Economy Thailand Plans 10-Year Tourist Visa and 99-Year Land Lease to Boost Economy

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of ET Travel world

 

Thailand is gearing up to inject a fresh lease of life into its faltering economy with bold policy proposals. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced intentions to introduce a 10-year tourist visa, allowing foreigners extended stays and work opportunities in the Land of Smiles.

 

This plan coincides with proposals to offer 99-year lease rights on government land, poised to attract international interest and spur various economic sectors.

 

In the "Thailand’s Capital Market Forum 2025", Pichai outlined these ambitious measures as part of a broader strategy to counteract global economic issues, especially those triggered by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs.

 

Scheduled for further discussion at the economic stimulus policy committee, chaired by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, these proposals aim to clarify responsible agencies and financial allocations necessary for implementation.

 

Tourism stands at the forefront of this economic revitalisation push. The proposed 10-year visa scheme intends to facilitate longer stays for foreigners, potentially transforming Thailand into a preferred hub for work and lifestyle.

 

Coupled with 99-year land leases under the "land use rights" framework, Thailand hopes to tap into the burgeoning demand for long-term international residency and business initiatives.

 

This isn't all; the Thai government is also focusing on long-term infrastructure and technological advancements. These include enhancing the digital economy, establishing Thailand as a regional data centre, boosting the electric vehicle industry, and expanding dual-track railway systems.

 

Moving towards a logistic powerhouse, the nation also plans the development of land bridges and essential water channels to drive agricultural productivity.

 

Pichai highlighted the fluctuating Thai stock market, which has dipped from 1,700 to 1,200 points over two years. He urged stability, noting the government's reluctance to introduce further capital market stimulus amidst existing, effective measures.

 

These strategic plans signify Thailand’s approach to tackling external economic pressures while revitalising internal growth, potentially reshaping the country's global economic position.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-05-19

 

 

[JoePai]

10-year tourist visa

 

They seem to have a different of what a Tourist is to me !

[redwood1]

What?.....Yet another new visa........With a boatload of requirements no doubt...

They have introduced so many new visa in the last 5-6-7 years is honestly hard to keep track of them....

[bkk6060]

Probably only for millionaires or those who invest millions.  Dumb.

[Sqoop]

Will this visa and land lease be introduced this year then revoked a few years from now ? 

[ryandb]

As someone who would like a 99-year lease (I'm under 40) over a 30, I love the sound of it, but the previous rumour that the owner(well, descendant of the owner) doesn't receive the land back, and it goes to the state, is terrible. Land grabs, no way I would participate in that.

 

[hotchilli]

More strings attached to it than Paetongtarn

[MadMac]

Another hub. Was about time! 

[kimothai]

"Intentions" and what actually happens are 2 different things.  Time will tell

[ujayujay]

Oh come on, newly propagated visas for foreigners in LOS always contain the same rules: How do we squeeze even more money out of the Farangs' pockets so that they think it's beneficial for them, but in reality it's just a trick by getting less wine in larger bottles. Bottom line, no advantage for the visa holder, even more for Thailand

[Bday Prang]

those seeking work will no doubt need to show millions in the bank

[newbee2022]

Pants on fire?

Vietnam introduced a 5 and 10 years visa just the other day 😂

[Presnock]

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

10-year tourist visa

 

They seem to have a different of what a Tourist is to me !

Well strange to me is the fact that they already have a 10-year visa that  offers several different categories, for one to work, or invest or just have an adequate bank account or pension.  But then again have to wait to see what it costs versus benefits.

[Sierra Tango]

"This plan coincides with proposals to offer 99-year lease rights on government land, poised to attract international interest and spur various economic sectors".

 

It looks to me like it may only be for commercial enterprises. I don't see any mention of being able to lease land for housing but, you never know what it will end up becoming after 50 select committees have thrashed it to bits.

[Guderian]

Is anyone really interested in a 99-year lease? Why not just allow foreigners to own up to 2 rai of land for residential purposes?

[Trippy]

20 minutes ago, Sqoop said:

Will this visa and land lease be introduced this year then revoked a few years from now ? 

No, they'll wait until the new casinos are built, then they will revoke the lease.

[Packer]

Your money stays for 10 years but you stay for 90 days per year. 

[renaissanc]

I long for the day the Marriage Visa is extended beyond one year. It seems that you can get a 5-year Marriage Visa in Vietnam. I've been here 41 years, and married for 39 of them. The annual renewal documents are the same each year. The renewal process takes an hour plus the lunch hour each year. Immigration should digitalise the documents, which are the same each year, and let married people send or show an updated bank statement annually. Modernise the renewal process and decentralise it to the provinces. This will improve the quality of life of Immigration Officers.

[Sydebolle]

A pristine example of "closing the barn door after the horse has escaped"

[bbbbooboo]

hmmm… haven’t we been through this all before ?

[Sydebolle]

Well, well, the ten-years visa might be a winner, the 99-years lease as well but, according to the article, is restricted on government land. 

Let potential buyers - irrespective of nationality - buy land with certain restrictions (I understand that US citizen are entitled to one Rai under the "American Treaty" dating back to the 60s of last century). 
Drop the work permit restrictions as I cannot see a non-Thai hairdresser or non-Thai ice carver competing with Thais; architecture and tourism might also be much more professional without the restrictions in the Alien Business Law. 

There are lots of possibilities to make "Thailand great again" but it takes a new breeze of professionals and not all those old oligarch goats driving this country into the ground for their own personal benefit. 

[Dogmatix]

More measures from the ideas bankrupt Thaksin government that will fail to move the needle like his "signature" cash handouts in the first two years which even PT know acknowledges was a failure as they plan to divert the cash prepared for the third round to some other use. 

 

There are already 10 year visas introduced by the Prayut military government and Elite cards introduced by Thaksin himself. So what difference will the Thaksin govt's own visa scheme make.  

 

Land ownership has never been a driving factor for large scale foreign direct investment.  Foreign companies are driven by return on investment and compare returns with other countries they can invest in.  That means they they prefer to rent land in industrial estates, if they are manufacturers, and the keep the high cost of land which can more than double the investment cost out of the equation.  The only exception in property developers but foreigners are banned from that business anyway and only a very few are willing to invest with a Thai controlling partner.  

 

Most of the foreigners who want to buy land are small guys who want a residential plot and want move the needle. If you have a Thai wife, you will still buy freehold in her name rather than take a 99 year lease with limited leaseholder rights on land that reverts to the government at the end of the lease and becomes unmorgageable when only 50 years left, as in the UK.  Some foreigners without Thai spouses will take the 99 year option, if offered, but it is not going to make any difference to the economy.  Meanwhile Thais will protest and developers won't like it, if they have to transfer the land to the government, rather than keep it as an assets on their own balance sheets that will become more valuable as the lease runs down.

 

This government told Thais that having Thaksin, a businessman, as leader, oops adviser, meant they will be able to fire up the economy.  So far it looks like Prayut did a better job.  Thaksin recruited some thinkers with clever ideas over 20 years ago has nothing left to offer except questionable casino projects and cosy oil and gas deals with Hun Sen.   The thinkers abandoned him long ago and all he has left are his own crummy ideas and a Tik Tok savvy daughter.

[Dogmatix]

1 minute ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, well, the ten-years visa might be a winner, the 99-years lease as well but, according to the article, is restricted on government land. 

Let potential buyers - irrespective of nationality - buy land with certain restrictions (I understand that US citizen are entitled to one Rai under the "American Treaty" dating back to the 60s of last century). 
Drop the work permit restrictions as I cannot see a non-Thai hairdresser or non-Thai ice carver competing with Thais; architecture and tourism might also be much more professional without the restrictions in the Alien Business Law. 

There are lots of possibilities to make "Thailand great again" but it takes a new breeze of professionals and not all those old oligarch goats driving this country into the ground for their own personal benefit. 

 

Restricted on govt land because the seller has to sell the freehold to the government and the lease to the foreigner.  A very bad idea.

[baansgr]

19 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Pants on fire?

Vietnam introduced a 5 and 10 years visa just the other day 😂

Can you tell me the requirements?

[Nickcage49]

A 10 year tourist visa? For how much? I'm sure it will be at an unreasonable cost, like all of their other harebrained ideas.

[ronster]

13 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

I long for the day the Marriage Visa is extended beyond one year. It seems that you can get a 5-year Marriage Visa in Vietnam. I've been here 41 years, and married for 39 of them. The annual renewal documents are the same each year. The renewal process takes an hour plus the lunch hour each year. Immigration should digitalise the documents, which are the same each year, and let married people send or show an updated bank statement annually. Modernise the renewal process and decentralise it to the provinces. This will improve the quality of life of Immigration Officers.

Agreed. After 10 years of doing marriage visa they should extend it to 2-5 year gap before having to do it again.

Every year doing the same mind numbing paperwork and photos etc for what 🙄🙈

I get the joy of doing mine tomorrow 😩

[Burma Bill]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

to introduce a 10-year tourist visa, allowing foreigners extended stays and work opportunities in the Land of Smiles.

 

Aimed at the corrupt and scamming Chinese and Russian business community?

[baansgr]

Leave the land ownership to Thais, and it's not about johnny foreigner wanting to build a villa...it's about the agricultural land with the great tiger from the north. Also we can all see what happens when any Tom Dick or Harry can buy land in the western world.

[baansgr]

22 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Is anyone really interested in a 99-year lease? Why not just allow foreigners to own up to 2 rai of land for residential purposes?

Because that would be the death of Thailand...and also put extreme pressure on housing costs for the Thais...why should any foreigner be allowed to own land.

[chilli42]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This isn't all; the Thai government is also focusing on long-term infrastructure and technological advancements. These include enhancing the digital economy, establishing Thailand as a regional data centre, boosting the electric vehicle industry, and expanding dual-track railway systems.

Sounds delusional. All they ever do is talk. So many good ideas, so much greed, so little will and talent to see these things through. Never going to happen.