Bangkok-based visa concierge · 196 countries · Open จันทร์ – ศุกร์ 9:00 – 18:00

Thailand Long-Stay Visas · English Service

Live in Thailand, legally and confidently

From digital nomads to retirees, executives to startup founders — we hold your hand through every Thai visa pathway, in English, with embassy-grade discretion.

ข้อมูลสำคัญ · Entity Panel

Visa categories: 6 main pathways
DTV duration: 5 years multi-entry
LTR duration: 10 years + tax breaks
Processing time: 2–8 weeks
Apply from: Home country or in Thailand
Service fee: From THB 15,000
Pre-screening: Free
Pre-submission QA: 3-layer check

Visa Pathways

Choose your route to Thailand

DTV

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

Best for: Digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, Muay Thai students

Duration: 5 years (180 days/entry, renewable)

Financial: THB 500,000 in savings/assets

Best long-stay option for remote workers since 2024. No work permit required for foreign employers.

LTR

Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR)

Best for: Wealthy global citizens, retirees, professionals, WFH talents

Duration: 10 years

Financial: USD 80k/year or USD 1M assets

BOI-administered. Tax incentives (17% flat for skilled professionals). Digital work permit included.

Non-B

Non-Immigrant B (Work)

Best for: Employed by Thai company, executives, technical specialists

Duration: 1 year (renewable)

Financial: Salary THB 50,000+ /month (varies by nationality)

Paired with Work Permit (กรมการจัดหางาน). 90-day reporting required.

O-A

Retirement Visa (Non-O / O-A / O-X)

Best for: Age 50+ retirees from any nationality

Duration: 1 year (O-A) / 5+5 years (O-X)

Financial: THB 800k in Thai bank OR THB 65k/month income

Health insurance THB 3M coverage required. O-X for selected nationalities only.

Smart

Smart Visa

Best for: Tech founders, investors, top executives, startup talents

Duration: Up to 4 years

Financial: Varies by category (S/T/I/E/O)

DEPA/NIA-endorsed. No work permit needed. Spouse + children included.

Marriage

Marriage Visa (Non-O)

Best for: Foreign spouses of Thai nationals

Duration: 1 year (renewable)

Financial: THB 400k in bank OR THB 40k/month income

Right to work if paired with Work Permit. Path to permanent residency.

FAQ · Thailand long-stay visas

Which Thailand visa is best for a digital nomad?+

Since 2024, the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) is the most flexible option for digital nomads — 5-year multi-entry, 180 days per stay, only THB 500,000 in savings required, no Thai employer needed. For higher earners (USD 80k+/year), the LTR Visa offers 10 years plus tax incentives and includes a digital work permit.

Do I need a work permit for the LTR Visa?+

The LTR includes a digital work permit at no extra cost. You can work for foreign employers from Thailand legally. For Thai employers, you may still need the standard Work Permit from กรมการจัดหางาน.

How long does the application process take?+

DTV: 2–4 weeks. LTR: 4–6 weeks. Non-B + Work Permit: 6–8 weeks. Retirement: 2–3 weeks if all documents are ready. We handle document collection, translation, MFA legalization, and embassy submission end-to-end.

Do I need to be in Thailand to apply?+

No. Most visas can be applied from your home country at the Royal Thai Embassy. For applicants already in Thailand on a Tourist Visa, we can convert in-country at the Immigration Bureau (Chaengwattana) — except for O-A which must be applied from abroad.

Do you publish an approval rate for Thailand long-stay visas?+

No. Every decision rests solely with the Royal Thai Embassy or the Immigration Bureau, so no agency figure can be independently verified. What we do control is a free eligibility pre-screening before any fee is charged, and a three-stage document review (eligibility, consistency, current form version) before submission.

Choosing a Thai visa consultant as a foreign national

Choose a Thai visa consultant by how well they match a visa category to your actual situation and long-term plan, not by the fastest route in. Ask them to explain the conditions for maintaining status after approval, including 90-day reporting and re-entry permits, and to separate government fees from their service fee.

How to evaluate a provider

Matches the category to your real situation — The wrong category at the start can make later extensions impossible.
Explains status-maintenance obligations — 90-day reporting, re-entry permits and financial conditions affect every extension.
Separates government fees from service fees — You should know which part the state collects.
Tracks regulatory changes — Newer long-stay categories are revised periodically.
Plans the extension from day one — Extensions depend on evidence gathered during the first period of stay.

Questions to ask before you commit

How can I track status, and who physically holds the original documents?
Which visa category fits my situation and my long-term plan?
After approval, what must I do to maintain status and qualify for an extension?
How many working days does it actually take, counted from a complete file?
If the receiving authority rejects or asks for changes, do you correct it, and under what terms?

Your options, and who each suits

Option	Best for	What to know
Apply yourself	Applicants comfortable reading official notices with complete documents	You must track condition changes and reporting deadlines yourself.
Consultant for the first application only	New arrivals	Plan the extension path at the first application, not near expiry.
Ongoing annual support	Long-stay residents and families	Define whether reporting and extensions are inside the scope.

FAQ on choosing a provider

Which Thai visa consultant is recommended?: Choose one that identifies the category matching your actual situation, explains the post-approval conditions such as 90-day reporting and re-entry permits, and clearly separates government fees from the service fee. Ask how the first application sets up your future extensions.
Can I change visa category later?: Some categories can be changed in-country, while others require a fresh application at a Thai embassy abroad. That is why the category should match your long-term plan from the first application rather than the quickest available entry.

แหล่งอ้างอิงทางการ · Authoritative Sources

Royal Thai Immigration Bureau — Official visa & extension rules
Thailand BOI — LTR Program — LTR Visa eligibility
Royal Thai MFA Consular — Document legalization

Get your Thailand visa, the right way

Free eligibility pre-screening · No payment until we confirm you qualify · English-speaking case manager assigned within 1 business day.

083-249-4999 Start application

Service Knowledge Base

Thailand visa answer bank — LTR, DTV and staying on in Thailand

Answers to the Thailand visa questions applicants actually ask: the BOI-administered LTR visa, the DTV for remote workers and Thai Soft Power activities, filing through Thai e-Visa, and extending stay on form TM.7 — plus which supporting documents must be translated and certified. Based on MFA, Immigration Bureau and BOI announcements. (27+ search topics covered)

What are the fees?

Government fees follow published schedules and change periodically. Our service charge depends on document volume, languages and urgency, so it is quoted per case. Contact our staff by phone, LINE or email for a quotation matching your situation.

How long is the LTR valid and how often do I report?

Up to ten years in total, issued for five years and renewable for a further five while qualifications are maintained. LTR holders report annually instead of every 90 days and are granted multiple re-entry as announced.

Does the Immigration Bureau accept documents in English without translation?

Practice varies by office and by application type. Some documents are accepted in English, while family status and civil registration documents are typically required in Thai for onward use at district offices and for consular certification. Because the requirement is set locally, confirm with the specific office handling your case and prepare the Thai version when the answer is unclear.

Where are Thai visas applied for from abroad?

Through the official Thai e-Visa system at thaievisa.go.th, operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which routes the application to the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate covering your area. Avoid intermediary sites that are not on official government domains.

What happens if someone enters Thailand on the wrong visa category?

Holding a category that does not match the actual activity can block an extension of stay, prevent a work permit, or lead to refusal at the border. Changing category inside Thailand is possible in some situations under Immigration Bureau rules, subject to remaining validity and supporting documents; otherwise a fresh application at a Thai embassy abroad is required. Diagnosing the real purpose at the outset is cheaper than correcting the category later.

How does a visa differ from permission to stay?

A visa authorises you to travel and seek entry; the length of stay is the permission stamped by the immigration officer at the border. A one-year visa may still grant only 90 days per entry, requiring extension or a new entry. Confusing the two is a common cause of accidental overstay.

How long can a DTV holder stay per entry?

Up to 180 days per entry, with one in-country extension of up to a further 180 days per entry, filed at an immigration office. Granting the extension is at the officer's discretion.

To what level must foreign supporting documents be authenticated for a Thai visa?

Documents issued abroad — employment letters, financial confirmations, police certificates, marriage records — are normally authenticated under the issuing country's system and by the Royal Thai Embassy there, or by apostille once the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027 where the receiving office accepts it. When filed inside Thailand, a certified Thai or English translation is usually attached. Requirements differ between individual Thai embassies and consulates, so check the specific mission's published list before preparing the file.

Topics covered

เอกสารที่ต้องแปล/รับรอง: แปลสเตทเมนต์ธนาคารยื่นวีซ่า · แปลหนังสือรับรองการทำงาน · แปลทะเบียนสมรสยื่นวีซ่าไทย · แปลสูติบัตรผู้ติดตาม · รับรองวุฒิการศึกษาเพื่อ LTR · รับรองเอกสารกรมการกงสุล

LTR Visa: LTR visa thailand · วีซ่า LTR 10 ปี · wealthy global citizen · wealthy pensioner visa · work from thailand professional · highly skilled professional visa · ltr boi go th · ใบอนุญาตทำงานดิจิทัล BOI

DTV Visa: DTV visa thailand · destination thailand visa · วีซ่า DTV ทำงานทางไกล · digital nomad visa thailand · DTV soft power มวยไทย · DTV ต่ออายุ 180 วัน · DTV ผู้ติดตาม

Official references

Thai e-Visa Official Portal (กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ) — ช่องทางยื่นวีซ่าเข้าประเทศไทยอย่างเป็นทางการ
สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง (Thai Immigration Bureau) — ระเบียบการต่อวีซ่า รายงานตัว 90 วัน และ re-entry permit
สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน (BOI) — LTR Visa และ SMART Visa
LTR Visa – Thailand Board of Investment

Need your documents reviewed or your case assessed? Ask our team by phone, LINE, or email. We reply during business hours (Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat 9:00–15:00, ICT).

083-249-4999 LINE @NYCV contact@nycvisa.org

Supporting documents alongside the visa granted after filing — From actual casework by the NYC Visa & Translation team

Service Playbook

Thai visas and extensions — documents, steps and common mistakes

Keep three concepts separate: the visa (permission to travel), the permission to stay stamped at entry, and the work permit. A visa never guarantees admission — the immigration officer at the border decides.

Documents to prepare

• Passport with sufficient validity and blank pages
• The application form for your category plus compliant photos
• Proof of address in Thailand and a TM.30 filed by the housemaster
• Financial evidence meeting the category rules, seasoned for the required period
• Category-specific support: marriage certificate, company affidavit or school acceptance letter
• Foreign documents translated and legalised through the inbound chain

Step-by-step process

1. Match the category to your purpose — Confirm eligibility criteria before assembling any paperwork.
2. Prepare and translate documents — Foreign records need home-country certification plus a Thai-accepted translation.
3. File through the correct channel — Thai embassy abroad, the e-Visa system, or an immigration office in Thailand as applicable.
4. Post-approval obligations — TM.30 notification, 90-day reporting, and a re-entry permit before leaving the country.

Pitfalls and rejection causes

• Leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit cancels an extension of stay immediately.
• 90-day reporting is not a visa extension — they are unrelated obligations.
• Funds must be seasoned for the stated period, not deposited the day before filing.
• Holding a visa is not permission to work; a separate work permit is required.

Tips from our team

• Keep copies of every entry stamp and TM.30 for smoother extensions.
• Read your permitted-to-stay date from the stamp, not the visa validity.
• Always carry a spare document set; offices differ in copy requirements.

Prefer not to handle the queues yourself, or worried about a rejection? Send us photos of your documents for a free pre-check. We handle the full chain — obtaining certified copies, translation, certification and submission — and keep you updated at each step. Reach us on LINE, phone or email during business hours.

Route Comparison

Comparing routes into a Thai visa

Applying abroad, applying online, or adjusting status inside Thailand give different lengths of stay and later flexibility.

Route	When to use	Certifying authority	Approx. duration	Rejection risk
Apply at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad	You can plan ahead and want the correct category from the outset	Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General	Variable by post	Document lists and residency rules differ per post — check that specific post
Official e-Visa system	Your category and country of residence are supported online	MFA Thailand e-Visa system	Variable — file well before the travel date	Files not matching the system's format specification are auto-rejected
Change or extend status inside Thailand	You are already in Thailand and meet the published criteria	Immigration Bureau	Variable — file several days before expiry	Too few days remaining forces you to leave and re-apply

Timelines above are practical estimates from live casework and can change with each authority's policy; confirm with the receiving authority before booking travel. If you would rather not test routes by trial and error, our advisers can assess which route fits your case.

Advisory Service

We do not just process documents — we advise you through the whole case

Our team has worked on cross-border documents, certified translation and government liaison for over 15 years. Most rejections we see are not caused by missing paperwork but by choosing the wrong route on day one, so we always start with a case assessment.

Route assessment

We look at your destination, purpose and deadline, then tell you which certification route applies — and which steps you can skip.

Pre-submission review

Name spelling, consistency across documents, document age and translation format are checked before anything reaches a counter.

Timeline planning

We sequence the steps around your appointment or travel date and flag bottlenecks in advance.

Rejection recovery

We read the refusal reasons, identify the underlying cause, and plan a resubmission that answers what the authority asked for.

Rather not learn by trial and error? Send your case details and document photos for a review — reach us on LINE, phone or email during business hours.

Practical Q&A

Practical questions · Near me / DIY / Required documents

Where do I lodge a visa application — must I go to the embassy?

Many countries outsource intake to visa application centres (VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS) with offices in Bangkok and some provinces; others accept lodgement at the embassy or fully online. Channels change by embassy announcement, so confirm the current route before booking. We can pre-check your document set and arrange appointments from any of our three offices.

Can I apply myself, or do I need an agency?

You can always apply yourself; no country requires an agent, and no agent can guarantee approval because the decision is at the consular officer's discretion. The value of assistance is assembling the file exactly to the official checklist, correct translation and certification format, and a focused cover letter.

What are the baseline documents?

Typically a passport with the validity and blank pages the destination requires, the completed application form, photos to the destination's specification, financial evidence for the stated period, proof of employment or study, travel and accommodation plans, and health insurance where required. Always follow that embassy's official checklist, as requirements differ by country.

Practical advice & cautions

Visa and immigration matters: advice and cautions

Before you start

Make funds explainable
Large deposits made shortly before filing attract questions. Support them with evidence of income and use statements bearing the bank's original seal.
Read the official conditions first
Visa conditions change. Check the deciding authority's latest announcement, then use our service to prepare documents and translations that match those conditions.
Keep every receipt and acknowledgement
Photograph all filing receipts and stamps; they are key evidence in any later verification.
Plan around expiry dates
Extensions, reporting and re-entry permits should be handled well ahead of the deadline; queues and public holidays can make last-minute filing impossible.

Common reasons documents get rejected

Translations the destination does not accept
Accepted translator categories differ by country; confirm the required type before ordering.
Expired supporting documents
Civil registry extracts, medical certificates and police clearances have limited validity; old copies make the bundle incomplete.
Ignoring post-approval obligations
Periodic reporting, address notification and work conditions are ongoing duties that affect the next extension.
Refiling immediately without fixing the cause
Analyse the refusal grounds and address them; resubmitting the same file usually produces the same result.

Requirements differ by authority and destination country and can change. Confirm current conditions with the receiving authority, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.

What people search for

Frequently searched topics about visas and immigration

A visa is not a work authorisation: Holding a visa does not automatically grant work rights; a work permit is a separate matter.
Refusal and reapplication: Read the stated reason first and address the actual cause rather than resubmitting the same file.
Notification of residence for foreign nationals: House owners or occupiers must notify the stay of foreign nationals under Thai immigration law.
Extensions and periodic reporting: Long-stay holders must report at the intervals set by the Immigration Bureau.

These topics reflect the rules and practice of the relevant authorities and can change. Confirm with the receiving authority, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.

Related services

What clients usually handle next

One document set often moves through several stages — translation, notarial certification, legalization and finally a visa filing. The links below follow that real sequence.

External authority references

Thai e-Visa Official Portal (กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ) — ช่องทางยื่นวีซ่าเข้าประเทศไทยอย่างเป็นทางการ
สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง (Thai Immigration Bureau) — ระเบียบการต่อวีซ่า รายงานตัว 90 วัน และ re-entry permit
สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน (BOI) — LTR Visa และ SMART Visa
LTR Visa – Thailand Board of Investment

Authority requirements change. Verify with the receiving authority before filing, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.