Smart Visa is a new form of visa specifically created to attract highly qualified workers, investors, managers, and startup entrepreneurs who want to work or make investments in the Kingdom of Thailand’s selected industries.
On Feb 1, 2018, Thailand introduced the SMART Visa. It is an initiative by the Thai administration to recruit highly trained foreign employees or investors to the country’s designated industries. If you are qualified, this sort of visa provides privileges that other kinds of visas for Thailand do not.
This article will discuss Thailand SAMRT visas, their various types, required documents, and benefits.
Table of Contents
ToggleWho Is Eligible for a Thailand SMART Visa?
If you are a technically talented worker, investor, executive, or startup founder seeking employment or investing in one of the following industries, you are qualified for a Thai SMART Visa:
- Next-Generation Automotive
- Smart Electronics
- Wealthy, Medical, and Wellness Tourism
- Biotechnology and agriculture
- The Future of Food
- Robotics and automation
- Transportation and aviation
- Biofuels and biochemicals
- Digital
- Medical Center
- Dispute Resolution Through Alternative Means
- Technology and Science Human Resource Development
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management
Note: You must also fulfill the specific requirements of each type of SMART Visa.
Thailand SMART Visas Types
Thailand SMART Visas are categorized as follows:
- Foreign Talents or SMART Visa “T”
- For overseas investors, the SMART Visa “I” is available.
- For international executives, the SMART Visa “E” is available.
- SMART Visa “S” for international entrepreneurs with a technology-based company.
- SMART Visa “O,” for dependents, spouses, and children of one of the primary SMART Visa holders listed above.
How Can You Qualify for a SMART Visa “T”?
To be eligible for a Thailand SMART Visa “T,” you must satisfy the following criteria:
- You must be a highly trained individual in one of the sectors addressed.
- You must have knowledge in science and technology connected to one of the strategic sectors.
- You must earn at least 100,000 Thai Baht every month.
- If you plan to work for a startup company or are a retired expert with recommendations from a respective authority, your monthly salary should be at least 50,000 Thai Baht.
- You must possess a valid work contract for at least one year.
How Can You Qualify for a SMART Visa “I”?
To be eligible for a Thai SMART Visa “I,” you must satisfy the following criteria:
- Personally or via a venture capital firm, you must make an investment of 20 million Thai Baht in a technology-based enterprise in one of Thailand’s designated industries.
- Decide to invest 5 million Thai Baht in a company or an incubation/accelerator initiative in Thailand that the appropriate authorities have approved.
- Your investment must be in a technology-based firm that manufactures or provides services in one of the selected industries.
How Can You Qualify for a SMART Visa “E”?
To be eligible for a Thai SMART Visa “E,” you must satisfy the following criteria:
- You must be in a top leadership position at a technology-based firm in one of the selected sectors, such as Chairman or Managing Director.
- You must earn at least 200,000 Thai Baht every month.
- You must be a graduate with a Bachelor’s degree and at least ten years of appropriate and related job experience.
- You must possess a valid work contract for at least one year.
How Can You Qualify for a SMART Visa “S”?
To be eligible for a Thai SMART Visa “S,” you must satisfy the following criteria:
- You must have developed a startup firm in one of the strategic sectors in Thailand.
- You must own at least 25% of the business’s registered capital or serve as the head of the company.
- You must possess a minimum deposit of 600,000 Thai Baht in a Thai or foreign bank account that you have kept for at least three months.
- You must possess health insurance that covers your whole stay in Thailand.
How Can You Qualify for a SMART Visa “O”?
To be eligible for a Thai SMART Visa “O,” you must be the official partner (married) or dependent legitimate child (biological or adoptive) of the primary SMART Visa holder.
What Are the Benefits of the SMART Visa?
If you are considered qualified for a Thai SMART Visa, you will be able to enjoy advantages not available with other kinds of Thai visas, including:
- Your visa can be given for up to four years, as long as your work contract lasts that long.
- To work in one of the authorized firms, you need not file for a Thai Work Permit.
- You are not required to notify Immigration of your stay every 90 days. Alternatively, you must register your visit each year.
- You don’t need to get a Thai Re-Entry Permit.
- Your married partner and children over the age of 18 are permitted to work in Thailand regardless of the need for a work visa. The employment does not fall within the vocations and professions restricted to foreigners.
What are the Required Documents of a Thailand SMART Visa?
SMART Visa applicants need the following documents to apply for the visa:
- SMART Visa applications are printed out according to your specific visa application type.
- Your valid passport.
- Evidence of a clear criminal background. The police officials in your country will give you a Police Certification. A Notary Public must certify the certificate.
- Provide a Police Certificate given by Thai police officials if you are in Thailand.
- Certificate of Health. It must be given within the last three months and demonstrate that you have not been infected with one of the forbidden illnesses. A Notary Public must certify the certificate.
- If you have someone else submit the application, be sure to include the power of attorney.
- All applicants, except SMART Visa “O” applicants, require
- Duplicates of any academic credentials, certifications, or endorsements pertaining to your field of expertise.
- Duplicates any articles, research programs, intellectual property, and prizes you have received.
- Former employment documentation, including a letter from your former employer.
Note: The forbidden illnesses for applicants are:
Tuberculosis | Third Phase Syphilis | Elephantiasis |
Leprosy | Addiction (Drug or Alcoholism) |
Additional Requirements for SMART Visa “T”
- Your employment contract indicates a minimum of 12 months and the specifics of your work, such as position and income.
- The annual report of the employing company
Additional Requirements for SMART Visa “I”
- The firm’s list of stockholders, which is no more than three months old, or other documentation demonstrating share ownership and company valuation.
- If relevant, provide the yearly report of the corporation, brochures, catalogs, and the most recent annual financial report of the business.
Additional Requirements for SMART Visa “E”
- Your work contract, indicating a minimum term of one year and the details of your work, such as position and income.
- The organizational chart of the corporation
- If relevant, provide the yearly report of the corporation, brochures, catalogs, and the most recent annual financial report of the corporation.
- The company’s stakeholder list. The list must not be more than three months old.
Additional Requirements for SMART Visa “S”
- A description of your company plan (Pitch Deck)
- The company’s stakeholder list or a transfer sheet that is no more than three months old
- If relevant, provide the yearly report of the corporation, brochures, catalogs, and the most recent annual financial report of the corporation.
- Evidence of admission into the incubation or accelerator programs.
- Evidence of involvement in startup marketing activities.
- Evidence that you have a minimum deposit of 600,000 Thai Baht in a Thai or foreign bank account that you have kept for at least three months.
- If you are traveling with dependent family members, your deposit should have an extra 180,000 Thai Baht for each dependent family member.
- Evidence of health insurance for the period of stay in Thailand is required.
Additional Requirements for SMART Visa “O”
- Copy of the primary SMART Visa owner’s passport
- Evidence of a familial relationship
- If you are going to work in Thailand, you need your work contract, indicating a minimum term of one year and the details of your work, such as position and income.
- If you are traveling with a Smart Visa “S” holder:
- Evidence of health insurance for the period of stay in Thailand is required.
- Evidence of a minimum deposit of 600,000 Thai Baht, plus an extra 180,000 Thai Baht for each dependent person.
How to Apply for a Thailand SMART Visa?
The procedure for acquiring a Thai SMART Visa differs from those of other types of visas in that your qualifications must be validated and certified by the relevant Thai agency. The following is the application procedure:
Step one: Set up an account and fill out the online application on the SMART Visa portal.
Step two: Affix electronic (PDF) copies of any SMART Visa-required papers.
Step three: The Thai agencies that verify your credentials will send their decisions to the One-Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits (OSS).
Step four: The OSS then notifies you of the result of your application.
Step five: You gather the letter of Qualification Endorsement and hard copies of the relevant papers from one of the locations below and apply for a visa:
- If you live in another country, contact the Royal Thai embassy. A list of Thailand’s diplomatic mission offices may be found here.
- If you live in Thailand, you should:
- Immigration at Bangkok’s One-Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit (OSS)
- Chonburi’s EEC Labour Administration Center.
How Long is a Thailand SMART Visa Process?
The following is the time it takes to process a Thailand SMART Visa application:
- Initially, an online application takes 3 working days to process.
- Your qualifications’ endorsement takes 30 working days to process
- The time it takes to process a SMART visa application at an overseas mission/OSS/EEC is determined by the exact office to which you apply. It might take anything from 2 to 10 working days.
How Much is the Fee for a Thailand SMART Visa?
The Thai SMART Visa processing fee per year is 10,000 Thai Baht. It depends on the local currency of the country in which you apply.
How Long is a Thai SMART Visa?
Thailand SMART Visas are valid for at least one year and a total of four years.
Can You Extend a Thailand SMART Visa?
The Thailand SMART Visa can be extended for a minimum of 60 days before the expiration date of your current visa. In order to extend your visa, you must reapply for an endorsement of your qualifications and submit an extension application to the Immigration Bureau’s One-Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits (OSS). The fee for the SMART Visa renewal is 10,000 Thai Baht for a year.
Conclusion
The Thailand SMART visas are the perfect opportunity for talented workers, foreign investors, managers, and startup entrepreneurs who want to work or make investments in Thailand’s selected industries.
The SMART visa provides particular benefits for interested foreign investors and workers. A Thailand SMART visa has five various types: “T,” “I,” “E,” “S,” and “O.” Each type has its specific requirements.
On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other Thailand visas as well as Thailand insurances. If you have experience obtaining a Thailand SMART visa, please share your experience with us so our viewers can benefit from it.
- Published by
- Max-B.
How useful was this article?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.