ThailandWork

SMART Visa «Talent» in Thailand

A work visa for highly qualified specialists in science and technology hired by companies certified by the Board of Investment as operating in the targeted industries. Experts invited by government departments, universities, schools or dispute resolution bodies may also apply. The holder needs no separate work permit — the visa status itself gives the right to work. The spouse and children live in the country with the holder, and the spouse works without a permit of their own.

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

Who can claim «Talent» status

The BOI distinguishes two applicant profiles — with different employers, but with the same privileges in the end.

A specialist at a company in a targeted industry

An employment or service contract with a Thai company certified by the BOI as operating in one of the targeted (S-Curve) industries
An income at or above the set threshold — as a rule from 100,000 baht a month; for employees of start-ups and retired experts the threshold is lower
Competence in science or technology confirmed by one of the agencies accredited in the STC network

An expert at a government or educational institution

An employment or service contract issued by a government department, a university, a specialised school or an alternative dispute resolution body
Expertise confirmed by the employer itself or by a relevant institution in the STC network
The same extension procedure and the same family benefits as for specialists in the targeted industries

When the programme is not suitable

Remote work without an employment or service contract with a Thai organisation (digital nomads, freelancers)

Other visa regimes for remote work in Thailand that are not tied to employment with a local employer

The employer is not certified by the BOI as operating in one of the targeted industries

An ordinary Non-Immigrant B work visa with a separate work permit through the Ministry of Labour

The income is below the set threshold and the applicant is not an employee of a start-up or a retired expert

A standard work visa with no minimum income requirement

The field of specialisation relates neither to science and technology in the targeted industries nor to work at a government institution, a university or an arbitration body

An ordinary work visa for the relevant field of activity

Documents to gather

The BOI publishes the official list of documents for the initial application stage on request through the SMART Visa Unit. The list openly described on the website is for the next stage — obtaining the visa itself (visa stamping) after the qualification is approved; it is common to all holders of an approved SMART Visa qualification, including the «Talent» category.

A passport or travel document with copies of all pages bearing stamps — the passport must have 2–3 blank pages
An endorsement letter from the Board of Investment approving the qualification
A completed form TM.90
Two completed forms STM.6
Two qualification endorsement forms
A 4×6 cm photograph on a white background, in business dress, taken no more than 6 months before filing
The original and a copy of the TM.6 card (if applicable)
The receipt for payment of the visa fee
A work permit — for holders of a Non-Immigrant B visa

How the process runs

The process has two stages: first the BOI confirms the applicant's qualification, then the visa itself is issued.

1
Online registration of the application
The applicant registers on the BOI SMART Visa portal, selects the required visa type («Talent») and uploads the set of documents electronically.
2
BOI consideration and the decision on the qualification
at least 30 working days
The SMART Visa Unit considers the complete set of documents and, no less than 30 working days after receiving it, notifies the applicant of the outcome — whether the qualification is confirmed or not.
3
Filing the application for the visa itself
within 60 days of the date the endorsement letter is issued
Having received the endorsement letter confirming the qualification, the applicant must apply for the visa within 60 days of the date it is issued. The fee for the visa permission is 10,000 baht for each year of the visa's validity.
4
Obtaining the visa in Thailand or abroad
The application for the visa itself is filed through the E-visa system if the applicant is abroad, or in person at the immigration counter of the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC) in Bangkok if they are already in Thailand.

Timelines and rights

Work

A work permit is not required when working for accredited companies.

Who you can bring with you

The rules are the same for both profiles of «Talent» applicants.

A spouse

Receives permission to stay in Thailand for the same term as the holder of the «Talent» visa and may work without a separate work permit.

Children

Receive permission to stay in Thailand for the same term as the holder of the main visa.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Reporting to the immigration service at the One Stop Service Centre once a year instead of every 90 days.

The «Talent» visa is designed to run for several years and to be renewable, but within an overall maximum: as a rule up to 4 years, and for employees of registered start-ups up to 2 years. In any event the visa term cannot exceed the remaining term of the employment or service contract with the certified company or institution — that is what determines how long the status will actually be extended for.

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 «Talent»	Digital nomad visa	Thailand Privilege Card
Grounds	A visa for highly qualified specialists in science and technology working in Thailand's targeted industries	Remote work / courses (Muay Thai, cookery)	Purchase of a membership
Work	A work permit is not required when working for accredited companies	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	Reporting to the immigration service at the One Stop Service Centre once a year instead of every 90 days	Lawful long-term stay, renting, bank accounts, medical care	There is no minimum stay; 90-day reporting

Frequently asked questions about SMART Visa «Talent»

What minimum income is needed for the «Talent» visa?

As a rule at least 100,000 baht a month or the equivalent in another currency. For employees of registered start-ups and for retired experts the threshold is lower — at least 50,000 baht a month.

Is a separate work permit needed?

No. When employed by a company or institution whose qualification has been confirmed by the BOI, a separate work permit is not required — the SMART Visa status itself performs that function.

How often does the visa holder report to the immigration service?

Instead of reporting every 90 days, the holder reports their place of residence once a year — within 15 days before or 7 days after the date stated on the notification card. In addition, all SMART Visa holders, including the «Talent» category, file a status report with the BOI SMART Visa Unit every September.

Is this visa suitable for digital nomads without a Thai employer?

No. The «Talent» category is intended for specialists and experts with an employment or service contract with a company or institution whose qualification has been confirmed by the BOI. Remote workers and digital nomads without such a contract do not fall within the category.

How much does the «Talent» visa cost and how is it paid?

The official fee for the visa permission is about 10,000 baht for each year of the visa's validity: for example, for a permitted term of 6 months it is 10,000 baht, and for a term of 1 year and 4 months it is 20,000 baht.

How long does it take to consider an application for confirmation of the qualification?

The SMART Visa Unit considers a complete set of documents for at least 30 working days, after which it notifies the applicant of the outcome. The endorsement letter confirming the qualification is valid for 60 days — the application for the visa itself must be filed within that period.

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.