Thailand’s Tax Policies for Digital Nomads

In September 2022, Thailand introduced the Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR), which offers four categories:

1. Wealthy Global Citizens
2. Wealthy Retirees
3. Professionals Working from Thailand (Work-from-Thailand Professional Group)
4. Highly Skilled Professionals

The third and fourth categories are specifically designed for digital nomads. The LTR visa is valid for five years and can be extended for another five years. Spouses and children of the main applicant can also apply for the visa, and visa holders are permitted to work in Thailand.

Eligibility for LTR (Work-from-Thailand Professional Group)

To qualify for this category, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must work for a foreign company of a certain scale, such as a publicly listed company or a company with an annual revenue of at least USD 150 million over the past three years.
• The applicant must have earned a minimum annual salary of USD 80,000 (approximately RMB 560,000) over the past two years. Alternatively, the applicant can qualify with a minimum annual salary of USD 40,000 (approximately RMB 280,000) if they hold a postgraduate degree, intellectual property rights, or have secured Series A funding.
• The applicant must have at least five years of relevant work experience in a field related to their current job within the last ten years.
• The applicant must hold medical insurance with coverage of at least USD 50,000 or have a minimum of USD 100,000 in savings.

Eligibility for LTR (Highly Skilled Professionals)

To qualify for this category, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must have earned a minimum annual salary of USD 80,000 over the past two years. Alternatively, they can qualify with a minimum annual salary of USD 40,000 if they hold a postgraduate degree in science, technology, or other specialized skills relevant to their work in Thailand. (For those working for the Thai government or government agencies, there is no minimum income requirement.)
• The applicant’s employer must operate in one of Thailand’s targeted industries, a higher education institution, a research institute, a specialized training institution, or a Thai government agency.
• The applicant must have at least five years of work experience in a targeted industry unless they hold a doctorate or higher degree.
• The applicant must hold medical insurance with coverage of at least USD 50,000 or have a minimum of USD 100,000 in savings.