What the data can and cannot tell us
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) publishes statistics on its LTR official page covering the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 June 2026.
The scope of this data matters. It shows the composition of applicants who passed the LTR qualification or were recorded as successful applicants during that period. It does not show the overall approval rate for all applications, and it should not be treated as a direct measure of market demand.
Still, for retirement-age readers considering long-term residence in Thailand, the category distribution is useful context.
Category composition: 1 September 2022 to 30 June 2026
| Category | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wealthy Pensioners | 3,911 | 37.3% |
| Dependants | 3,359 | 32.2% |
| High Skilled Professionals | 1,595 | 15.2% |
| Work from Thailand Professionals | 975 | 9.3% |
| Wealthy Global Citizens | 633 | 6% |
| Total | 10,473 | 100% |
Dependants are spouses or family members of applicants. They are not an independent principal applicant category. Their share reflects the scale of family accompaniment within LTR cases and should not be combined with principal applicant categories such as Wealthy Pensioners.
Main nationality distribution
| Nationality | HSP | WFTP | WGC | WP | Dependants | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 57 | 133 | 59 | 1,533 | 375 | 2,157 |
| Japan | 575 | 7 | 10 | 48 | 544 | 1,184 |
| United Kingdom | 103 | 82 | 65 | 481 | 199 | 930 |
| Russia | 11 | 328 | 34 | 45 | 387 | 805 |
| France | 98 | 39 | 37 | 199 | 150 | 523 |
| Germany | 116 | 36 | 38 | 174 | 148 | 512 |
| China | 53 | 54 | 67 | 89 | 238 | 501 |
| India | 103 | 22 | 16 | 81 | 217 | 439 |
| Switzerland | 10 | 11 | 14 | 275 | 73 | 383 |
| Australia | 50 | 41 | 28 | 164 | 86 | 369 |
| Others | 419 | 222 | 265 | 822 | 942 | 2,670 |
| Total | 1,595 | 975 | 633 | 3,911 | 3,359 | 10,473 |
Abbreviations: HSP = High Skilled Professionals; WFTP = Work from Thailand Professionals; WGC = Wealthy Global Citizens; WP = Wealthy Pensioners.
What the data suggests
Several points are worth noting.
Wealthy Pensioners are the largest principal applicant category. Among the four principal applicant categories, Wealthy Pensioners are the largest group, with 3,911 people, representing 37.3% of the total shown in the BOI statistics.
Dependants are a substantial part of the picture. The 3,359 dependants suggest that many LTR cases involve spouses or family arrangements. For applicants planning to move with a partner or family member, the dependant dimension should be considered together with the principal applicant category.
The nationality mix is broad. The United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and Germany all appear prominently. China appears in the table with 501 people, but its number is lower than several leading nationalities and spread across categories. It should not be read as proof that the broader Chinese-reading market has already adopted LTR at scale.
Why this matters for retirement and semi-retirement readers
For retirement-age readers considering Thailand as a long-term base, this data gives one useful signal: among approved or successful LTR applicants, the Wealthy Pensioner category is the largest principal applicant category.
That does not mean LTR is suitable for every retirement-age applicant. It means the route is already being used at a meaningful scale by people in the retirement category, and it is worth including in the comparison set for applicants who can benefit from lower annual administrative friction.
Statistics do not replace individual assessment. Eligibility, actual travel pattern, document readiness, and the comparison with Retirement O and Thailand Privilege all need to be reviewed together before a sensible decision can be made.
Boundaries of this data
- These figures are official public statistics for qualification approval or successful applicants. They do not mean every applicant can pass the LTR qualification review.
- The figures are not an individual approval probability.
- They should not be used as direct proof of overall market demand or conversion.
- Dependants are not a principal applicant category and should not be combined with Wealthy Pensioners or other principal categories.
- Nationality data shows applicant composition. It does not prove demand or intent across an entire national reader group.
Further reading / next step
If you want to discuss the data or suggest another angle:
You can ask Ask Zagdim. If there is a specific LTR data angle you want Zagdim to examine next, send it through that route.
If you are assessing whether LTR or another Thailand long-stay route fits your situation:
If you need Thailand LTR application assistance, local specialist support, or help booking an initial online consultation, you can take the next step through the overseas local assistance platform ZDelp.
Official source: Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) LTR official page.
