THAILAND
4-YEAR SMART VISA APPLICATION
Thailand has been making a series of innovative efforts in driving the long-term economy from technically skilled foreigners. The Smart Visa concept is aimed at streamlining experts, highly-skilled professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to live and work in the Kingdom of Thailand in an attempt to draw attention towards science and technology. Smart Visa holders will be granted a maximum of 4-year permission to stay, exemption from the work permit requirement and entitled to additional privileges.
SMART VISA
ELIGIBLE INDUSTRIES IN THAILAND
The SMART Visa is formulated for companies (in one of 10 targeted sectors) to bring expensive foreign talent to work for them easily (T and E visa). It is designed to attract investors who also want to live in Thailand (I visa). And it’s designed for founders of startups who want to bootstrap, develop and grow their business in Thailand (S visa). Smart Visa is targeted for the following ‘10 S-Curve’ industries.
- Next-Generation Automotive
- Smart Electronics
- Affluent, Medical and Wellness Tourism
- Agriculture and Biotechnology
- Food for the Future
- Automation and Robotics
- Aviation and Logistics
- Biofuels and Biochemicals
- Digital
- Medical Hub
SMART VISA
ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL IN THAILAND
SMART “T” – Talent
Eligibility
- Highly skilled professionals in the science and technology field.
- A minimum salary of 200,000 Baht per month.
- Employment contract with a Thailand entity with the remaining term for at least 1-year.
Rights & Benefits
- Maximum 4-year visa, but not exceeding the employment contract term.
- No work permit required for working in the endorsed company or a Thai government agency.
- 90-day Immigration reporting extended to 1-year.
- No re-entry permit is required.
- Similar benefits are granted to spouse and children of Smart Visa holders.
SMART “I” – Investor
Eligibility
- A minimum investment of 20 million Baht.
- Investing in technology-based companies in targeted industries.
Rights & Benefits
- Maximum 4-year visa.
- No work permit required for working in the endorsed company.
- 90-day Immigration reporting extended to one-year.
- No re-entry permit required.
- Spouse and children granted permission to stay in Thailand.
- Spouse granted permission to work without work permit requirement.
SMART “E” – Executive
Eligibility
- Minimum of Bachelor degree and 10-years work experience in the field.
- A minimum monthly salary of 200,000 Baht.
- Employment contract from a S-Curve company with a minimum of one-year remaining.
- High-level executive position held.
- Working for a technology-based project within a targeted industry.
Rights & Benefits
- 1-year visa issued and renewable for 2 years if requirements are met.
- No work permit required for working in the endorsed company.
- 90-day Immigration reporting extended to one-year.
- No re-entry permit required.
- Spouse and children granted permission to stay in Thailand.
- Spouse granted permission to work without work permit requirement.
SMART “S” – Startup
Eligibility
- Fixed deposit of 600,000 Baht with a maturity term of one-year and upwards.
- Health insurance policy holder.
- Participating in an endorsed incubation, accelerator or similar program.
- Obtaining joint-venture status, or being endorsed by a relevant government industry.
- Must setup a company in Thailand within 1 year with at least 25% ownership in, or being a board member of a company in the targeted industries.
Rights & Benefits
- 1-year visa issued and renewable for 2 years if requirements are met.
- No work permit required for working in the endorsed company.
- 90-day Immigration reporting extended to one-year.
- No re-entry permit required.
- Spouse and children granted permission to stay in Thailand.
- Spouse granted permission to work without work permit requirement.
THAILAND
SMART VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Foreigners wanting to avail the facilities of Thailand Smart Visa will first need to apply for a Qualification Endorsement. The SMART Visa Unit will verify the application for qualification, and then submit to the relevant government agency for endorsement. The government agencies involved in the endorsement process include the following: BOI, NSTDA, NIA, DEPA, NRCT, TISTR, MOFA, Immigration, and MOL.
*Please note that the Qualification Endorsement process takes approximately 30 working days.