10 years (5+5) new visa just approved: please, share details

[gavi]

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cabinet-approves-plans-to-attract-long-stay-foreigners-to-thailand/

Having a non-Thai girlfriend - and with the Voluntary visa suspended - I am wondering whether somebody knows about this new type of visa, and how to apply for it.

Can it be a consultancy contract rather than employment contract? the employer can be a company based abroad, right?

What kind of qualifications are needed? is an engineering degree with high marks enough? or the employer must meet some high-tech/size features?

Are there agents that can help achieve this Visa?

[Faz]

14 minutes ago, gavi said:

Having a non-Thai girlfriend - and with the Voluntary visa suspended - I am wondering whether somebody knows about this new type of visa, and how to apply for it.

It's only been approved in principal.

The full requirements and conditions have yet to be published.

[Faraday]

From the link in op:

"The visa fee is 10,000 baht per year for each applicant. They will be required to report to authorities once a year to confirm their place of residence."

I would strongly imagine that they'll be much more money needed by those applying.

Once a year reporting is good, but there is the 'new & improved'  Online thing, so not much gained really.

[Faz]

52 minutes ago, Faraday said:

From the link in op:

"The visa fee is 10,000 baht per year for each applicant. They will be required to report to authorities once a year to confirm their place of residence."

I would strongly imagine that they'll be much more money needed by those applying.

I'm expecting there to be a requirement to have a minimum of 3M BHT in a Thai bank.

[AussieBob]

4 hours ago, Faz said:

I'm expecting there to be a requirement to have a minimum of 3M BHT in a Thai bank.

At the rates Thai Banks provide for deposits/investments and their lack os security (1M Baht Max), why would anyone want to deposit such a large amount into a Thai Bank when Singapore offers so much more.............   Wait a minute - this Visa is for those who really just want to get their money out of a country with no questions asked where it came from.  Now I get it   

[Vince]

 

I emailed the smart visa email address

smartvisa@boi.go.th

 and got this reply late 2021. No idea what if any applies, but it's something? 

(Highlights/bold/italics in original email, nothing altered from original reply body)

...

Regarding visa for remote workers/digital nomads, the government is now in the process of launching a new type of visa called "Long Term Residence visa" (LTR visa) which will be suitable for long term residents, and a visa for remote workers/ digital nomads: Work-From-Thailand Professional will be one of the significant parts of it. The qualifications and criteria for Work-From-Thailand Professional have not yet to be finalized but should be as follows.

 

Long Term Residence Visa : Work-From-Thailand Professional

 

- No age limit

- Work for overseas employer that allows you to be remotely working

 

There are 2 sub-catagories for Work-From-Thailand Professional in LTR visa

 

1.Digital Nomad

2.Corporate Programme

 

Qualifications 

 

- Have health insurance from an accredited insurance company covering medical expenses of $100,000 or more throughout the duration of the visa.

- Personal income (salary, investment income, etc.) at least $80,000 per year for the past 2 years or $40,000 per year if graduated with a master's degree or higher / Possess Intellectual Property / Receive Series A funding.

 

Required proof/documents

 

For Digital Nomad

- Company listed on stock exchange, or

- A private company that has been operating for at least 3 years and has gross revenue more than 50 million USD in the last 3 years.

 

For Corporate Programme 

- Have experience working with any company with annual revenue > $1 billion

 

However, please note that the qualifications are not yet to be finalized since the project is still in process and we are still not able to inform you of any details on when this upcoming visa will be launched, but we assure you that we will keep you posted as soon as possible whenever there is an update from the government or the relevant agencies.

 

[Vince]

Recent update from same email as above

 Spaces added for legibility. 

--------

Thank you for your interest in our new scheme.

Please be informed that the new type of visa, LTR Visa (Long Term
Residence Visa) is not yet effective.

Currently, the cabinet has already
approved in principle and now the draft announcements are being
issued by relevant agencies. It is expected that the LTR visa will
become effective around May 2022.

Below are drafted qualifications and criteria of Long Term Residence
Visa: Work-From-Thailand Professional.
Qualifications and criteria:

- Personal income of no less than $80,000/year in the past two years
before applying for the visa. In case of annual personal income below
$80,000 but no less than $40,000 in the past two years, applicants must have a master's degree (or above), own intellectual property, or receive Series A funding

- Health insurance policy of no less than $50,000 coverage through the
entire period of stay in Thailand or social security healthcare, which
insures hospitalization treatment in Thailand.

- At least five years of working experience in the relevant field to the
current employment.

- Current employer must have one of the following characteristics;

a) a public company listed on the stock exchange in any country

b) a private company that has been in operation for at least three years
and has total combined revenue of more than $150 million in the last
three years

We assure you that we will keep you posted as soon as possible
whenever there is an update about the application information via Smart
Visa and BOI online channels.

Kind regards,
SMART Visa Unit