Thailand Eases Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa Rules to Attract Digital Nomads and Wealthy Expats
#ThailandRelocation #LTRVisa #DigitalNomad #ExpatLife
On January 14, 2025, Thailand’s Cabinet approved a series of policy adjustments to the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, aimed at attracting more wealthy foreign nationals and digital nomads. According to government sources, these changes—proposed by the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI)—include relaxed eligibility criteria and the elimination of overlapping Smart Visa categories.
Key Changes for LTR Visa Holders
The revised LTR visa policy mainly benefits three groups:
Remote workers (digital nomads)
Wealthy global citizens
LTR visa holders’ family members
1. LTR Visa for Digital Nomads
- The income requirement for employers has been significantly reduced.
- Previously, companies hiring remote workers needed an annual revenue of at least $150 million (NTD 4.6 billion) over the past three years.
- This threshold has now been lowered to $50 million (NTD 1.5 billion), making it easier for digital nomads to qualify.
2. LTR Visa for Wealthy Global Citizens
- The requirement for applicants to have a minimum annual income of $80,000 for two consecutive years has been removed.
- BOI believes investment capacity should take priority over strict income criteria, making the visa more accessible to wealthy individuals.
3. LTR Visa for Family Members
- The previous limit of a maximum of four family members per applicant has been lifted.
- This change makes family relocation to Thailand more convenient, allowing applicants to bring additional dependents.
Smart Visa Adjustments
- The majority of Smart Visa categories have been abolished, leaving only the entrepreneur-focused Smart Visa for startup founders.
- BOI stated that the LTR visa is now the primary long-term visa option, as its criteria overlap significantly with the Smart Visa categories.
A More Attractive Destination for Expats
These policy changes are part of Thailand’s broader strategy to enhance its appeal to high-income professionals and investors. Analysts believe the relaxed LTR visa requirements will boost Thailand’s global competitiveness as a long-term residency destination while stimulating economic growth.
