Thailand’s LTR visa process explained

Since Thailand’s new 10 year long-term resident visa (LTR) program launched in September 2022, we have received many enquiries about the qualifications to obtain a LTR visa.

The LTR visa program has caught the attention of foreigners wishing to live in the kingdom because of the special benefits offered that make a long term stay in the kingdom less bureaucratic.

Some of the special privileges that LTR visa holders will receive include:

A 10 year visa, good for unlimited entries into Thailand. Permission will be granted to stay in in Thailand the first time for no more than five years. The period of stay can be extended for another 5 years if qualifications are met.

Permission to work in Thailand and receive a work permit for the visa holder and their spouse. Foreigners that receive an LTR visa in the Highly-Skilled Professional category can receive a discounted personal income tax rate of 17% on employment income received from working in targeted industries.

Access to Fast Track service at international airports and 1 year reporting to Immigration instead of 90 days.

Click here to find out more about the four types of LTR visa offered and whether you qualify for Thailand’s new long-term resident visa program. If you want to know more about your eligibility for an LTR visa, get in touch with us for a free initial consultation.

LTR visa application procedures

If you think you qualify for a LTR visa and can provide the documents necessary to support the application, the first step is to register and submit an application online at the LTR visa website

Within 20 working days after having received complete documents, applicants will be notified of the result.

A successful applicant will receive an endorsement letter from Thailand’s Board of Investment to obtain their LTR visa.

I have received the BOI endorsement letter. What next?

Many applicants might be wondering what the procedure will be like once they obtain the BOI endorsement qualification letter.

After an applicant receives an endorsement letter from the BOI confirming that they qualify for an LTR visa, an applicant must then apply for the visa within 60 days from the issuance date of the endorsement letter.

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has issued an order about the procedures to be followed to apply for and obtain the LTR visa.

Applying for the LTR visa from within Thailand

You can apply for a LTR visa if you are already in Thailand, by submitting the endorsement letter with the visa application to the Immigration Bureau within 60 days from the endorsement letter issuance date and before your current Thai visa expires in case you are holding a Thai visa.

The documents that must be submitted with the application for a LTR visa are as follows:

For the LTR applicant

- Application form for LTR visa (TM.94)

- Passport (or a document in lieu) of the applicant as well as a copy.

- The endorsement letter from the BOI.

- Form STM.8 entitled “Criteria and Conditions Acknowledgement Form for a Temporary Stay Permit in the Kingdom (LTR Visa)”

For the LTR applicant’s family (Spouse/Children)

- Application form for LTR visa (TM.94)

- Passport (or a document in lieu) of the applicant as well as a copy.

- The endorsement letter from the BOI.

- The Passport (or a document in lieu) of the main LTR visa holder as well as a copy.

- Copy of documents proving relationship status such as marriage certificate, registration of child legitimization, household registration certificate, registration of a child adoption certificate or other evidence from a government or relevant agency.

- Form STM.8 entitled “Criteria and Conditions Acknowledgement Form for a Temporary Stay Permit in the Kingdom (LTR Visa)”

The visa applicant must apply in person and pay the application fee of Baht 50,000.

Applying for the LTR visa from overseas

You can apply for a LTR visa from The Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home country within 60 days from the date the BOI endorsement letter was issued.

You must submit the BOI endorsement letter together with the supporting documents listed above, according to the requirements and conditions of the applicable embassy/consulate.

What is a STM.8 Form?

The Thai immigration Bureau has created a new form called ‘STM.8’ specifically for the LTR visa holder to complete when applying for a LTR visa.

The form is entitled “Criteria and Conditions Acknowledgement Form for a Temporary Stay Permit in the Kingdom (LTR Visa)” and must be signed by the applicant to acknowledge the criteria and conditions for their stay in the kingdom and that they will strictly follow such criteria and conditions.

The applicant is asked to acknowledge that permission will be terminated because of the following cases.

1. The applicant does not proceed in accordance with the Notification of the Ministry of Interior on Permission for Certain Groups of Aliens to Remain in the Kingdom of Thailand as a Special Case according to the economic and investment stimulus measures attracting high - potential foreigners to Thailand dated 25 May 2022.

2. Insufficient qualifications or do not follow the criteria and conditions prescribed by the Board of Investment with the cabinet approval.

3. Have been indicated under certain circumstances as likely to cause danger to public safety or have an arrest warrant issued by a foreign government or have been deported by the Thai government or a foreign government or have been revoked the right to stay in the Kingdom.

The applicant will also have to acknowledge that after being granted the permission to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand, they must notify the competent official of their address every year.

Where can you find the forms to apply for the LTR visa?

You can obtain the official visa application forms the Thai Immigration Bureau, The Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home country or download it from the Bangkok Immigration website.

LTR visa stamp

When the LTR visa application process is completed and the visa application approved, a LTR visa stamp will be placed in the applicant’s passport.

Example of LTR visa stamp

This stamp is 8 by 6 cm and presents the detail of the visa including visa category, multiple re-entries, and period of stay in the Kingdom signed by an Immigration Officer.

5 year visa stamp permit

The 10 year LTR visa is divided into two 5 year terms, so the visa holder will initially be granted permission to stay for 5 years.

For a LTR visa holder that obtains their visa outside Thailand, the immigration officer at passport control will grant permission to stay in the country when they first enter the kingdom.

Passport validity

If the LTR visa holder’s passport has a validity of less than 5 years, they will be granted permission to stay only up to the passport’s validity date.

The visa stamp can be transferred into a new passport before the old passport expires and the permission to stay will then be granted up to the remaining period of 5 years (assuming it does not exceed the new passport’s validity date). This can be done free of charge.

Example of stay permit stamp

This stamp is 3 by 4.5 cm and presents the detail of permission to stay in the country including the name of Immigration Bureau Division, permission and expiry date for staying in the Kingdom with the signature of an Immigration Officer.

Notification of address in the kingdom

If an LTR visa holder stays in the kingdom for 1 year, they are required to notify their address to immigration by filling in a TM.95 form and submitting it to the Immigration Bureau 15 days before or 7 days after the due date.

A white notice card should be attached to the visa holder’s passport informing the due date of the next notification.

Example of 1 year notice card for LTR visa

Example of form TM.95

How to apply for the second 5-year term of an LTR visa

As mentioned, the LTR visa is divided into two 5-year terms. LTR visa holders who wish to stay in the Kingdom for more than 5 years must apply to extend their LTR visa before their current visa term expires.

To extend their visa, they must apply again to obtain an endorsement letter from the BOI to confirm their eligibility for the LTR visa. The application for endorsement should be submitted 60 days before the expiry date of the first term.

Once the endorsement letter is issued by BOI, the LTR visa holder should submit the letter together with the required documents for extension of their LTR visa within 60 days from the issuance date of the letter. The second 5-year term visa extension is free of charge.