Residence in Thailand

Thailand, with its rich cultural history and affordable yet exceptionally high standard of living, is increasingly drawing the interest of travelers and professionals, positioning itself as an appealing destination, even for those seeking a second home. The country offers a wide range of residence options through its Thailand Privilege Residence and the Long Term Residence Programs.

Benefits of Thai residence by investment

• Long-term residence permit with privileged treatment in Thailand
• No minimum stay requirement
• Attractive tax benefits and exemptions
• Efficient application processes with the Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited or the Thailand Board of Investment
• Low-cost yet high standard of living
• Ability to include a spouse and dependents
• Elite service when dealing with immigration

The Thailand Privilege Residence Program:

The Thailand Privilege Residence Program offers foreign nationals the opportunity to live in Thailand for up to 20 years and access complimentary VIP services and benefits.

There are four different program options, each varying in validity, the number of points allocated, and cost:

1. Gold card — A five-year privilege entry visa for expats or businesspeople to enter and exit Thailand. The fee is THB 900,000 including VAT (approximately USD 25,000). 20 points per year are allocated to redeem services. Dependents cannot be included in this option.
2. Platinum card — A 10-year privilege entry visa ideal for families, where the main applicant pays a fee of THB 1.5 million including VAT (approximately USD 42,000) and an additional fee of THB 1 million including VAT (approximately USD 28,000) per dependent. 35 points per year are allocated per family to redeem services.
3. Diamond card — A 15-year privilege entry visa where the main applicant pays a fee of THB 2.5 million including VAT (approximately USD 70,000) and an additional fee of THB 1.5 million including VAT (approximately USD 42,000) per dependent. 55 points per year are allocated per family to redeem services.
4. Reserve card (issued by invitation only) — A 20-year privilege entry visa for THB 5 million including VAT (approximately USD 140,000) and an additional fee of THB 2 million (approximately USD 55,000) per dependent. 120 points per year are allocated per family to redeem services.

An application fee of THB 50,000 is payable upon submission of the application. Upon approval, this fee is deducted from the total amount of the chosen program option.

Dependents may include legitimate parents, stepparents, a spouse (including by civil union), children, and stepchildren.

Procedures and time frame of the Thailand Privilege Residence Program

TPC has an efficient application process. Approved applicants and dependents must inform TPC seven days in advance of their request to have the visa affixed upon their arrival at the airport under normal travel conditions or at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.

The first step after the prospective client has contacted Henley & Partners is the completion of the initial due diligence checks. Thereafter, the client agreement can be signed, and the retainer can be paid. The application for Thai residence can then be prepared and submitted for processing upon payment of the THB 50,000 application fee. After the application is approved following a two–three-month process, the successful applicant can make the contribution. The residence visa can be issued within two weeks after TPC has confirmed receipt of the full application fee. Finally, the welcome letter will be received by the client and an appointment can be made for visa affixation.

To complete an online application, please visit www.henleypartners-thailandprivilegecard.com/en

The Long Term Residence Program:

The Long Term Residence Program offers individuals the opportunity to live and work in Thailand for up to ten years (five-year visa and a built-in renewal for a further five years), with reduced administrative requirements and attractive tax benefits.

There are four different categories available under this program, each varying in requirements:

1. Wealthy Global Citizen — applicants must have:
   
   
   • At least USD 1 million in assets
   • A personal yearly income of a minimum of USD 80,000 for the past two years
   • An investment of at least USD 500,000 in Thai property, foreign direct investment, or Thai government bonds
2. Wealthy Pensioner — retirees (50 years and older) must have an annual pension or stable passive income of at least USD 80,000. Only passive income will be considered. If the applicant’s personal income is below USD 80,000 but no less than USD 40,000 per year, they must invest at least USD 250,000 in Thai property, foreign direct investment, or Thai government bonds.
3. Work from Thailand Professional — applicants must be working for a well-established overseas company with a personal yearly income of a minimum of USD 80,000 for the past two years. If the applicant’s personal income is below USD 80,000 but no less than USD 40,000 per year, they must have a Master’s degree or above, own intellectual property, or receive Series A funding. The company must either be a public company on a stock exchange or a private company in operation for at least three years with a combined revenue of at least USD 150 million over the last three years.
4. Highly Skilled Professional — professionals or experts with at least five years of experience in targeted industries (business entities, higher education institutes, research centers, specialized training institutions, or Thai government agencies) must have a personal yearly income of a minimum of USD 80,000 for the past two years. If the applicant’s personal income is below USD 80,000 but no less than USD 40,000 per year in the past two years, they must have a Master’s degree or above in science and technology, or special expertise relevant to their job assignment in Thailand.

Up to four dependents, including a spouse and children or stepchildren under the age of 20, can be included.

Procedures and time frame of the Long Term Residence Program

This program is offered by the BOI has an efficient application process and provides special support to LTR applicants through a dedicated immigration office, the One Stop Service Immigration Office in Bangkok.

The first step after the prospective client has contacted Henley & Partners is the completion of the initial due diligence checks. Thereafter, the client agreement can be signed, and the retainer can be paid. The application for Long Term Thai residence can then be prepared and submitted for processing upon payment of the retainer fee. After the application is approved, following a four–six week process, an appointment can be made at a Thai Embassy or One Stop Service in Bangkok for the payment of the government fee and visa affixation.

Dual Citizenship in Thailand

While the residence permits obtained through the Thailand Privilege Residence and the Long Term Residence Programs do not lead to permanent residency or citizenship, there are pathways to permanent residency and citizenship available for eligible individuals.

In order to apply to become a Thai permanent resident, applicants must have had a Thai non-immigrant visa for at least three years prior to the submission of the application and must have three consecutive yearly extensions in order to qualify. The applicant must also be a holder of a non-immigrant visa at the time of submitting the permanent residence application.

An application for citizenship can be filed to become a Thai naturalized citizen after holding permanent resident status in Thailand for 10 consecutive years. Thailand does not recognize dual citizenship, but there are exceptions.