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SMART S — certified startup founder

ThailandStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

SMART S is the startup category of Thailand's SMART Visa, run by the Board of Investment. It is for technology-based startup entrepreneurs in the targeted industries, and the page describes the two-year visa as being for foreigners who have already established a certified startup company in Thailand. It is therefore a founder route rather than a freelance or self-employed route: the applicant must hold at least 25% of the company's registered capital or be a director of it.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not enumerate the targeted industries, and does not describe a variant for a founder who has not yet established the company.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Technology-based startup entrepreneurs in the targeted industries Application for 2-year visa: Foreigners who have already established a certified startup company in Thailand.
  • Page heading
    SMART S (Startup)
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Holding no less than 25% of the company’s registered capital or a position of a director of the abovementioned company.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

The substance required is an actual Thai company, already established and already certified. The startup company must be certified as being in the targeted industries by relevant government agencies, which the page illustrates with the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency. The applicant's link to it must be ownership or control: no less than 25% of the registered capital, or a directorship. No business plan, revenue, client base or job-creation test is stated on the page.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page states no business plan, revenue, client or job-creation requirement, and names the certifying agencies only as examples.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Having established a startup company in Thailand, certified as being the ones in the targeted industries by relevant government agencies such as the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) and Digital Economy Promotion Agency.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Holding no less than 25% of the company’s registered capital or a position of a director of the abovementioned company.

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

There is no investment minimum on this page. What is required is liquidity: a deposit of no less than 600,000 Baht or equivalent in a bank account in Thailand or in the country of nationality or residence, held for at least 3 months. An accompanying spouse and children each add a further deposit of no less than 180,000 Baht on the same terms. Health insurance covering the entire period of stay in Thailand is required for the applicant and for the spouse and children.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page states no minimum registered capital, turnover or investment for the startup company, and no minimum insured amount.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Having a deposit of no less than 600,000 Baht or equivalent in a bank account in Thailand or in the country of his/her nationality or residence, which has been held for at least 3 months.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    In the case of being accompanied by spouses and children, an additional amount of deposit of no less than 180,000 Baht per person or equivalent is required in a bank account in Thailand or in the country of his/her nationality or residence, which has been held for at least 3 months.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Having health insurance covering the entire period of stay in Thailand for the applicant as well as spouse and children.

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

No work permit is required for working in the business certified by the relevant agencies, and changing job requires additional endorsements under the relevant requirements. The holder also gets 90-day immigration reporting extended to one year at the One Stop Service Center, no re-entry permit, and fast-track service at Thai international airports where available. Spouse and children are granted permission to stay for the same duration as the holder, and the spouse is granted permission to work with no work permit required.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not say whether the holder may work for, or invest in, a business other than the certified startup.
  • Privileges
    No work permit required for working in the business certified by relevant agencies. In case of changes of jobs, additional endorsements in accordance with the relevant requirements must be obtained.
  • Privileges
    90-day reporting to the Immigration at the One Stop Service Center extended to 1 year.
  • Privileges
    No re-entry permit required.
  • Privileges
    Spouse and children granted permission to stay in Thailand for the same duration as the Smart visa holder. The spouse granted permission to work with no work permit required.
  • Privileges
    Access to a fast -track service at international airports in Thailand (where available).

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

SMART S is granted as a maximum renewable 2-year visa, shorter than the four years available under the SMART T, I and E categories. The official source does not state the application steps, processing time, renewal procedure beyond calling the visa renewable, or a route to permanent residence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page states no application sequence, renewal procedure, fee, or permanent-residence direction for SMART S.
  • Privileges
    Maximum renewable 2-year visa.
  • Privileges
    90-day reporting to the Immigration at the One Stop Service Center extended to 1 year.
  • Privileges
    No re-entry permit required.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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