ThailandWork

SMART Visa for executives in Thailand

The visa is intended for senior executives of technology companies in the targeted industries working in Thailand. Candidates must have higher education and substantial relevant experience and hold the position of president, managing director or an equivalent. The employing company must be certified as a technology company in specified industries. The visa is issued for a long term and requires no separate work permit for accredited positions, which makes working easier.

Visa term

Up to 4 years or for the term of the contract — whichever is shorter.

Threshold

A salary of at least 200,000 baht a month.

Work

A work permit is not required for the accredited position.

Residence

Annual reporting, unlimited re-entry permits.

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

Requirements and routes to obtaining the visa

The visa is open to senior executives in specific roles at companies that meet the certification criteria.

Ideal candidates

A president, managing director or executive of equivalent level at a technology company
An applicant with higher education and substantial relevant experience in their industry
A professional prepared to enter into an employment contract with at least one year remaining

Unsuitable candidates

Executives of companies outside the targeted technology industries
Applicants without higher education or with insufficient relevant experience
Professionals without an executive-level position or in middle-management roles

When the programme is not suitable

An employee of a company outside the targeted technology industries

Consider other visa categories for professionals (for example a work visa or a visa for specialists)

A professional without an executive-level position (without the post of president or an equivalent)

Consider SMART Visa category S or I, for entrepreneurs and investors respectively

What it costs

Fee for issuing a visa for a term of up to one yearPaid to the immigration authorities when the visa is issued	10 000 THB
Fee for issuing a visa for a term of up to four yearsCalculated at 10,000 baht for each full year of the permission	40 000 THB
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	50 000 THB

Paid separately

Consultant services or help with translating documents — Not included in the state fees; these are third-party services of your choosing

Documents to gather

The full list of documents required for the application.

A valid passport with blank pages
An endorsement letter from the Board of Investment (valid for 60 days)
Completed immigration forms: TM.90 and STM.6 (two copies)
A 4×6 centimetre passport photograph in business dress on a white background
An employment contract stating the position and the level of income
Proof of income in the form of tax returns P.N.D. 90 or P.N.D. 91
The company's certificate of registration
A criminal record certificate (if required for the applicant's nationality)
The receipt for the 90-day residence report (if applicable)
A work permit (if held from a previous period)

How the process runs

Obtaining the visa involves several stages in the order set out below.

1
Preparing the documents and filing the application with the Board of Investment
5–10 working days
Collect all the required documents and file the application with the SMART Visa Unit to obtain the endorsement letter and the qualification approval.
2
Consideration of the application and issue of the endorsement letter
20 working days
The Board of Investment will consider your qualification and issue an endorsement letter valid for 60 days. You will be notified of the outcome by email.
3
Booking an appointment at the immigration centre
2–30 days in advance
Book an appointment at the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC) in Bangkok or at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General (if you are abroad) at least two working days before the date you want, but no more than 30 days ahead.
4
Obtaining the visa at the immigration centre
1–2 days
Attend the TIESC or the embassy with the endorsement letter and the documents. Go through the document check and biometric scanning, pay the fees and attend the orientation.
5
Receiving the visa
1–3 days
Once all the procedures are complete you will be issued the visa for the approved term. You are ready to fly out and start work in Thailand.

Who you can bring with you

Family members and accompanying persons receive certain privileges.

A spouse

May remain in Thailand for the whole term of the holder's visa and is entitled to work without a separate work permit on the same conditions as the visa holder

Children and other family members

May remain in Thailand for the whole term of the holder's visa and receive permission to reside

Renewal and the grace period

The visa may be extended for the same term, provided that work with the certified company continues. The extension application must be filed at least 60 days before the visa expires, at the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC). Each extension carries a fee of 10,000 baht for each full year of the extension. A report on status and compliance with the conditions of the programme has to be filed every year.

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 executives	Digital nomad visa	Thailand Privilege Card
Visa term	Up to 4 years or for the term of the contract — whichever is shorter	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 senior managers of technology companies in the targeted industries	Remote work / courses (Muay Thai, cookery)	Purchase of a membership
Money	A salary of at least 200,000 baht a month	Funds in the account of about THB 500,000 (or the equivalent); a state fee of about THB 10,000	A membership fee depending on the package (from about THB 900,000); there are no other thresholds
Work	A work permit is not required for the accredited position	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
Residence	Annual reporting, unlimited re-entry permits	Lawful long-term stay, renting, bank accounts, medical care	There is no minimum stay; 90-day reporting

Frequently asked questions about SMART Visa for executives

What minimum monthly income is required for category E?

The minimum monthly income is 200,000 baht. Basic salary, bonuses and other forms of compensation from the employer are all counted.

How long does it take to process the application?

Consideration of the qualification and issue of the endorsement letter takes about 20 working days. The full process of obtaining the visa at the immigration centre, including booking the appointment, takes about 30 working days from the date the complete set of documents is filed.

Is a separate work permit required?

No. Holders of a SMART Visa E are exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit for the position and company stated in the Board of Investment endorsement letter, provided all the requirements of the programme are met.

For how long is the visa issued and can it be extended?

The visa is issued for up to four years, but it cannot exceed the term of the employment contract with the employer. The visa may be extended for further terms provided work with the certified company continues and all the requirements of the programme are met.

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.