I’m just curious. I was an early applicant for the LTR visa (possibly applicant #2, according to one BOI official I spoke with). With that visa, I was able to open a Thai bank account and get a Thai phone number.

Does anyone think these might be disconnected once my visa expires? It seems like it would be fairly easy for Thai authorities to use AI or other systems to link and reconcile this information.

1 hour ago, pepper402 said:

I’m just curious. I was an early applicant for the LTR visa (possibly applicant #2, according to one BOI official I spoke with). With that visa, I was able to open a Thai bank account and get a Thai phone number.

Does anyone think these might be disconnected once my visa expires? It seems like it would be fairly easy for Thai authorities to use AI or other systems to link and reconcile this information.

Thai bank account, should be fine. There are some scattered reports of people interacting with their banks on a tourist visa after the recent crackdown, and their accounts were kept open.

Phone number, certainly no issue. Your visa has absolutely nothing to do with your phone line. It's opened based on your passport yes, but not your visa.

1 hour ago, pepper402 said:

Does anyone think these might be disconnected once my visa expires?

Out of curiosity, why would you let your LTR visa expire (i.e., not renew it) -- insufficient financials? Doesn't sound like you plan to leave Thailand, if you're worried about keeping your bank and phone accounts alive......

On 4/18/2026 at 5:50 PM, Dezmo said:

May as well add to this long thread again :)

Silly question... but....

The Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa for Wealthy Pensioners requires a minimum annual passive income of USD 80,000

If I withdraw the $80k from my IRA (in USA) but have the investment firm take out Federal and/or State taxes (so I get less cash), the $80k still meets the above requirement - I assume yes!

You should read more of the posts on 'passive income' and then read the info provided by BOI. Passive income has nothing to do with withdrawal of money or transfers, etc.

You need to demonstrate that, on an annual basis, you receive interest, dividends, distributions, etc of at least $80k. You don't need to prove you spent it or sent it to Thailand, but you must provide convincing proof that it was 'passive'. Typically, that would be best done by showing a copy of annual tax returns.

To emphasise, don't follow random advice from self-appointed forum experts (including my post!), look at the clear guidelines provided for the LTR on the official website and comply with them.

11 hours ago, JimGant said:

Out of curiosity, why would you let your LTR visa expire (i.e., not renew it) -- insufficient financials? Doesn't sound like you plan to leave Thailand, if you're worried about keeping your bank and phone accounts alive......

11 hours ago, JimGant said:

Out of curiosity, why would you let your LTR visa expire (i.e., not renew it) -- insufficient financials? Doesn't sound like you plan to leave Thailand, if you're worried about keeping your bank and phone accounts alive......

I haven’t been living in Thailand, but I visit two or three times a year. I originally applied for the visa during COVID, when I thought I might want to move there—though I may have also just been bored at home.

I do appreciate being able to skip the long lines at BKK, and having a Thai bank account is useful for PromptPay. However, I don’t have the required Thai insurance. I’m covered by Medicare in the U.S., so when my five-year renewal comes up, I’ll need to make a decision.

The LTR has finally been added to the departure Fast Track sign at Suvarnabhumi! (This is something I complained about in the questionnaire for the recent BoI open house.)

Just now, khunjeff said:

The LTR has finally been added to the departure Fast Track sign at Suvarnabhumi! (This is something I complained about in the questionnaire for the recent BoI open house.)

Its interesting to see not only Long Term Resident visa noted, but also BOI in a separate line. I read 'BOI' once in either Bangkok or Phuket (on such a sign) over a year ago, but there was no LTR visa mentioned on the sign that I recollect. Regardless I went in the line with the rational BoI were involved in giving me the visa, and as it turns out, with my LTR visa, I was accept. Mind you that was only one entrance example. Possibly if I had entered on multiple occasions/times and it would not have been accepted.

Its (IMHO) very good to see LTR Visa now listed.

On 4/24/2026 at 10:37 PM, pepper402 said:

I haven’t been living in Thailand, but I visit two or three times a year. I originally applied for the visa during COVID, when I thought I might want to move there—though I may have also just been bored at home.

I do appreciate being able to skip the long lines at BKK, and having a Thai bank account is useful for PromptPay. However, I don’t have the required Thai insurance. I’m covered by Medicare in the U.S., so when my five-year renewal comes up, I’ll need to make a decision.

Curious how Medicare covers you overseas.......you have a special Advantage Plan or Medigap?

Just now, oldcpu said:

Its interesting to see not only Long Term Resident visa noted, but also BOI in a separate line. I read 'BOI' once in either Bangkok or Phuket (on such a sign) over a year ago, but there was no LTR visa mentioned on the sign that I recollect. Regardless I went in the line with the rational BoI were involved in giving me the visa, and as it turns out, with my LTR visa, I was accept. Mind you that was only one entrance example. Possibly if I had entered on multiple occasions/times and it would not have been accepted.

Its (IMHO) very good to see LTR Visa now listed.

LTR has always been accepted for Fast Track. But I don't even bother saying LTR to the staff, I just say BOI. When I say LTR they look confused and want to go talk to a supervisor, but when I say BOI they let me right in.

1 hour ago, khunjeff said:

The LTR has finally been added to the departure Fast Track sign at Suvarnabhumi! (This is something I complained about in the questionnaire for the recent BoI open house.)

... and in spite of this it took the entrance controller five minutes and a call to her supervisor to decide to let me through😪

Just now, BrandonJT said:

LTR has always been accepted for Fast Track. But I don't even bother saying LTR to the staff, I just say BOI. When I say LTR they look confused and want to go talk to a supervisor, but when I say BOI they let me right in.

Sorry to be thick.......what is BOI please?

Just now, wil iam not said:

Sorry to be thick.......what is BOI please?

Board of Investment - the organization that runs the LTR program, as well as a number of other visa schemes.

21 hours ago, Dezmo said:

Curious how Medicare covers you overseas.......you have a special Advantage Plan or Medigap?

I’m covered by Medicare in the U.S., but only while I’m in the country. I don’t believe Medicare provides coverage overseas. I do have a UnitedHealthcare Advantage plan, which states that emergency visits abroad are covered, but I’m not sure whether that will be considered acceptable by the BOI for my five-year renewal.

On 4/24/2026 at 10:37 PM, pepper402 said:

I don’t have the required Thai insurance. I’m covered by Medicare in the U.S., so when my five-year renewal comes up, I’ll need to make a decision.

Just curious, how did you qualify for the LTR visa if you didn't have Thai insurance or the $100k in bank when you applied?

When you go for your 5-year renewal, will you buy a 1-year Thai policy to show them to extend your LTR for another 5 years? Medicare doesn't cover overseas and does not qualify for LTR insurance requirement.

Does anyone know the $100K in bank for medical requirement can be utilized if one is sick or is basically kept static for show only.

Just now, Alotoftravel said:

Does anyone know the $100K in bank for medical requirement can be utilized if one is sick or is basically kept static for show only.

Not being able to use this money for medical expense would be nonsensical.

3 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

Just curious, how did you qualify for the LTR visa if you didn't have Thai insurance or the $100k in bank when you applied?

When you go for your 5-year renewal, will you buy a 1-year Thai policy to show them to extend your LTR for another 5 years? Medicare doesn't cover overseas and does not qualify for LTR insurance requirement.

When I applied, I had a Blue Cross medical plan that included coverage for emergency care overseas. I printed my statement of benefits and submitted it to the BOI with my application, which seemed to satisfy their requirements—though I believe I was only the second applicant at the time.

I now have Medicare and a UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plan, which may or may not meet their current requirements. Hopefully the UHC coverage will be sufficient, as I’d prefer not to purchase a full year of Thai medical insurance—especially since I don’t currently have plans to live there.

Almost 10,000 approved LTR visa applications as of 30 Apr 2026. The LTR visa program began 1 Sep 2022....44 months ago (3 years 8 months)....averaging approx 220 approvals per month. Based on this approval rate sometime in June 2026 the program will reach the 10,000 mark. Yea, yea, it's not the aspirational number talked by some government officials before the program kicked-off but it's still "ten thousand" and counting.

From 1 Sep 2022 (program kick-off) thru 30 Apr 2026....approved (i.e., endorsed) LTR applications.

8 hours ago, Pib said:

Almost 10,000 approved LTR visa applications as of 30 Apr 2026. The LTR visa program began 1 Sep 2022....44 months ago (3 years 8 months)....averaging approx 220 approvals per month. Based on this approval rate sometime in June 2026 the program will reach the 10,000 mark. Yea, yea, it's not the aspirational number talked by some government officials before the program kicked-off but it's still "ten thousand" and counting.

From 1 Sep 2022 (program kick-off) thru 30 Apr 2026....approved (i.e., endorsed) LTR applications.

Given that Wealthy Pensioners is the largest subgroup overall, it’s interesting to see how much this subgroup varies by country as a percentage of the total LTR for each country.

U.S. 72%

Japan 4%

U.K. 52%

Russia 5%

France 39%

Germany 34%

China 18%

India 18%

Switzerland 72%

Australia 44%

Others 31%

I'm surprised China makes up less than 5% of the LTR visa total (i.e., only 460 of the 9704).

1 hour ago, Pib said:

I'm surprised China makes up less than 5% of the LTR visa total (i.e., only 460 of the 9704).

I suspect they mostly can't meet - legally - the financial requirements.

On 4/18/2026 at 5:50 PM, Dezmo said:

May as well add to this long thread again :)

Silly question... but....

The Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa for Wealthy Pensioners requires a minimum annual passive income of USD 80,000

If I withdraw the $80k from my IRA (in USA) but have the investment firm take out Federal and/or State taxes (so I get less cash), the $80k still meets the above requirement - I assume yes!

From what I have read/seen experienced, the BOI just wanted my tax returns for the two previous years to satisfy the income requirement.

On 4/24/2026 at 1:23 PM, xllxix said:

You should read more of the posts on 'passive income' and then read the info provided by BOI. Passive income has nothing to do with withdrawal of money or transfers, etc.

You need to demonstrate that, on an annual basis, you receive interest, dividends, distributions, etc of at least $80k. You don't need to prove you spent it or sent it to Thailand, but you must provide convincing proof that it was 'passive'. Typically, that would be best done by showing a copy of annual tax returns.

To emphasise, don't follow random advice from self-appointed forum experts (including my post!), look at the clear guidelines provided for the LTR on the official website and comply with them.

Also, from experience, if you have a question on validity of any requirement, the BOI people speak English as well as Thai and are extremely happy to help you and you get an accurate response since they know what those that approve the visa will accept.

On 5/4/2026 at 6:59 AM, pepper402 said:

When I applied, I had a Blue Cross medical plan that included coverage for emergency care overseas. I printed my statement of benefits and submitted it to the BOI with my application, which seemed to satisfy their requirements—though I believe I was only the second applicant at the time.

I now have Medicare and a UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plan, which may or may not meet their current requirements. Hopefully the UHC coverage will be sufficient, as I’d prefer not to purchase a full year of Thai medical insurance—especially since I don’t currently have plans to live there.

Well IMHO now, since I know the BOI folks will have to do the yeah or nay but if your current insurance does not cover your hospitalization for 50K USD then you might not be approved for extension. I too had and have BC?BS and they sent a letter which I forwarded to BOI indicating that the "unlimited" hospitalization covered at least 50K USD or more! Upon receipt, within a week or so I had my visa approved.

On 5/2/2026 at 6:04 AM, Dezmo said:

Curious how Medicare covers you overseas.......you have a special Advantage Plan or Medigap?

US medicare does not do overseas coverage period. Your current medical plan must show you are covered 50K USD for hospitalization!

On 5/4/2026 at 6:59 AM, pepper402 said:

When I applied, I had a Blue Cross medical plan that included coverage for emergency care overseas. I printed my statement of benefits and submitted it to the BOI with my application, which seemed to satisfy their requirements—though I believe I was only the second applicant at the time.

I now have Medicare and a UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plan, which may or may not meet their current requirements. Hopefully the UHC coverage will be sufficient, as I’d prefer not to purchase a full year of Thai medical insurance—especially since I don’t currently have plans to live there.

Good luck with your renewal. I recently asked BOI if I could use my retiree Aetna medical coverage instead of the Thai AXA policy that I currently have, and BOI said no. My Aetna policy covers me overseas. BOI didn't even review the Aetna docs I sent them. So, I decided to use the $100k in bank method for my 5-year renewal. BOI said to make sure I have 12 mths history in bank.

Edited May 19May 19 by JohnnyBD

11 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

Good luck with your renewal. I recently asked BOI if I could use my retiree Aetna medical coverage instead of the Thai AXA policy that I currently have, and BOI said no. My Aetna policy covers me overseas. BOI didn't even review the Aetna docs I sent them. So, I decided to use the $100k in bank method for my 5-year renewal. BOI said to make sure I have 12 mths history in bank.

Why?

15 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

Good luck with your renewal. I recently asked BOI if I could use my retiree Aetna medical coverage instead of the Thai AXA policy that I currently have, and BOI said no. My Aetna policy covers me overseas. BOI didn't even review the Aetna docs I sent them. So, I decided to use the $100k in bank method for my 5-year renewal. BOI said to make sure I have 12 mths history in bank.

yeah on overseas medical plans, they do not want to read your yearly pamphet on benefits like mine said for hospitalization "unlimited" amount of coverage yet the BOI asked me to get a letter from a BCBS official stating that my coverage of hospitalization was at least 50K USD and no expiration of policy.

6 hours ago, K2938 said:

Why?

Because BOI wanted a simple one-page document which shows a specific amount of coverage over $50k (see the doc below). Aetna only provides a 12-page Summary of Benefits and 93-page Plan Description. BOI approved my change to the $100k in bank, then when I go for my 5-year renewal, I will submit my Aetna plan docs again to see if they accept them. My heart won't be broken if they don't accept my Aetna medical plan...

Edited May 20May 20 by JohnnyBD