LTR Visa Thailand eases eligibility requirements: what changed in 2025 and who benefits
Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa just became easier to qualify for. In January 2025, the Cabinet approved changes that relax income tests, remove experience hurdles, and widen who counts as a dependent. The updated rules took effect 4 February 2025 under BOI Announcement Por 3/2568.
At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we help clients who previously assumed LTR was out of reach, and many now qualify under the revised thresholds. This guide explains what changed, who benefits, and what you still need to prove. See our LTR Visa Thailand guide for the full programme overview.
BOI Announcement Por 3/2568: applications from this date follow revised criteria.
Wealthy Global Citizens no longer need USD 80,000/year personal income proof.
Work-from-Thailand employer revenue threshold lowered from USD 150M over three years.
Parents and other legal dependents allowed; four-person limit removed.
What is the LTR Visa?
The LTR is a 10-year residency programme (5 years + renewable 5 years) run by the Board of Investment (BOI) for Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, Work-from-Thailand Professionals, and Highly Skilled Professionals. It is not a tourist visa, you qualify through BOI screening, then affix the LTR visa at a Royal Thai embassy or OSS/TIESC in Bangkok.
Programme portal: ltr.boi.go.th. January 2025 changes make LTR more accessible for high-net-worth applicants and newly hired specialists, but documentation standards remain strict.
Easing ≠ open to everyone: BOI qualification screening still applies. The visa fee remains 50,000 THB per person. Health insurance requirements per category still apply. Plan for weeks of document review before endorsement.
What changed in January 2025?
Announcement Por 3/2568 refined eligibility across several streams. The table below summarises before-and-after treatment for applications filed from 4 February 2025.
| Area | Before | After (Feb 2025+) |
|---|---|---|
| Wealthy Global Citizens: income | USD 80,000/year for 2 years | No personal income requirement |
| Work-from-Thailand: employer revenue | USD 150M over 3 years | USD 50M over 3 years |
| Work-from-Thailand: subsidiaries | Subsidiary revenue alone | Parent company financials can qualify |
| Work experience | 5 years in relevant field | Removed for Work-from-Thailand and Highly Skilled |
| Highly Skilled: sectors | Limited industry list | Expanded: more academic and vocational institutions |
| Dependents | Spouse and children under 20 (max 4) | Parents and other legal dependents; no cap |
Official announcement: BOI Por 3/2568 (PDF).
Reduction in minimum income requirements
Two streams saw the most significant income and employer threshold changes. Wealthy Global Citizens and Work-from-Thailand Professionals should reassess eligibility under the new rules.
Wealthy Global Citizens: income rule dropped
The biggest headline: annual personal income is no longer required. You still must demonstrate USD 1 million+ in combined global assets and USD 500,000+ invested in approved Thai assets, government bonds, FDI, property, venture capital, etc. The policy shift prioritises capital deployed in Thailand over salary history.
Work-from-Thailand: lower employer bar
Remote workers sponsored by overseas employers now benefit from USD 50 million combined employer revenue over the last three years (down from USD 150 million). Wholly owned subsidiaries can use parent company financial statements. Personal income rules remain: typically USD 80,000/year average over two years, or USD 40,000–80,000 with a master's degree or higher.
Deep dives: wealthy global citizens guide and work-from-Thailand professionals guide.
Easier to qualify as a Highly Skilled Professional
BOI expanded eligible employers and removed the five-year work experience requirement for Highly Skilled Professionals. Qualification now rests on employment, education, and sector income thresholds.
More sectors qualify
BOI expanded eligible employers to include additional academic and vocational education institutions alongside companies in targeted industries, automation, digital technology, health and wellness, food and agriculture, and others listed on BOI LTR pages.
No more 5-year experience requirement
The five years of relevant work experience rule is gone. Qualification now rests on employment with an approved entity, education and skills, and income thresholds per BOI sector guidance, not a fixed decade of CV history. Highly Skilled holders still receive the 17% personal income tax cap on qualifying Thai employment income.
Full stream guide: highly skilled professionals guide.
Dependent family member limit removed
LTR dependents can now include legal spouse, children under 20, parents, and other legal dependents recognised under programme rules. There is no longer a maximum of four dependents. Each dependent needs their own documentation, health insurance, and visa fee, but large families are no longer blocked by a headcount cap.
Family guide: LTR spouses and dependents.
Changes by LTR stream
Each stream was affected differently by Por 3/2568. Use this table to identify which category fits your profile under the revised rules.
| Stream | Key 2025 change | Current threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Wealthy Global Citizens | Income rule dropped | USD 1M assets + USD 500K Thai investment |
| Work-from-Thailand Professionals | Lower employer bar, no experience | USD 80K income (or USD 40K + degree); employer USD 50M revenue |
| Highly Skilled Professionals | Expanded sectors, no 5-year CV | Thai employer in targeted industry; income per BOI sector |
| Wealthy Pensioners | Unchanged in this announcement | Age 50+; USD 80K passive income or asset route |
Application process under revised rules
If you were refused under old criteria or are filing for the first time under Por 3/2568, work through these steps in order for a cleaner BOI file.
Confirm you qualify under Por 3/2568
Review the January 2025 changes against your profile before filing. Applicants refused under old income or experience rules may now qualify, but asset, investment, and employer thresholds still apply.
Register at ltr.boi.go.th
Create an account, select your LTR category, and upload qualification documents under the revised criteria. Applications from 4 February 2025 follow Announcement Por 3/2568.
Submit BOI qualification file
BOI and partner agencies review your file. Target turnaround is approximately 20 working days for complete submissions. Respond quickly to clarification requests.
Add dependents under expanded rules
Parents and other legal dependents can now apply with no fixed cap. Each dependent needs insurance, relationship documents, and their own visa fee, link to the primary case number.
Affix LTR visa after endorsement
With BOI qualification letter in hand, affix the LTR visa at OSS/TIESC Bangkok, a Royal Thai embassy abroad, or via e-Visa within 60 days of approval.
Maintain compliance through renewal
File annual address reports, keep health insurance current, maintain qualifying investments or income, and notify BOI of material changes. Year-5 renewal re-verifies category requirements.
What did NOT change?
Important: the easing does not mean LTR is open to everyone. Several core requirements remain unchanged.
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| BOI qualification screening | Still required: plan for weeks of document review before endorsement. |
| Visa fee | 50,000 THB per person for the 10-year LTR at affixation in Thailand. |
| Health insurance | Category-specific insurance requirements still apply per BOI rules. |
| Wealthy Pensioner income | Not broadly relaxed in the same January 2025 announcement. |
| TM30 and TDAC | Annual reporting replaces 90-day cycles for LTR holders, but TM30 and TDAC still apply. |
Compare alternatives: Elite vs LTR and DTV.
Common mistakes after the rule change
- Assuming no income proof anywhere: Wealthy Global Citizens dropped income, but other streams still require it.
- Applying before USD 500,000 investment is completed and documented.
- Counting salary as passive income for the Wealthy Pensioner category.
- Adding dependents before the primary applicant receives BOI endorsement.
- Ignoring that Smart Visa overlaps were discontinued. LTR is now the main BOI long-stay talent route.
Frequently asked questions
Q:When did the new LTR rules start?
A:Applications filed from 4 February 2025 follow Announcement Por 3/2568. Earlier filings used the old criteria. Verify your filing date against the BOI portal before assuming new rules apply retroactively.
Q:Do Wealthy Global Citizens still need USD 1 million in assets?
A:Yes. The income rule was removed; the asset and investment thresholds remain. You must demonstrate USD 1 million+ in global assets and USD 500,000+ in approved Thai investments.
Q:Can my parents get LTR dependent status now?
A:Yes, parents and other legal dependents are eligible under the expanded rules, with no fixed limit on how many can apply. Each dependent needs insurance, relationship documents, and their own visa fee.
Q:Is LTR easier than DTV now?
A:Different tools. DTV suits remote workers with 500,000 THB savings and no BOI screening. LTR suits those who meet USD-level tests and want 10-year stability and tax perks. Compare both before committing.
Q:Should I reapply if I was refused before 2025?
A:If refusal was due to income or experience rules that no longer apply, a fresh assessment may be worthwhile. Contact TVC with your prior case details for a structured review.
Q:Did Wealthy Pensioner rules change in January 2025?
A:Wealthy Pensioner income rules were not broadly relaxed in the same announcement. Passive income and asset thresholds for retirees remain, confirm current requirements on ltr.boi.go.th.
Q:What happened to the Work-from-Thailand experience requirement?
A:The five-year work experience rule was removed for Work-from-Thailand Professionals and Highly Skilled Professionals. Degree holders and career changers face fewer barriers, but employer revenue and personal income tests still apply.
Q:Where can I read the official announcement?
A:BOI Announcement Por 3/2568 (PDF) is published on boi.go.th. The live application portal at ltr.boi.go.th reflects current filing requirements.