Destination · Thailand
Thailand: long-stay visas and a remittance rule
Long-term visas for retirees and remote workers, a low cost of living, and a tax rule on foreign income you need to plan around.
Overview
Why clients look at Thailand
Thailand offers two routes our clients ask about most. The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa has a Wealthy Pensioner category for people aged 50 and over with passive income. The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) suits remote workers and people coming for activities such as Muay Thai or Thai cooking.
The tax side needs care. A foreigner who stays in Thailand 180 days or more in a calendar year is taxed on foreign-source income earned from 1 January 2024 onward when it is brought into Thailand, even in a later year. Income earned before 2024, or earned in a year you were not resident, is not taxed when remitted.
So how you fund your life in Thailand matters: which account, which income, which year. Treaties can give credit for foreign tax paid. US citizens remain taxable in the US wherever they live; see leaving the United States. Canadians, see leaving Canada.
At a glance
Thailand in six lines
| Tax system | Thai-source income is taxed. Residents (180+ days) are taxed on foreign income earned from 2024 when it is brought into Thailand. |
|---|---|
| Programmes | LTR visa (including Wealthy Pensioner) and the Destination Thailand Visa, alongside standard retirement and other visas. |
| Citizenship | Not a realistic goal for most clients. Thailand is chosen for residence and lifestyle. |
| Where companies, banks and trusts can sit | Your companies and investment accounts can stay outside Thailand. What matters is what you remit and when. |
| Good fit for | Retirees with passive income and remote workers who want a long stay in Southeast Asia. |
| Watch out for | Remitting post-2024 foreign income by accident, and visas that allow a stay but not work. |
General information, not legal or tax advice. Immigration and tax rules, amounts and processing times change; we confirm the current requirements for your specific case during your Global Strategy.
Programme figures, as checked September 2026
What the official sources say
- LTR Wealthy Pensioner. Age 50 or over. Passive income of at least US$80,000 a year, or at least US$40,000 plus a qualifying investment of US$250,000 in Thailand. Health insurance with at least US$50,000 cover, or Thai social security benefits, or at least US$100,000 kept in a bank account for 12 months or more. Stay of five years, extendable by five more. Thailand Board of Investment
- LTR visa fee. THB 50,000 per person when the visa is collected in Thailand. The LTR programme also lists a tax exemption for overseas income; we confirm how it applies to your category and income. Thailand Board of Investment
- Destination Thailand Visa. Valid five years from issue, stays of up to 180 days per entry, and financial evidence of at least THB 500,000 is required. Document rules vary by the issuing embassy or consulate; for example, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles requires savings or checking account statements for the last three months showing the required ending balance, the applicant’s name and the date. For remote work (digital nomads, freelancers) or Thai activities such as Muay Thai, cooking courses or medical treatment. Supporting documents depend on the purpose: for remote work, an employment contract or certificate or a professional portfolio; for Thai activities, an acceptance letter from the school or organiser, or a hospital appointment letter. Each Thai embassy or consulate sets its own list and may add items such as proof of residence in its area or a police certificate; extensions of stay are handled by the Immigration Bureau in Thailand. As checked October 2026. Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles Royal Thai Consulate
- Foreign income. Taxable when earned from 1 January 2024 by a foreigner present 180 days or more in the year it was earned, and remitted to Thailand, even in a later year. Revenue Department
Requirements depend on the route. For LTR Wealthy Pensioners, annual passive income of at least US$40,000 but below US$80,000 must be combined with a qualifying US$250,000 investment. The health-insurance/social-security coverage or bank-balance condition also applies; government and professional fees are additional expenses. Thailand Board of Investment
Done for you
How we handle your Thai visa application
You make the decisions. We coordinate the immigration and legal professionals in each country and follow every step, so the paperwork never becomes your job.
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Eligibility
We check whether this route fits your income, assets, family and nationality, and compare it with the alternatives before you commit.
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Documents
We give you the document list for your case and coordinate certificates, apostilles, translations and local filings.
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Application
We coordinate the filing with the immigration professionals in the country and follow it through each stage.
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Follow-through
We plan what comes next: renewals, your tax residency, banking and where your companies and investments should sit.
Will Thailand tax my pension or investment income?
If you are in Thailand 180 days or more in a year, foreign income earned from 2024 is taxable when you bring it into Thailand. Treaties and the LTR exemption can change the answer, so we check your income type by type.
What is the difference between the LTR and the DTV?
The LTR Wealthy Pensioner is for people 50 and over with substantial passive income, with a stay of five years plus five. The DTV is a five-year visa with stays of up to 180 days per entry, for remote workers and specific activities.
Can I keep my money outside Thailand?
Yes. Many residents fund their life from income earned before 2024 or from sources that are exempt. Planning which money you remit is part of the Global Strategy.
Will moving to Thailand end my taxes at home?
For Canadians, a properly planned departure can end Canadian residence. US citizens remain taxable in the US wherever they live.
Your next step
Considering Thailand?
The Global Strategy compares the LTR and DTV for your case and plans how you fund your life in Thailand.