ThailandInvestor

SMART Visa for investors in Thailand

A visa for foreign nationals who invest their own money in a Thai technology business or a start-up in the priority industries. The investor lives in Thailand long term and without a work permit. The company or programme receiving the investment is confirmed as a technology venture by government agencies. The spouse and children live with the investor, and the spouse is entitled to work without a separate permit. Immigration reporting and formalities are simpler than on ordinary visas.

Visa term

Up to 4 years, renewable.

Work

A work permit is not required.

Source: Thailand Board of Investment (smart-visa.boi.go.th)

How to meet the visa's investment condition

The Smart I category is designed for two different investor profiles — the route chosen determines the minimum amount of investment and which documents have to be evidenced.

An investor in a mature technology business

You are prepared to invest at least 20 million baht as a private individual or through a Thai venture company
You are investing in a business certified as a technology venture in one of Thailand's targeted industries
You are prepared to confirm the list of shareholders and the transfers of the invested funds each year

An investor in a start-up or an accelerator

You are prepared to invest at least 5 million baht as a private individual in a start-up, business incubator or accelerator
The start-up or programme is approved by the relevant government agency, for example the National Innovation Agency
You are prepared to confirm your participation in the programme and the transfers of the invested funds each year

When the programme is not suitable

You are an employed specialist or executive with no investment of your own in a Thai company

consider the other SMART Visa categories for employees — Smart T for specialists or Smart E for executives — or an ordinary work visa

You do not have the sum needed for direct investment even at the lower level — the start-up option

consider Thailand's long-term visas that are not linked to investment in a business, for example the retirement visa or the long-stay programme

You want to invest money in a company outside Thailand

the Smart I category counts only investments in Thai companies — the programme is not suitable for foreign assets

You plan to invest through a pension fund or a passive investment account rather than directly in a specific company

consider investment or retirement programmes in other countries — Smart I requires a direct investment in a certified technology company or start-up in Thailand

What it costs

Consideration of the application for BOI qualification endorsementFree for all SMART Visa categories, including investors	0 THB
Fee for issuing the visa at immigration or an embassy (per year of permitted stay)Paid in cash when the visa stamp is issued; for a term longer than a year the amount is multiplied by the number of full years of stay	10 000 THB
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	10 000 THB

Paid separately

Translation and certification of documents not in English or Thai — Paid separately to a translator or notary; not included in the state fee
Criminal record certificate — Obtained by the applicant themselves in their own country; its cost is not included in the BOI or immigration fee
Fine for breaching the period of stay — From 500 baht a day, but no more than 20,000 baht on voluntary settlement — charged only in the event of an overstay; it is not part of the standard fee

Documents to gather

To obtain the visa after BOI approval you need to prepare the general set of documents for the visa stamp, together with additional papers confirming your status as an investor.

A notification from the BOI to the Immigration Bureau that the qualification endorsement has been granted
A completed form TM.90 with a 4×6 cm photograph on a white background
Form STM6 — confirmation that the visa conditions and criteria have been read
A signed form acknowledging the conditions for obtaining the visa
A signed form acknowledging the consequences of breaching the period of stay
A certified copy of the first page of the passport and of the pages with entry stamps
A certified copy of the TM.6 departure card
A list of shareholders, form BOJ.5, no more than three months old — if the investment is made through a company
Proof of the transfer of the invested funds: bank statements or transaction documents
A criminal record certificate — required for nationals of most countries; the exact list is to be checked with the SMART Visa Unit

How the process runs

Once the documents have been collected, the process runs in two stages: first the BOI confirms the qualification of the investor and the company, then immigration affixes the visa stamp.

1
Registering on the SMART Visa portal and filing the application for qualification endorsement
about 3 working days to check that the set of documents is complete
The applicant creates an account at smart-visa.boi.go.th, completes the application form and uploads documents in PDF format evidencing the investment and the company's status; SMART Visa Unit staff check that all the documents are attached.
2
Consideration by the relevant departments and the decision on the qualification endorsement
at least 30 working days after the complete set of documents is received
The application is sent to the departments responsible for the targeted industries, for example the National Innovation Agency — they confirm that the company or programme really is a technology venture. On the outcome, the SMART Visa Unit sends notice of approval or refusal by email.
3
Applying for the visa in Thailand or through an embassy abroad
within 60 days of the date of the notice of approval
With the notification letter the applicant either attends the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center in Bangkok or applies for an electronic visa through the Thai embassy or consulate for their place of residence.
4
Biometrics, payment of the fee and the visa stamp
on the day of the visit to the visa centre
At the visa centre the applicant gives fingerprints and a photograph, pays the fee in cash and receives the visa stamp in the passport; where the application is made through an embassy, the stamp is affixed on arrival in Thailand.

Who you can bring with you

The visa also extends to close relatives — a spouse and children.

A spouse

Receives the right to stay in Thailand for the same term as the visa holder where the documents are filed jointly, and may work without a separate work permit — except in occupations prohibited to foreign nationals.

Children

Recognised as dependants up to the age of 20; after 20 only if they remain in full-time education and this is evidenced by documents. Where they file separately from the principal holder their visa term may be shorter, but the end date will be the same.

A same-sex spouse

Is not recognised as a family member for the Smart O category visa, since Thailand does not register same-sex marriages.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Reporting once a year instead of every 90 days, no re-entry permit is required, and fast-track passage is available at airports.

The visa has to be extended no later than 60 days before it expires. The procedure has two stages: first the BOI confirms afresh that the investor and the company still meet the criteria — as with the initial application, the result comes no sooner than 30 working days — then the immigration extension is arranged at the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center. An investor additionally needs a current list of shareholders and/or proof of the transfer of the invested funds. The extension fee is the same as for the initial issue — for each year of permitted stay, including for the spouse and children.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	SMART Visa for investors	Digital nomad visa	Thailand Privilege Card
Visa term	Up to 4 years, renewable	A multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years, stays of up to 180 days with an extension of a further 180	The term depends on the package (5-20 years), multiple entry; renewal is through a new membership fee
Grounds	A visa for investors in technology companies in Thailand's targeted industries	Remote work / courses (Muay Thai, cookery)	Purchase of a membership
Work	A work permit is not required	Not a work visa; working for a Thai employer without a work permit is prohibited	There is no right to work; a separate B visa and a work permit are required

Frequently asked questions about SMART Visa for investors

Is there a charge for BOI qualification endorsement?

No, consideration of the application for qualification endorsement is free. The only payment is the fee when the visa itself is issued at immigration or an embassy — it is calculated by the years of permitted stay.

Can I invest through a company rather than in my own name?

Yes, but you have to prove that you are a shareholder of the Thai company — for example with a list of shareholders on form BOJ.5 no more than three months old; the amount of the investment is then counted in proportion to your shareholding.

Does the company I invest in have to hold BOI-promoted status?

No, promotion by the BOI is not required. What matters is that the company is registered in Thailand and genuinely carries out manufacturing or services in the technology field of one of the targeted industries.

Can I invest in a foreign company that operates in Thailand through a branch?

No; for the «Investor» category the money must be invested in a Thai company, and investment exclusively in a foreign business is not counted.

What has to be evidenced in the annual status report for an investor visa?

A list of shareholders no more than three months old and/or documents confirming the transfer of the invested funds — these have to be sent to the SMART Visa Unit each year for as long as the visa is valid.

For how long is the visa issued and do I have to report to immigration every 90 days?

The visa is issued for a maximum of 4 years and is renewable. Instead of the usual 90-day attendance, a Smart I holder reports to immigration once a year, no re-entry permit is required, and fast-track passage is available at Thailand's international airports where it is provided.

Other ways to move to Thailand

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Thailand.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.