New, long visa favours expats

Non-Thais allowed to stay for ten years

Travellers arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province on May 1, 2022. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Travellers arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province upon May 1, 2022. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Thailand now has in place measures to attract wealthy foreigners and professionals as part of an attempt to boost the economy, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin has said.

The new, extensive resident (LTR) visa for australia — which kicked off on Thurs — will allow chosen non-Thais to stay in the kingdom for up to 10 years, Mr Suchart stated.

The particular visa offers a selection of tax and non-tax benefits to bring in new foreign occupants, technologies and abilities to stay or work in the country longer, he or she said.

Eligible applicants are those who have at least US$1 million (nearly 37 million baht) in assets and purchases in Thailand, and retirees aged 50 or older who have an annual pension or perhaps a stable income.

The third group is remote international workers who want to function from Thailand whilst being employed by well-established companies overseas.

The last team is highly skilled experts or experts within targeted industries, working for business entities, advanced schooling institutes, research centres, or specialised coaching institutes in Asia or for Thai government agencies.

Spouses plus children under two decades of age will also qualify for the same visa, he said, adding that every LTR visa holder can have a maximum of 4 dependents.

The LTR australian visa holders will have privileges such as a 10-year alternative visa, fast-track company at international airports in Thailand, one-year report to the Immigration Bureau instead of every 90 days, multiple re-entry enables, permission to work in Thailand and a 17% personal tax price for highly skilled specialists.

The federal government has set the target of attracting one particular million wealthy or talented foreigners towards the country over the next five years, mentioned ML Chayotid Kridakon, an adviser towards the prime minister.

The new australian visa programme, unveiled more than a year ago, seeks to build on post-pandemic efforts to desired back visitors as the tourism industry accounts for 12% of gross domestic product.

The proceed to tap remote talent, which mirrors methods by countries including Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, can be considered helping add worth to the economy gowns expected to grow a few. 3% this year, the slowest pace in the area, according to a Bloomberg report.

“The pandemic has disrupted place of work policies and launched flexibility in terms of place as well as job scope, with few nations looking to capitalise on this shift by offering long-term residencies along with attractive sops, inch said Radhika Rao, an economist along with DBS Bank Limited in Singapore in order to Bloomberg.

“Host countries also count on such landings to add to the talent labour pool in the land as well as boost the economy from incremental requirement lift-off. ”

The visa for australia initiative can produce economic activities similar to about 1 trillion baht annually by means of investment and the purchase of properties by new entrants, ML Chayotid said. The programme will also assist draw professionals in order to industries such as electric powered vehicles, smart electronics and digital technology that Thailand is targeted on promoting, he or she said.

“The long-term resident visa programme can help Thailand in the post-Covid economic recovery, ” Duangjai Asawachintachit, secretary-general of Thailand’s Panel of Investment (BOI), said on Wednesday.

The federal government is betting on the rebound in international tourist arrivals in order to power economic growth next year to 4. 2%, which would function as the fastest pace associated with expansion since 2018.

Whilst wealthy expats already had access to the “pay to stay” visa programme, the brand new initiative will extra professionals from dealing with one-year work, pension or marriage enables that often require multiple trips to authorities offices, lawyers and fixed deposits within local banks.

The Mutual Foreign Chambers of Commerce said the new visa regime can make Thailand an attractive spot to work and buy another home for worldwide citizens.

“Work permits and visas have been the greatest obstacle for all investors in Thailand for over a decade and LTR offers a solution, ” said Vibeke Lyssand Leirvag, chairwoman from the Joint Foreign Compartments of Commerce in Thailand.