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SMART I — SMART Visa Investor
VisasThailandSMART I — SMART Visa Investor
ThailandThailand•Asia
Open

SMART I — SMART Visa Investor

Investment

At a Glance

Processing Time

1 month

Application Fee

10,000 THB

Stay Duration

4 years

Renewable

No

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

No

Remote Work

Not Required

Apply Now Official Information

Overview

SMART Visa I (Investor): Thai BOI residency of up to 4 years for those investing 20M+ THB (or 5M THB in BOI-endorsed startups) in S-Curve tech sectors.

Thailand's SMART Visa Investor (SMART I), launched by the Board of Investment in 2018, draws foreign capital into the country's 13 targeted S-Curve industries — including next-generation automotive, smart electronics, digital and robotics. Unlike the LTR or Elite visas, it is built around active investment, not passive residency.

Applicants must invest at least 20 million THB in a technology-based company in a targeted industry, or 5 million THB in a BOI-endorsed startup or accelerator, and maintain the stake for the term. The visa runs up to 4 years (renewable), waives the work and re-entry permits, swaps 90-day reporting for annual, and lets spouse and children stay; the spouse may work. The fee is 10,000 THB per year.

This visa is ideal for high-net-worth investors and venture capitalists deploying significant capital into Thailand's S-Curve tech sectors who want a long-term, family-inclusive residency tied to an active stake.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant4 years

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Investment of at least 20 million THB in a technology-based company in a targeted industry

Alternatively, investment of at least 5 million THB in a startup or incubation/accelerator program endorsed by relevant agencies

Must be investing in a technology-based business in one of Thailand's targeted 'S-Curve' industries

Must obtain a letter of qualification endorsement from the Board of Investment (BOI) or relevant government agency

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

Investment

5,000,000 EUR

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Up to 4-year renewable visa — longer than most Thai work or business visas
  • No work permit required to work for the endorsed entity
  • 90-day reporting replaced by once-a-year reporting
  • No re-entry permit required for international travel
  • Spouse and children may stay for the same period; spouse may work without a separate permit
  • Fast-track service at participating Thai international airports
  • Flat fee of 10,000 THB per year of visa permission

Worth Knowing

  • Requires BOI qualification endorsement before the visa can be issued
  • Must invest at least 20M THB in a targeted-industry tech firm, or 5M THB in a BOI-endorsed startup/accelerator
  • Investment must be maintained throughout the visa validity period
  • Limited to the 13 targeted S-Curve industries — not open to general investors
  • Must file the visa application within 60 days of receiving the endorsement letter
  • Investment outside the BOI-targeted S-Curve sectors does not qualify
  • Withdrawal of capital or failure to maintain the endorsed investment may revoke the visa

Application Process

1

Register and complete the online qualification endorsement application on the SMART Visa portal

2

Submit required documents for screening by the One Stop Service Center (OSS) and relevant agencies

3

Receive the Letter of Qualification Endorsement

4

Apply for the SMART Visa at a Royal Thai Embassy, Consulate, or the One Stop Service Center within 60 days of endorsement

Verified Claims (8)

Last verified Jun 18, 2026
Fee BreakdownSMART Visa processing fee (per year of visa permission): 10000 THBsmart-visa.boi.go.th
Fees10,000 THB per year of visa permission (cash only); paid after the BOI issues the qualification endo…smart-visa.boi.go.th
Application Portalhttps://smart-visa.boi.go.th/smart/smart-visa.boi.go.th
Official Infohttps://smart-visa.boi.go.th/smart/pages/smart_i.htmlsmart-visa.boi.go.th
Max StayUp to 4 years (renewable)smart-visa.boi.go.th
Max Stay Estimatetype: years, initialDays: 1460, totalDays: 1460, notes: Maximum renewable 4-year visasmart-visa.boi.go.th
Processing Estimates{"minDays":30,"maxDays":30}smart-visa.boi.go.th
Spouse Can Workyessmart-visa.boi.go.th

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