Visa Immigration Advice
- By letgothailandexpatdemo
So, if you now have decided to move to Thailand, one of the next questions to answer is ‘Which type of Visa scheme should I apply for?’ This is a decision that should be well thought out, as depending on your personal situation, it will be cheaper and less work in the long run if you select the correct Visa for your purposes, then switching Visa category at a later date.
Important things to note:
- Not all Visa’s in Thailand are work eligible; so if you plan to work, take this in to account when choosing your desired Visa scheme.
- A Work Permit is required to work in Thailand, and you are not permitted to work without it. This is a separate item and process from your Visa.
- Some Visa schemes look desirable at first, but after further digging you may realize that it doesn’t fit your longer term plans. For example, if you want a Highly Skilled Long Term Visa for 10-years, which is a great Visa scheme for those working or with skills that fit in to the definition of the Highly Skilled requirement, you cannot obtain Permanent Residency through the Visa.
- If you have dependents (i.e. a Spouse or Children), you must also take in to account their Visa, which requires additional planning and execution.
- Executing your Visa process, from application to completion and maintenance, is not easy, and you should not ‘go it alone’. It is highly recommended, a requirement even, that you enlist profession immigration assistance from a local Thai lawyer (more on this below).
Below are some popular Visa Types that many Westerners use as part of their permanent relocation to Thailand.
This Visa is the most popular type of Visa for Westerners relocating to Thailand. It is typically issued for a 90-Day short term stay, and most enter with this Visa if they are not utilizing a Tourist Visa to enter Thailand. From there, the Visa is either renewed for a long term working Visa which is renewed annually (with a work permit under any sponsoring entity in Thailand), or leave Thailand before it expires and then apply for a new Visa and restart the whole process again. This 1-Year renewal is typically done so that it coincides with a Visa holder’s Work Permit, which again is typically structured for 1-Year for practical and efficiency reasons. Under a Non-B Visa, a Non-O Visa can be issued to the Non-B Visa holder’s dependents such as spouse or children. From a cost perspective, the Non-B Visa is a popular choice, and if extending to one-year intervals, is not too much of a hassle to renew vs. going to Immigration every 90-days. The Non-B Visa also allows you to pursue a Permanent Residency path after three years. Keep in mind that it may be longer than three years to become eligible for Permanent Residency, based on the month you are originally granted the Non-B Visa (it has to be three full consecutive years holding the Non-B Visa before becoming eligible). So if you were issued your Non-B Long Term Visa in August, it would be 3-Years + 4 months before becoming eligible. In order to apply for a permanent residency, the applicant must held a work permit for 3 full calendar years (Jan – Dec). Additionally, if the applicant is changing jobs, there must be no gap between each work permit.
This is geared toward professionals who work in a very specific skillset function or company where the Thai Government has determined is of need to the Thai economy. This can include remote-work, where you work a job from Thailand but are employed in the U.S. or EU for example. Additionally, there is another type of, Work From Thailand, but it does not provide the 17% maximum tax rate incentive that the Highly Skilled Professional LTR Visa offers. This Visa is actually screened by the Board of Investment (as it is a BOI-sponsored Visa program), and the requirements are quite specific and onerous. Should you qualify, it is a good Visa to have, as it is currently eligible for a 10-Year stay, renewed once at the 5th year, and your income in Thailand is capped at 17% tax rate. There is also an older, SMART Visa program, but since the HSP program has been introduced, it is not as attractive since the HSP Visa program has more advantages. One advantage of the HSP LTR Visa program, is that the dependent of the HSP LTR Visa holder can also get a Work Permit, and is eligible to work in Thailand. Whereas the Non-B Visa holder dependent would be granted a Non-O Visa, and would have to switch to their own Non-B Visa after getting work sponsorship and their own Work Permit.
The Thailand Elite Visa is a long-term Visa program offered by the Thai government through the Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited. This program is designed to attract visitors by offering various benefits and privileges. Here are the key details about the Thailand Elite Visa:
Benefits:
- Long-Term Stay: The Visa offers various membership options ranging from 5 to 20 years.
- Multiple Entry: Holders can enter and exit Thailand as many times as they wish.
- VIP Services: Fast-track immigration and passport control services at Thai airports.
- Airport Services: Access to exclusive airport lounges and limousine transfers.
- Government Concierge: Assistance with dealing with Thai government agencies for services such as driving licenses.
Application Process:
- Membership Application: Submit an application form along with other require documents
- Background Check: Conducts a background check.
- Approval and Payment: Upon approval, the applicant pays the membership fee.
- Visa Issuance: The Visa can be affixed at a Thai embassy/consulate abroad or upon arrival in Thailand at BKK (Suvarnabhumi), Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, or at the Immigration Bureau in Chang Wattana.
The application fee is 50,000 THB, and is required prior to the background check. If approved, the amount will be deducted from the full amount of the Visa. If rejected, the amount will be refunded.
The Thailand Elite Visa is a convenient option for those looking to stay in Thailand for extended periods without the usual hassles that come with regular Visa applications. However, it comes with the hefty price, starting from 900,000 THB up to 5,000,000 THB for 5-20 years membership.
If you are 50 years or older, you may consider the Non-O Visa (retirement Visa) as an option. However, you are not required to work with this Visa type, as this Visa is for retiree relocating to Thailand. It is issued for a 90-Day short term stay which can be extended for 1-Year as a Long Term retirement Visa and renewed annually. This 1-Year renewal is done at the Immigration office that has jurisdiction over your residential area. You can keep renewing it as long as you meet the requirement.
To get your head around what is needed to get and maintain a Thai Visa, we strongly suggest you work with our Visa Immigration Expert, with over 10+ years of experience getting Westerners their Visas in Thailand. Our partner has worked on multiple Corporate relocation projects for entire staff for multinational companies, as well as individual relocation for individuals as well as families. Fluent in English and trained at a Certified Agency with a decade of experience, there is no task that can’t be executed to your satisfaction, down to the final details and hand-holding on the ground in Thailand. If you would like to discuss your Visa plans, have any questions answered or guidance provided, up to including holding your hand through the entire immigration, Visa, and Work Permit process, please reach out at the Contact form below and you will receive a response within the next business day. Please note that Thailand time zone is approximately one working day ahead of the U.S. (slightly less from EU), so please keep that in mind if you submit on Friday or first thing in the morning your local time.