I recent’y applied for an LTR, exceed the yearly passive income, Pensions, annuities, VA disability etc etc etc, used an agent, sent them a ton of paperwork and so far have not paid any money, but it has been a month since ‘they sent to Government’ I assume the Bureau of Investment - what is the typical waiting period for an LTR approval, and/or denial. If anyone has been denied, can you share the reason??

2 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

I recent’y applied for an LTR, exceed the yearly passive income, Pensions, annuities, VA disability etc etc etc, used an agent, sent them a ton of paperwork and so far have not paid any money, but it has been a month since ‘they sent to Government’ I assume the Bureau of Investment - what is the typical waiting period for an LTR approval, and/or denial. If anyone has been denied, can you share the reason??

1-2 months is not unusual. Did you use one of the officially approved BOI agents, or some other agent you found?

11 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

I recent’y applied for an LTR, exceed the yearly passive income, Pensions, annuities, VA disability etc etc etc, used an agent, sent them a ton of paperwork and so far have not paid any money, but it has been a month since ‘they sent to Government’ I assume the Bureau of Investment - what is the typical waiting period for an LTR approval, and/or denial. If anyone has been denied, can you share the reason??

Check the online status of your application at the BOI LTR website. You did establish an account, right?

https://ltr.boi.go.th/

12 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

what is the typical waiting period for an LTR approval

Mine took seven weeks, mainly because they didn't even look at my application until I called four weeks after submission. But I know other people with nearly identical applications who were approved in three weeks. So who knows 🤷

9 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

1-2 months is not unusual. Did you use one of the officially approved BOI agents, or some other agent you found?

I used an official BOI agent Star Visa in Chiang Mai, a couple friends of mine used them and got theirs, one wasn’t even in Thailand yet and was approved.

Star Visa (Stan Lee)

419 Ratchawong Road, Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Phone +66 95 646 4792

1 minute ago, Explorator en Action said:

I used an official BOI agent Star Visa in Chiang Mai, a couple friends of mine used them and got theirs, one wasn’t even in Thailand yet and was approved.

Star Visa (Stan Lee)

419 Ratchawong Road, Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Phone +66 95 646 4792

Would you mind sharing how much the Agent charges to assist with the application, I know a lot of guys say it's easy & to do it yourself but if the pricing is reasonable I would rather they do the submission/chasing for me.

36 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

Would you mind sharing how much the Agent charges to assist with the application, I know a lot of guys say it's easy & to do it yourself but if the pricing is reasonable I would rather they do the submission/chasing for me.

I haven't heard anyone mention prices lately, but back when the official list of agents was released, I heard they started around 100,000 baht.

6 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

I haven't heard anyone mention prices lately, but back when the official list of agents was released, I heard they started around 100,000 baht.

50K Baht for BOI, 50K Baht for Agency - asked about expedited process, none exists.

I'm interested in the LTR-WP visa and just reading through this thread 10 pages at a time lol.
About this...

On 9/7/2025 at 12:36 PM, TroubleandGrumpy said:

No it is not taxable upon withdrawal.  The money in super earns tax-free at a high rate, but if I put it in a savings account (at about a quarter of that interest rate) that money no longer becomes tax exempt - the income is counted, and there are taxes to pay on it at top marginal rate because I am living overseas, the pension is affected because earnings are 'taxable' income' and that reduces the pension amount, and if/when I return to Aust my 'social welfare' benefits get changed (including medical services and costs). That is not all the issue - but take it from me it would cause too many problems - putting it in Thailand would not, but that means SFA interest - and all the other downsides.

I've been discussing my situation with a Thai tax person and my Australiansuper pre-2024 is regarded as taxable. The reason - it hadn't been converted to a pension and withdrawn. Not an income pre-2024.

For it not to be taxable, it would have needed to be withdrawn pre-2024 out of superannuation. Although, can still withdraw PRIOR to becoming a Thai tax resident but I don't really want to change my investments.

This is the main reason I'm looking into getting the LTR visa and I've already messaged BOI a few times but it is OK to remit Australian superannuation pension tax free?

Quick question re Passive Income. When i got my LTR i offered up dividends/coupons as proof of the 80k and a letter with a bank balance. I'm looking to change this monthly dividends distribution into growth stocks and a managed portfolio. My bank has products that manage my portolio and let me withdrawal at anytime. If I ensure I withdrawal to a current account above 80k/year, and say it's done every quarter, will that be ok and be classified as realised capital gains when I submit for my 5th year renewal? Tia

6 hours ago, Youbloodybeauty said:

This is the main reason I'm looking into getting the LTR visa and I've already messaged BOI a few times but it is OK to remit Australian superannuation pension tax free?

While i have an LTR-WP, I am not from Australia and don't have experience directly relevant to your situation.

However - my experience phoning BoI is far superior than messaging by email. I don't recall ever getting a response to an email query, but phoning worked well ... although on occasion i was on hold for 30 minutes or so.

8 hours ago, Youbloodybeauty said:

This is the main reason I'm looking into getting the LTR visa and I've already messaged BOI a few times but it is OK to remit Australian superannuation pension tax free?

On 19 Feb 2026, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) hosted a seminar “LTR Community Day". Mr. Kasapon Singprasert, a Senior Tax Economist from The Thai Revenue Department presented the following PowrPoint on taxes. LTR-WP visa holders are not required to file a tax return if they have no domestic-sourced income. See page 7 of presenation.

LTR Visa Thailand - Publication

Edited August 17Aug 17 by JohnnyBD

On 8/17/2026 at 2:31 PM, gravity101 said:

If I ensure I withdrawal to a current account above 80k/year, and say it's done every quarter, will that be ok and be classified as realised capital gains when I submit for my 5th year renewal?

The BOI website says "unearned or passive income includes, but are not limited to pension, rental, realized capital gain, dividend and interest payments" for the Wealthy Pensioners category. There are 3 separate things to consider here: (1) the amount of money you sold in stocks, (2) the cost basis of the amount of money you sold in stocks, and (3) the amount of money you withdrawal from the stocks account. To generate realized capital gain, (1) must be greater than (2). But, (3) is irrelevant for the purposes of BOI because you are simply moving money from one account to another. To satisfy BOI, you must show them a bank document for the stocks account that shows realized capital gain >$80K for the year(s) they want to see. They don't care about money moving from one account to another account. The above all assumes the stocks are in a taxable non-retirement account. If the stocks are in a retirement account (like an IRA in the U.S.), then (3) would be IRA distributions, which I believe do count towards the $80K. It's best to check with BOI directly on your question.

Edited August 18Aug 18 by Richard007

On 8/17/2026 at 12:31 PM, gravity101 said:

Quick question re Passive Income. When i got my LTR i offered up dividends/coupons as proof of the 80k and a letter with a bank balance. I'm looking to change this monthly dividends distribution into growth stocks and a managed portfolio. My bank has products that manage my portolio and let me withdrawal at anytime. If I ensure I withdrawal to a current account above 80k/year, and say it's done every quarter, will that be ok and be classified as realised capital gains when I submit for my 5th year renewal? Tia

Can do, but has the risk that you do not have enough capital gains if the market crashes

1 hour ago, K2938 said:

Can do, but has the risk that you do not have enough capital gains if the market crashes

Has anybody looked closely at the 'enhanced income' ETFs like the NEOS SPYI, QQQI, or similar like the ATCL autocallable ETF? They pay relatively high dividend rates (10-14%) and several of them are meant to produce distributions even when the broader market is going down. Due to some quirks of US accounting law the dividends are treated as "return of capital" in the US meaning not immediately taxable for US citizens, but because the dividends are mostly paid from options income, other nations seem to treat those dividends as ordinary income. Just wondering how BOI might view that kind of dividend as a means to meet the $80k passive income requirement. One might be able to achieve the $80k/year with much less invested capital. Possible tax benefits for US citizens as well depending on how your finances are structured. I'm too young to be getting a LTR visa but hope to become eligible in a few years. Would be keen to hear if someone asks BOI about it someday.

12 hours ago, tautomerica said:

Has anybody looked closely at the 'enhanced income' ETFs like the NEOS SPYI, QQQI, or similar like the ATCL autocallable ETF? They pay relatively high dividend rates (10-14%) and several of them are meant to produce distributions even when the broader market is going down. Due to some quirks of US accounting law the dividends are treated as "return of capital" in the US meaning not immediately taxable for US citizens, but because the dividends are mostly paid from options income, other nations seem to treat those dividends as ordinary income. Just wondering how BOI might view that kind of dividend as a means to meet the $80k passive income requirement. One might be able to achieve the $80k/year with much less invested capital. Possible tax benefits for US citizens as well depending on how your finances are structured. I'm too young to be getting a LTR visa but hope to become eligible in a few years. Would be keen to hear if someone asks BOI about it someday.

They treat it as passive income. They dont delve deep enough anyway. This was my point to the question, I had a lot of these types (and similar distributions, such as currency options and derivatives), and all I showed them was my current account ledger seeing the distribition as a credit. BOI never saw my brokerage accounts. They didnt even see if they lost capitol, some did.

I personally dont see the difference between having a fund/etf distribute into my current account or my bank withdrawing from brokerage accounts into my current account.

I did also give them a bank letter telling them how much i held with them. They may have held sway, even if its not part fo the rules.

1 hour ago, gravity101 said:

all I showed them was my current account ledger seeing the distribition as a credit. BOI never saw my brokerage accounts. They didnt even see if they lost capitol, some did.

So basically just providing bank statement showing one (or a total of several) inward wire of at least $80k per year into your bank account is ok for BOI?

1 hour ago, gravity101 said:

They treat it as passive income. They dont delve deep enough anyway. This was my point to the question, I had a lot of these types (and similar distributions, such as currency options and derivatives), and all I showed them was my current account ledger seeing the distribition as a credit. BOI never saw my brokerage accounts. They didnt even see if they lost capitol, some did.

I personally dont see the difference between having a fund/etf distribute into my current account or my bank withdrawing from brokerage accounts into my current account.

I did also give them a bank letter telling them how much i held with them. They may have held sway, even if its not part fo the rules.

Thanks, very interesting to hear of the precedent, although if they didn't review your brokerage statements then I guess it's kind of a weak form of precedent. Did you submit two years of tax returns as well? When I eventually get to applying I may not have tax returns due to being a non-resident in my country of citizenship so I wonder if they may dig deeper and ask for detailed brokerage statements etc.

13 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

So basically just providing bank statement showing one (or a total of several) inward wire of at least $80k per year into your bank account is ok for BOI?

They were clearly identifiable as distributions though.

14 minutes ago, tautomerica said:

Thanks, very interesting to hear of the precedent, although if they didn't review your brokerage statements then I guess it's kind of a weak form of precedent. Did you submit two years of tax returns as well? When I eventually get to applying I may not have tax returns due to being a non-resident in my country of citizenship so I wonder if they may dig deeper and ask for detailed brokerage statements etc.

No. I live here, and my origin country doesnt need me to do. So I haven't done a tax return in decades.

Im going to ask my agent or BOI about passive income again. Will post here.

1 hour ago, gravity101 said:

No. I live here, and my origin country doesnt need me to do. So I haven't done a tax return in decades.

Im going to ask my agent or BOI about passive income again. Will post here.

Ok. For the record here is my email transcript with the LTR department,for future generations...:

My 5 year renewal is due next year and I have a query regarding passive income.

On my original application I showed >80k USD yearly by showing my current account with incoming distributions (coupons, dividends and options). I continue to do so

I want to slightly change this model to allow for my bank to manage my portfolio. All distributions and capital gains are held and reinvested in these brokerage accounts. They will then distribute funds to me as required from my brokerage accounts to my current account. And from there to my Thai accounts of course. It will of course be much greater than 80k USD.

Is this acceptable? If not how and what do I need to do to prove that I still abide by the >80k usd passive income threshold by way of realised capital gains?

---

Realized capital gains is acceptable as evidence of income as we verify it through tax return. Please make sure that your income has already been earned into your bank account.

---

I dont have tax returns. And also didnt submit them in my year 1 application either. So I cant prove it via that method. How else can I do?

---

You may provide a brokerage statement and related financial statements, along with a bank statement showing that the income was received into the account.

However, you may also be required to provide a letter of explanation regarding the absence of a tax return, as this is one of the important documents for review.

---

This is the issue many seem have have on this side of the fence. Do we, as LTR WP holders have to submit a tax return in Thailand as our domicile country? Thanks for the clarification.

---

The tax exemption benefit applies only to income transferred from overseas into Thailand. Other types of assets may not qualify. If you have no income source within Thailand and the income is transferred after obtaining the LTR Visa, you are exempt from tax and do not need to report annually to the Thai Revenue Department including the submission of tax return.

A TIN (Tax Identification Number) is optional and not required if you have no income source in Thailand or if your income is transferred after obtaining the LTR Visa.

For more information, please contact the Revenue Department near your location.

YMMV

On 7/24/2026 at 8:09 AM, gravity101 said:

I dont think anyone gets an LTR for the money it may or may not save them.

I have an LTR, and cost is negligible IMHO basing it on 10 years but really I got it for the benefits, less time needed to go to immigration or reporting even on line. Leaving country and coming back in without anything required other than your passport and no 90-day reports. And seeing this latest comments about being able to do the yearly report easily without even having to go to BKK makes it even more attractive IMHO. I am positive that it is the best visa for me anyway and if I didn't have it I would return to the Retirement O which I had for 20 years and no problems either. This is just easier!

On 8/19/2026 at 1:42 PM, Presnock said:

I have an LTR, and cost is negligible IMHO basing it on 10 years but really I got it for the benefits, less time needed to go to immigration or reporting even on line.

I agree. The 50k prorated over 10 years is actually less than what it was costing me for my yearly extensions & MRE permits. The benefits are great. No more yearly trips to IM, or 90-day reports, and I don't need to keep 800k or 400k in the bank anymore. The biggest savings for me, however, is not having to pay income taxes on my remittances. The LTR-WP visa was definitely a godsend for me, since I remit a lot of money each year. If one can qualify, the LTR visa is a great visa to have.

Just now, JohnnyBD said:

I agree. The 50k prorated over 10 years is actually less than what it was costing me for my yearly extensions & MRE permits. The benefits are great. No more yearly trips to IM, or 90-day reports, and I don't need to keep 800k or 400k in the bank anymore. The biggest savings for me, however, is not having to pay income taxes on my remittances. The LTR-WP visa was definitely a godsend for me, since I remit a lot of money each year. If one can qualify, the LTR visa is a great visa to have.

I agree though I am not impacted whatsoever as my income is totally exempt from Thai taxes IAW the DTA between the US and Thailand but in any case the LTR is a great one for me anyway!

Off topic troll and meme removed @SiSePuede419

12 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Tomorrow isn’t promised

Mid 60's, Dad died at 99 and 50K is a pittance. Should I take the risk?

Edited August 21Aug 21 by Youbloodybeauty

5 hours ago, Youbloodybeauty said:

Mid 60's, Dad died at 99 and 50K is a pittance. Should I take the risk?

If you were already (health permitting) planning to stay in Thailand for the next decade with a high likelihood of staying, and if you have the finances and already have the health insurance (company or self insured to BoI requirements), then I believe going for the LTR-WP is a no-brainer.

I am age-72. Very healthy. As I posted before, I was initially a skeptic ... and dismissed the idea of going for the LTR.

Then in December 2022 (at my then age of 67), a friend who knows my finances well, sat down with me and convinced me I was wrong to dismiss the LTR, as he went through each of my counter points , point by point, convincing me of my mistake to reject the LTR. So I applied in January-2023 and in mid-2023 I obtained the LTR-WP visa and I am very happy that I went for such.

The obvious caveat, is for me meeting the finances was not a problem - but I did have to dig up/put together the paperwork and restructure some financial planning aspects to meet the criteria (which was more a paper exercise on my part).

Perhaps one caveat - if you have never lived in Thailand before, perhaps come to Thailand first on a 90-day Type-O visa, extend its permission to stay in Thailand for a year (based on retirement) and during that time frame confirm you wish to stay in Thailand for another decade, and only then apply for the LTR-WP.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by oldcpu

6 hours ago, oldcpu said:

Perhaps one caveat - if you have never lived in Thailand before, perhaps come to Thailand first on a 90-day Type-O visa, extend its permission to stay in Thailand for a year (based on retirement) and during that time frame confirm you wish to stay in Thailand for another decade, and only then apply for the LTR-WP.

Excellent advice and that is exactly my plan. Mostly though because I need to arrange my finances to comply with the requirements.

22 hours ago, oldcpu said:

If you were already (health permitting) planning to stay in Thailand for the next decade with a high likelihood of staying, and if you have the finances and already have the health insurance (company or self insured to BoI requirements), then I believe going for the LTR-WP is a no-brainer.

Thank you, my reply to the troll post was “tongue in cheek”. It was suggesting that we have no idea of our length of life so why take the risk of getting a 10 year visa.

I agree 100% with everything you say.

In the past 3 years, we have spent 6 months each in the first 2 years on METV and this year got a non-O and after the big mistake of not researching the tax situation, going home earlier than expected.

Will return next year and extend the non-O but try to arrange finances including waiting for 12 months of savings statements before applying for an LTR-WP.

23 hours ago, oldcpu said:

I applied in January-2023 and in mid-2023 I obtained the LTR-WP visa

One question, why did it take so long to receive it?

6 hours ago, Youbloodybeauty said:

One question, why did it take so long to receive it?

why so long?

It was a mixture of a few things that made it slow ...

(1) my timing was bad (re: income proof re: tax returns). I provided two old previous year tax returns, but they wanted a more recent return, which took me >2 months to put together.

.

(2) I was stubborn re: I provided as little information as possible on my finances - where if I had provided more information it may have been quicker

.

(3) I was stubborn re: how I provided evidence for self health insurance, and in the end had to restructure my (future) financial planning so to precisely meet BoI requirements

.

(4) I went the $40k US$ passive income equivalent + $250K US equivalent investment in Thailand route, and it took some iterations of documents to BoI before I convinced them I met the requirement. Again, I was trying to minimize my financial information that I provided. This included resending documents (where I think they over looked such documents the 1st time, and my procuring a relatively small number of Thai government bonds (and obtaining the 'equivalent' of a bond certificate via an edit in the bond book)) to satisfy BoI.

That bond stuff actually took over 6 weeks to sort.

As noted, with a one-year permission to stay (from my Type-O extension) I had lots of time to obtain the LTR.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think I obtained a 1-year permission to stay in Thailand based on a Type-O visa 1-year extension (for reason of retirement) in early January-2023, and within a week of obtaining that permission to stay, I immediately applied for the LTR-WP visa also in January-2023. So I had an entire year to get the LTR while on that Type-O extension permission to stay. The BoI office also knew my visa permission to stay was one full year (as it was one of my first uploads to them) so they themselves were also likely in no hurry to process my paperwork.

Everything had to be by the book - which I ultimately proved.

Edited August 22Aug 22 by oldcpu