day stay in Thailand is granted for the bearer of this visa. Then, starting from the date of the first admission, it may be extended for an additional year.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a Thai long term visa? | A visa that allows foreign nationals to stay in Thailand for an extended period, usually for purposes like work, retirement, or family. |
Types of long term visas | Non-Immigrant visa (Type O, B, ED) Retirement visa, Marriage visa. |
Who is eligible for a retirement visa? | Applicants must be over 50 years old and meet financial requirements, such as a minimum income or bank balance. |
| How long is a Thai long term visa valid? | Typically valid for 1 year, with the possibility of renewal depending on the type of visa and applicant’s circumstances. |
| What is the financial requirement? | For a long term visa (like retirement visa, for example), applicants need to show proof of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account or a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB. |
| Can a long term visa be extended? (Yes/No) | Yes, many long-term visas, like the non-immigrant visas, can be extended while in Thailand. |
| Can a long term visa holder work in Thailand? | Work is permitted on certain long-term visas (e.g., Non-Immigrant B visa for business), but generally not allowed on Retirement or Marriage visas. |
| How to apply for a long term visa? | Application is made through a Thai embassy or consulate in your home country or a Thai immigration office inside Thailand. |
| What documents are needed? | passport, financial proof, medical certificate, official police record. |
| Can I travel outside Thailand with a long term visa? (Yes/No) | Yes, but you may need to obtain a re-entry permit to avoid visa cancellation when leaving and re-entering Thailand. |
| Can I switch between long term visa types? (Yes/No) | Yes, it is possible to switch between certain visa types, but you may need to leave Thailand or apply for a new visa depending on the circumstances. |
| What is the marriage visa? | A visa for individuals married to Thai nationals. Applicants must meet financial criteria and provide proof of marriage. |
| What is the Non-Immigrant B Visa? | A visa for individuals coming to Thailand for business or employment purposes. Requires sponsorship from a Thai company or organization. |
| Is health insurance required? | Health insurance is recommended for some visa types, such as the Retirement visa, but is not always a strict requirement. |
| Assistance | Our specialized team of immigration lawyers offer guidance in obtaining such a visa for Thailand. |
2. Are there more types of long-stay visas in Thailand?
If you want to obtain a Thai long-term visa, there are several options from which to choose, according to the purpose of your travel:
• Retirement visa – people aged over 50 who have sufficient retirement funds can go to Thailand with a 90-day non-migrant visa. The Thai Immigration Office can extend this visa into a one-year retirement visa. Certain financial requirements have to be met by the applicant in order to have the retirement visa extended: to deposit THB 800,000 in a Thai bank account and a THB 65,000 monthly pension;
• Marriage visa – if you are married to a Thai citizen you are eligible for a Thailand long-term visa. These are the conditions to be met when applying for a marriage visa: you are legally married to a Thai citizen; you have deposited THB 400,000 in a Thai bank account and have proof of THB 40,000 monthly income. The marriage visa does not give you the right to legally work in Thailand. You need a valid Thai work permit which can be easily obtained with your marriage visa;
• Education visa – you apply for this type of visa when you want to study in Thailand, irrespective of the type of educational institution you enroll in. The necessary documents for obtaining an education visa in Thailand are made available by the education institutions, during the admission process. The length of this visa depends on the program you enroll;
• Business visa – this visa allows you to work for a Thai company or manage a business in Thailand. A legal work permit is obtained alongside this business visa. The documentation for visa application can be obtained from a Thai employer or through your Thai company documents if you set up a company in Thailand. Besides setting up a business, our experts can also assist you in acquiring a Thai residence permit. Our agents will give you an overview of the qualifications, criteria, and application process for permanent residence. This assistance will come together with our legal services to assure your application’s success as initial information and guidance.
Our Thai lawyers are here to guide you through the process of obtaining a Thai long-term visa.
The long-stay visa for Thailand is one of the most sought residence permits by foreigners.
3. Can I immigrate with my family based on a long-stay visa in Thailand?
Yes, the main applicant can include up to 4 family members on a single Thailand long-term visa. Usually, one can immigrate to Thailand with a spouse, minor children, but also adult children as long as they have not turned 20 years old. There are also a few conditions to meet when applying for this type of visa in this conditions, among which:
- each of the family members included in this type of Thai residence permit must depend financially on the main applicant;
- also, they must be immediate family members, meaning adopted children are accepted;
- health insurance with a minimum value of USD 25,000 for each person moving to Thailand must be submitted with the application.
If you need support in applying for a long-stay visa with your family, our immigration lawyers in Thailand can assist you.
4. Is it possible to obtain a Thai long-term visa based on employment?
Yes, it is possible. As a matter of fact, various categories of employees can relocate to Thailand based on this type of visa. This is the preferred option for digital nomads and highly skilled workers. However, each type of labor-related Thai long-stay visa comes with its own requirements.
5. What are the conditions for obtaining a long-term stay visa for Thailand as a digital nomad?
If you are a digital nomad contemplating relocating to Thailand under a long-term visa, you ought to meet the following conditions:
- you must be at least 20 years old when applying for the visa;
- you must submit proof of having at least BHT 500,000 (approximately USD 13,000) in savings;
- your employer must be a company that does not have a legal seat in Thailand;
- you can also be self-employed;
- even if the visa is issued for 5 years, you need to leave and re-enter the country every 6 months.
Our Thai law firm can explain the conditions of the digital nomad visa and how to obtain a long-term visa as a remote worker.
6. What are the requirements if I relocate to Thailand as a skilled professional?
If you have been offered employment and plan to move here based on a long-stay visa in Thailand, you need to:
- submit proof of a minimum yearly income of USD 80,000 in the past 2 years;
- have at least 5 years of experience in a specific industry, or have a PhD, or work in a Thai governmental organization;
- have a master’s degree in IT or other related fields, or relevant experience in the field in which you will work in Thailand;
- your employment offer is in education, research, or a specialized training center.
The minimum annual income requirement does not apply if your job offer is from a Thai governmental agency.
You can rely on our lawyers in Thailand for support with the application.
7. What are the requirements for applying for a long-term visa in Thailand?
One of the most important conditions for obtaining a long-stay visa is to have a valid passport for at least 6 months. Moreover, there will be needed two passport photographs. As a student, you will have to show your invitation letter from the University.
Obtaining a Thailand long-term visa requires a few steps to be taken:
• Preparing the necessary documents and visa application;
• Submitting the documents at the Thai embassy or consulate in the applicant`s home country or by email;
• Paying the consular fees of the embassy by cash, credit card, or check;
• Processing the visa application – this takes between 5 to 10 working days to complete, depending with the institution where the application is registered.
8. What is the main authority that issues long-term visas in Thailand?
The Royal Thai Embassy receives applications for long-stay visas. The documentation can be prepared with the help of one of our attorneys in Thailand.
9. Is the long-term visa affected by visiting another country?
Although the Thailand long-term visa remains valid for the entire period, with any exit outside the borders of the Thai kingdom, upon your return to Thailand, you need to provide a re-entry permit. This can be a one-entry permit or a multiple-entry permit. Our Thai lawyers can give you more details on the advantages and prices of each type.
Please feel free to contact our law firm in Thailand in order to discuss all questions you may have on the long-term visa in this country.