LTR Visa — Long-Term Resident

Required Documents

Fees

Step-by-Step Process

Expert Tips

• The LTR's reduced annual reporting (vs. quarterly 90-day reports) is a major quality-of-life improvement for long-term residents — factor this into the cost-benefit calculation.
• The 17% flat income tax option (Work-from-Thailand category) can be very valuable for high earners normally facing Thailand's progressive rate up to 35%.
• Use a reputable immigration lawyer to prepare your application — the documentation requirements are strict and a rejected application wastes months.
• The BOI has a dedicated hotline and online chat for LTR queries: call or message them before spending on documents to confirm your eligibility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying for the wrong sub-category — for example, applying as a Work-from-Thailand Professional without realising your employer must be listed on a recognised stock exchange or equivalent.
• Obtaining a criminal background check without apostille, or from the wrong country.
• Not renewing health insurance annually — if your insurance lapses, your LTR status may be affected.

Important Warnings

When entry can be refused

Holding a valid visa is not the same as a right of entry. The Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) sets out eleven grounds on which an immigration officer may refuse a foreigner at the border.

1. 1

   No genuine valid passport, or a valid passport without a visa — unless you meet the visa exemption requirements. The terms of both visa issuance and visa exemption are set by Ministerial Regulations rather than by the Act itself.

2. 2

   No appropriate means of living after entering the country.

3. 3

   Entering to work as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in breach of the Alien Work Permit law.

4. 4

   Being mentally unstable, or having any of the diseases listed in the Ministerial Regulations.

5. 5

   Not vaccinated against smallpox or otherwise inoculated as required, and refusing vaccination by the Immigration Doctor.

6. 6

   Having been imprisoned by a Thai court, or by a foreign court — except for petty offences, negligence, or cases the Ministerial Regulations exempt.

7. 7

   Behaviour that could endanger the public, or being subject to an arrest warrant from a foreign government.

8. 8

   Reason to believe entry is for prostitution, trafficking of women or children, drug smuggling or other smuggling against public morality.

9. 9

   Not holding the money or bond the Minister prescribes.(Section 14)

10. 10

    Being a person the Minister has prohibited from entry.(Section 16)

11. 11

    Having been deported by Thailand or another country, had a right of stay revoked, or been expelled from Thailand at the Thai government's expense — unless the Minister grants an individual exemption.

Summarised in plain English from the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand and read on 2026-08-12. This is a summary, not the statutory text — read the source document if anything here affects your travel.

Thai bank holidays, 2026

Banks, government offices and immigration are closed. Visa extensions and 90-day reports cannot be filed on these dates, and the days either side are the busiest of the month.

• 13 Oct 2026H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Memorial Day
• 23 Oct 2026H.M. King Chulalongkorn the Great Memorial Day
• 7 Dec 2026Substitution for H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Birthday, National Day and Father’s Day (Saturday 5th December 2026)
• 10 Dec 2026Constitution Day
• 31 Dec 2026New Year’s Eve

Source: Bank of Thailand. Financial-institution holidays; some government offices keep different hours.

Frequently Asked Questions