LTR Visa is Now available for Long Term Residency

[jayboy]

40 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

everything else is very subjective.

 

And extremely revealing - far more so than he knows - of his priorities and requirements.Not the type perhaps the BOI officials had in mind when dreaming up the wealthy profile.

[jayboy]

12 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

 

There are posts of a some who did not qualify, and/or whose finances were not structured to meet the BoI criteria, who detract from the visa.

 

As for BoI not meeting their goals - why post that was bad for them (for Boi for a 'flawed strategy' ) ?  Why say anything?

 

Are you attempting to drum up support to stop the visa?

 

if not then why post at all?

 

The post accomplishes nothing other than risk a good thing for those who obtained the visa.

 

 

What a strange post.I take an interest in immigration matters and on a forum like this there is the opportunity to exchange views with others.Holders of PR are constantly expressing criticism of its shortcomings and creakiness.Nobody thinks it will bring the system crashing down.

[Ben Zioner]

12 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

And extremely revealing - far more so than he knows - of his priorities and requirements.Not the type perhaps the BOI officials had in mind when dreaming up the wealthy profile.

From your post I derive that you believe BOI didn't want people who appreciate  being owners of their homes, and love having good food, with good wine while having and educated conversation, in English, with a classy, clever Chinese lady.

 

I am sure, that's exactly who BOI have in mind, when it comes to retirees.

 

[oldcpu]

16 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

What a strange post.

 

Not at all.  This thread has been very useful for those who successfully applied for the LTR, and obtained suggestions / guidance on the way.

 

And then we have posts like yours noting it is failed strategy for BoI.  Why post such when the intent is to help?

 

16 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

I take an interest in immigration matters and on a forum like this

 

Ok  - then I am VERY surprised you did not note a number of posts of detractors of the LTR.  Detractors who either did not want to apply (because they knew they did not qualify), or those who applied and could not make the qualification, or those who could make it (but did not because they refused to restructure their finances to meet BoIs requirements).  I recall one claiming even one particular well known billionaire could not meet the BoI requirements (due to how his wealth was financed - where of course that was nonsense - but detractors will be detractors).  ....

 

So given you take an interest - now you know there are a number of detractors. 

 

 

16 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Holders of PR are constantly expressing criticism of its shortcomings and creakiness.Nobody thinks it will bring the system crashing down.

 

There is a clear difference there between a PR and an LTR.  One is Permanent Residency.  The other is a Visa. 

 

Visa types come and go.  Permanent Residency does not come and go (only requirements change).

.

 

 

[jayboy]

5 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

From your post I derive that you believe BOI didn't want people who appreciate  being owners of their homes, and love having good food, with good wine while having and educated conversation, in English, with a classy, clever Chinese lady.

 

I am sure, that's exactly who BOI have in mind, when it comes to retirees.

 

 

Oh dear

[Ben Zioner]

54 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

Oh dear

 

Well, I uploaded about 12 pdfs from my laptop, a couple of days later I answered a question on my health cover, and within a fortnight I got instructions to get my passport stamped. So unlike it was a clerical error they liked my type. About fifty of my former UN colleagues got the same treatment.

 

And you, maybe should stop talking out of your anus of things you know nothing about. I am not saying you are trolling  but definitely a IUI.

 

Bye

[JimGant]

On 5/1/2025 at 6:46 AM, jayboy said:

there are too many low net worth people who qualify - thus destroying exclusivity and driving the genuinely wealthy away.

Yeah, if I can't be exclusive, and proudly display an LTR bumper sticker to the amazement of my neighbors -- screw the no more 90 day report; freedom from taxes; no more annual visa renewal; priority passage at airport; no more requirement for a Thai health insurance policy; and having the entrance fee of 50k amortized with ten years of savings from no more annual visa renewals and multi reentry permits.

[gravity101]

On 5/1/2025 at 2:37 PM, Ben Zioner said:

Reckon it is "wealthy" that hurts you. You can take it away if you wish. I don't want to consider myself "wealthy", even though my pension is sizeably higher than BOI's requirement. 

 

And thanks for calling me "astute". Others will appreciate too. 

Its the 'Pensioner' that hurts me.

[ThailandRyan]

On 5/1/2025 at 6:16 AM, oldcpu said:

 

Not at all.  This thread has been very useful for those who successfully applied for the LTR, and obtained suggestions / guidance on the way.

 

And then we have posts like yours noting it is failed strategy for BoI.  Why post such when the intent is to help?

 

 

Ok  - then I am VERY surprised you did not note a number of posts of detractors of the LTR.  Detractors who either did not want to apply (because they knew they did not qualify), or those who applied and could not make the qualification, or those who could make it (but did not because they refused to restructure their finances to meet BoIs requirements).  I recall one claiming even one particular well known billionaire could not meet the BoI requirements (due to how his wealth was financed - where of course that was nonsense - but detractors will be detractors).  ....

 

So given you take an interest - now you know there are a number of detractors. 

 

 

 

There is a clear difference there between a PR and an LTR.  One is Permanent Residency.  The other is a Visa. 

 

Visa types come and go.  Permanent Residency does not come and go (only requirements change).

.

 

 

Great Response. The early detractors have faded away and the new ones just want to stir the pot. The LTR visa is a great visa for those of us who Qualify. My wife from Myanmar now has hers based upon our marriage. Keeps from having to jump through the hoops every 90 days and annually.

[DrJack54]

9 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

My wife from Myanmar now has hers based upon our marriage

This is a very valid point. Sometimes overlooked. The option for expats married to non Thai is to eg "piggyback" Spouse on the husbands extension as a dependent

This is messy (granted possible). 

LTR great option. 

[eastbaybob]

Over the last few months I went through the process of getting an LTR visa. I had never looked into the visa until I had no money in a Thai bank to renew my marriage visa.  My pension wasn’t enough to qualify but the withdrawals needed to buy a house, and then a condo, and build a house, gave me enough passive income to qualify. 
 

The application process was super easy aside from the website which seemed a bit buggy.  I did it all on my phone over a couple hours and if I did it over I’d use a computer. I only received one request for additional information, and I sent the 176 pages of my complete health insurance booklet.  I wasn’t in a hurry but after the 20 day deliberation time had entered 30 days I wrote asking if they needed anything additional and they approved my application that day.  I printed out the three forms that come with the approval notice and booked my appointment to receive the visa.

 

For the appointment I go to the LTR lounge and take a seat.  Everything is collected and I sit for a while. After an hour or so I am asked to sign my passport copies and am then taken for a photo, then back to the lounge to sit before being taken to window where I pay. Then back to the lounge where after a while I am given my passport with visa. The whole process was a bit over two hours.

 

The whole point of this post is that I read several stories about people having not printed out some form or missing something.  The BOI sends the instructions of exactly what you need to take, and that’s it, there is nothing else.  The other thing is that I’m not sure how having a visa agent would help in the process. All my financial and insurance information was already in pdf form so it’s just a matter of sending it directly to the BOI rather than having a middle man do that. Lastly, just the peace of mind the visa provides is just amazing. It’s like a giant weight has been lifted from my shoulders. The end.

[MCPO_Ret.]

I am currently approaching my one year point on the LTR-P And I have two questions as follows:

 

1. Can someone who has done their 1-yr Reporting give me an overview of the process? I’m expecting to show the TM. 95 form to verify my address and my passport as none of the other forms on the website are applicable. 
 

2. Concerning the health insurance/$100k Bank deposit requirement. When I applied I submitted my TRICARE letter showing that I have coverage as well as a $100,000 bank deposit.  So I am not sure if my LTR was approved because of the bank deposit or the TRICARE letter.  So my question is: does TRICARE overseas meet the requirement for the LTR? And if TRICARE does not meet the requirements do I need to keep the $100k in the bank account to anticipate the five-year review? 
 

Thanks for anyone who provides me insight. 

[Pib]

5 minutes ago, MCPO_Ret. said:

I am currently approaching my one year point on the LTR-P And I have two questions as follows:

 

1. Can someone who has done their 1-yr Reporting give me an overview of the process? I’m expecting to show the TM. 95 form to verify my address and my passport as none of the other forms on the website are applicable. 
 

2. Concerning the health insurance/$100k Bank deposit requirement. When I applied I submitted my TRICARE letter showing that I have coverage as well as a $100,000 bank deposit.  So I am not sure if my LTR was approved because of the bank deposit or the TRICARE letter.  So my question is: does TRICARE overseas meet the requirement for the LTR? And if TRICARE does not meet the requirements do I need to keep the $100k in the bank account to anticipate the five-year review? 
 

Thanks for anyone who provides me insight. 

I've done the LTR 1 year reporting twice....both times at the  BOI LTR immigration office in Bangkok as I live in Bangkok....I just provided the docs listed at the LTR website below.   Very fast process...in and out of the office within 10 minutes. 

https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/1-year-reporting.html 

 

I too went the Tricare letter route to meet the health insurance requirements but that was back in late 2022 when I got my LTR-P visa.   The Tricare letter was still being accepted in 2023 as I saw posts from successful LTR applicants.   I haven't seen anything since that indicates they are still not being accepted.   Probably best to ask the question to BOI unless we have some folks chime-in who recently used the Tricare letter method to meet the LTR health insurance requirement.

[MCPO_Ret.]

7 minutes ago, Pib said:

I've done the LTR 1 year reporting twice....both times at the  BOI LTR immigration office in Bangkok as I live in Bangkok....I just provided the docs listed at the LTR website below.   Very fast process...in and out of the office within 10 minutes. 

https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/1-year-reporting.html 

 

I too went the Tricare letter route to meet the health insurance requirements but that was back in late 2022 when I got my LTR-P visa.   The Tricare letter was still being accepted in 2023 as I saw posts from successful LTR applicants.   I haven't seen anything since that indicates they are still not being accepted.   Probably best to ask the question to BOI unless we have some folks chime-in who recently used the Tricare letter method to meet the LTR health insurance requirement.

Thanks for the quick reply! Glad the 1yr reporting process is quick.

It’s hard to justify keeping $100K in a bank account earning minimal interest.  I’m hoping that TRICARE meets these requirements insurance requirements. 

[Pib]

2 minutes ago, MCPO_Ret. said:

Thanks for the quick reply! Glad the 1yr reporting process is quick.

It’s hard to justify keeping $100K in a bank account earning minimal interest.  I’m hoping that TRICARE meets these requirements insurance requirements. 

Put the funds in a higher interest paying bank CD acct that draws "monthly" interest payments as that shows frequent account activity... makes it look like a regular checking/savings acct but you are getting significantly higher interest than a low (or no) interest paying checking/regular savings account.   

[MCPO_Ret.]

📌 LTR Visa TRICARE Health Insurance Tip

 

If you’re applying for Thailand’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, you must show proof of at least $50K in health insurance coverage or a $100K bank deposit. 

 

TRICARE users: You can request an official letter from TRICARE confirming your coverage meets the requirement. I just received mine — it includes inpatient/outpatient coverage and dollar limits.

 

e-mail the following to request your letter: dha.ncr.j-3.mbx.dha-tao-pacific[at]health.mil

 

 

[stat]

On 5/1/2025 at 1:58 PM, Ben Zioner said:

Property ownership,

High quality english speaking health care,

No bar fights,

Cheap wine,

Outstanding food,

Nice Chinese educated ladies,

Can have a good conversation in English anytime you want,

 

etc..

 

 

The big downside of Malaysia IMHO is that there are no "high end" pool villas to rent. For about 1000 to 2500 USD per months there are tons of options in Thailand but next to nothing in Malaysia, same for the Philippines (exception maybe tagatay) only very limited options as there are simply not enough expats (I guess). 

[Cocon]

I have a question on behalf of a friend. Last week, his LTR (Wealthy Pensioner) visa was approved. He is currently outside of Thailand and has now received his e-visa online. His current visa in his passport is a Non-O visa.

So, when he enters Thailand next time and presents his printed e-visa, will his Non-O visa first be cancelled in his passport by the Immigration, and will he then receive a new stamp for the LTR visa?

[John207]

When I visited the immigration office to inform them and to show them my newly stamped LTR visa in my passport, they didn't make any notations in my passport specifically, there was no cancellation mark over the OA visa I had obtained two months earlier. They simply told me everything was in order and that I was good to go. It’s possible they cancelled the OA visa in their system, but I’m not entirely sure.

[newnative]

On 6/21/2025 at 11:26 PM, stat said:

The big downside of Malaysia IMHO is that there are no "high end" pool villas to rent. For about 1000 to 2500 USD per months there are tons of options in Thailand but next to nothing in Malaysia, same for the Philippines (exception maybe tagatay) only very limited options as there are simply not enough expats (I guess). 

     Agree.  One of Pattaya's biggest strengths is its huge selection of housing to buy or rent, at really all price points.  Especially great is the selection of pool villas, most notably on the Darkside, both to rent or buy.  There are new projects galore to choose from, plus lots of very nice established projects.  

[oldcpu]

2 hours ago, John207 said:

When I visited the immigration office to inform them and to show them my newly stamped LTR visa in my passport, they didn't make any notations in my passport specifically, there was no cancellation mark over the OA visa I had obtained two months earlier.

 

I find that strange/interesting.  Are you certain that is accurate?

 

Granted I obtained my LTR-WP differently (I applied from within Thailand) but when I went to the BoI for my LTR visa, and they walked me over to Thailand immigration (on same floor as the BoI office), the Thai immigration wrote in Thai language, a statement DIRECTLY UNDER my Type-O visa stamp, that the Type-O visa (for reason of retirement) was no longer valid since I was on an LTR visa. 

 

It strikes me as either strange (or an immigration change in policy) that there was no such writing underneath your old Type-OA visa stamp.

 

 

2 hours ago, John207 said:

They simply told me everything was in order and that I was good to go. It’s possible they cancelled the OA visa in their system, but I’m not entirely sure.

 

Like I stated - strange/interesting, and not my experience with my LTR-WP.

 

[Pib]

I was on an OA Visa Marriage extension when I transitioned to an LTR -P Visa.   The LTR immigration office cancelled this OA visa and wrote a couple of lines in my passport with an immigration officer signature saying the OA visa had been cancelled due to issue of the LTR visa.  Then my LTR-P visa/Stay Permit was stamped into my passport. 

 

Yea...don't expect to see something saying/stamped "cancelled"....it could be as simple as a few lines of handwritten Thai with a signature saying one visa was cancelled and replaced by another.   

[stickymango]

I received my LTR P Visa in January 2023. At the time, I was considering relocating to Thailand and, admittedly, may have been a bit bored during COVID. On my application, I used a friend’s address in Thailand (he has since moved).

 

I typically visit Thailand three to four times a year, usually for a week or two each time.

Does anyone foresee any issues with this arrangement? I assume that at the five-year mark, I’ll need to provide a new address along with updated proof of insurance and income.

[stat]

On 6/26/2025 at 10:15 AM, newnative said:

     Agree.  One of Pattaya's biggest strengths is its huge selection of housing to buy or rent, at really all price points.  Especially great is the selection of pool villas, most notably on the Darkside, both to rent or buy.  There are new projects galore to choose from, plus lots of very nice established projects.  

I found it easier to rent a pool villa in Hua Hin then renting  a villa in Pattaya Darkside or Jomtien. Prices were 50 to 100% higher in Pattaya. Downside of Hua Hin is that there are only flights to Chiang Mai and a trip to BKK takes 3 hours plus.

[newnative]

13 hours ago, stat said:

I found it easier to rent a pool villa in Hua Hin then renting  a villa in Pattaya Darkside or Jomtien. Prices were 50 to 100% higher in Pattaya. Downside of Hua Hin is that there are only flights to Chiang Mai and a trip to BKK takes 3 hours plus.

       Just did a quick search on Hipflat and found rental listings for pool villas in Pattaya starting around 25,000 baht a month.  That's pretty reasonable, and just one source checked.   I think a buyer or a renter will be able to find something in his price range as the variety and the amount available is so great here.

     Pattaya has a huge construction boom going on right now with houses.  And, as I said in an earlier post, they are building at all price ranges.  You can buy a non-pool small single family home on a small land plot for less than 3MB.  Plus, plenty of homes to choose from in the 10MB to 50MB range.   If your budget is 150-200MB, Pattaya also has some houses to show you. 

    You are right, though, that prices for similar housing look to be somewhat cheaper in Hua Hin.  Spouse and I like to watch lots of real estate videos when we are exercising and that seems to be the case.  Chiang Mai also seems to be somewhat cheaper, from what we see for sale there on videos.  For us, with a Bangkok getaway condo, we like being able to get to it from here in less than 2 hours, and with an easier drive than Hua Hin's.   

[K2938]

I would like to ask some questions regarding the latest policy application on the LTR visa.  Apologies for the rather technical nature of some of them:

1) For the wealthy pensioner visa what is the latest appetite of the BOI for realised income from capital gains?  So you e.g. hold a fund which you bought for 100 000 USD and then sold for 300 000 USD.  Is the 200 000 capital gain admissable income or not?  Some time ago, they did not like this very much.

2)  What is their appetite for unrealised income from capital gains, i.e. e.g. increase in value of a broker account from x to y over a year without actually having sold and thereby realised this?  So you e.g. hold a fund which is worth 100 000 USD at 01.01.2024, but 300 000 USD at 01.01.2025.  Is the 200 000 USD difference admissable income or not?

3)  What is their appetite for undistributed dividend income, i.e. for example a holding of various companies paying dividend with the dividends being immediately reinvested instead of distributed (so-called accumulating vs. distributing investment funds [which are uncommon in the U.S. due to certain tax advantages there])?  So you e.g. hold a fund which receives 100 000 USD in dividend, but immediately uses this 100 000 USD for buying additional shares.  Is this admissable income or not?  In many jurisdictions, you would pay income tax on this in spite of not actually physically having received the dividend, but the fact remains that this is not a dividend you actually received in cash.

4) For how many years does the BOI now require income proof for wealthy pensioners, one year or two?  It used to say one year, but then they really wanted two at least for some time.

5) What happens if the applicant cannot provide income tax statements since his or her circumstances were such that no income tax declaration was due (e.g. due to previous non-taxation of various foreign remittances, tax residence in a tax-free place etc.)?

6) From when does the tax benefit of non-taxation of foreign remittances start for people already previously in Thailand on a different visa?  The benefit is given for the entire calendar year in which the LTR visa was obtained, pro-rata to the time of the LTR visa or how in case anybody knows?

Thank you.

[Peter Crow]

On 6/26/2025 at 1:06 PM, Cocon said:

I have a question on behalf of a friend. Last week, his LTR (Wealthy Pensioner) visa was approved. He is currently outside of Thailand and has now received his e-visa online. His current visa in his passport is a Non-O visa.

So, when he enters Thailand next time and presents his printed e-visa, will his Non-O visa first be cancelled in his passport by the Immigration, and will he then receive a new stamp for the LTR visa?

Unless he had a multi-entry Non-O (not even sure these still exist) or had  some reentry permit in his passport his current visa has been cancelled when he left Thailand.

[Peter Crow]

31 minutes ago, K2938 said:

4) From when does the tax benefit of non-taxation of foreign remittances start for people already previously in Thailand on a different visa?  The benefit is given for the entire calendar year in which the LTR visa was obtained, pro-rata to the time of the LTR visa or how in case anybody knows?

The most likely answer is that IF you stay in Thailand 180 days, or more,  all remittances prior to the date of effect of your visa will be be taxable. 

[Peter Crow]

32 minutes ago, K2938 said:

3) What happens if the applicant cannot provide income tax statements since his or her circumstances were such that no income tax declaration was due (e.g. due to previous non-taxation of various foreign remittances, tax residence in a tax-free place etc.)?

I was in that situation, so I provide a statement of payments from my pension with the match bank account statements; no further questions asked.

[K2938]

1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

The most likely answer is that IF you stay in Thailand 180 days, or more,  all remittances prior to the date of effect of your visa will be be taxable. 

Thank you, but just to make sure:  This is an educated guess of what might be sensible from you, but not based on any statement of "the authorities"?