Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa — Wealthy Global Citizen
The Wealthy Global Citizen route asks for a single USD 500,000 threshold invested in Thailand, met by government bonds, direct investment in a Thai company, or property — any one, or a mix of the three — inside a wider 1,000,000 USD asset requirement. It buys a renewable ten-year visa (5+5) with annual reporting instead of the usual 90-day check-in, and a genuine exemption on foreign-source income. Foreigners cannot hold Thai land freehold, so the property option means a condominium or a long lease. See how it compares on our programme finder and methodology.
Key figures
- From
- $500 000≈ $667 500 for a family of four, fees included
- Processing time
- 1–2 months
- Physical presence
- No minimum stay is required to keep the visa, and the usual 90-day reporting is relaxed to once a year — well suited to a part-time base rather than full relocation.
- Family
- Spouse and children under 20, up to a maximum of four dependants per LTR holder.
Timeline and status
The programme announces 1–2 months. That is the official figure, not a commitment. Status checked against Thailand Board of Investment — LTR Visa (programme officiel) on .
A qualification endorsement from the Board of Investment is issued first, then the visa; practitioners report roughly one to two months end to end for a complete file.
Investment routes and what each one really costs
| Route | Official minimum | Real total, family of four | Hold | Recoverable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government bondsAlso accepted for this threshold — business, real estateOne threshold of 500,000 USD invested in Thailand, in the applicant’s name, met by any one of three assets or by a combination of them: Thai government bonds with more than five years’ remaining maturity, direct investment in a Thai-registered company, or Thai property. It sits inside a wider requirement of 1,000,000 USD in global assets, which the 500,000 USD counts towards. Note that foreigners cannot own land freehold in Thailand — property here means a condominium unit or a long-lease structure. | $500 000 | ≈ $667 500 | 5 yr | Yes |
Limits and drawbacks
- This is long-stay residency, not citizenship. Thai naturalisation is rare, slow and out of reach for most, so do not treat the LTR as a route to a Thai passport.
- The Wealthy Global Citizen route requires 1,000,000 USD in total assets, of which at least 500,000 USD must sit in qualifying Thai assets, plus health insurance of 50,000 USD or a 100,000 USD deposit held twelve months.
- Reported criteria have shifted — some 2025-2026 sources say the income test was dropped for the wealthy route, others still list an 80,000 USD income. Confirm the current requirements directly with the Board of Investment before applying.
- Foreigners cannot own land freehold in Thailand, which constrains the real-estate route to condominiums or leasehold structures.
What it gets you
- A 10-year renewable visa (5 + 5) — long horizon, no annual visa runs
- Tax exemption on foreign-source income for LTR holders
- Digital work permit and exemption from the four-Thais-to-one-foreigner hiring ratio
- Annual reporting instead of the usual 90-day report, plus airport fast-track
Tax in brief
- LTR visa holders enjoy a tax exemption on foreign-source income
- Ordinary residents are taxed on Thai income, progressively from 0% to 35%
- Since 2024, ordinary residents are taxed on foreign income remitted to Thailand
- Corporate income tax is 20%; VAT is 7%
- An inheritance tax applies above a high threshold — Thailand is not tax-free
Who else accepts the same kind of investment
Compare it with another jurisdiction
| — | Portugal | Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Official minimum | env. $289 000Identical on this line | env. $289 000Identical on this line |
| Real total, family of 4 (fees included) | ≈ $385 214Identical on this line | ≈ $385 214Identical on this line |
| Announced processing | 12–24 months | 4–6 monthsfaster |
| Presence required | Seven days in the first year, then fourteen days in each subsequent two-year period. | None. |
| Years to citizenship | 10 years | 7 yearsfaster |
| Investment routes | Investment fund, Business, Donation | Real estate |
| A route returns the capital | NoIdentical on this line | NoIdentical on this line |
| Open to Russian applicants | YesIdentical on this line | YesIdentical on this line |
| Region | EuropeIdentical on this line | EuropeIdentical on this line |
Open the country page · PortugalOpen the country page · Greece
Freedom. Anywhere.
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What we do for you
Citizenship or residence, the honest answer often is not the one you arrived with. We take the whole procedure with you — eligibility, the route that fits your situation, the file, the follow-up — with one person on your side throughout.
For Thailand specifically, you are talking to someone who already knows the file: who to speak to on the ground, what the unit actually asks for, and the points where applications stall.
- One point of contact, from the first call to the certificate
- Vetted partners on the ground — law firms, licensed agents, banks — introduced, not listed
- It starts with a short qualifying call, and no, it is not a sales call
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