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SMART Visa I (Investor)

ThailandInvestment

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

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What investment option or options qualify?

Two investment options qualify. The first is direct investment in a technology-based business in the targeted industries in Thailand, made either as an individual investor or through a venture capital company in Thailand. The second is direct individual investment in a startup, or in an incubation or accelerator programme endorsed by relevant agencies. In both cases the business must be certified as technology-based in manufacturing or delivering services in the targeted industries by relevant government agencies, and a venture capital route must itself be certified.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not enumerate the targeted industries or name which agencies endorse an incubation or accelerator program.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Investors in technology-based business in the targeted industries.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Directly investing in technology-based business in the targeted industries in Thailand, as an individual investor or through a venture capital company in Thailand for a total amount of at least 20 million Baht.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Directly investing as an individual investor for a total amount of at least 5 million Baht in a startup or an incubation or accelerator program endorsed by relevant agencies. The investor can invest in more than 1 business but must maintain the investment throughout the validity period of Smart Visa.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    The business to be set up or invested in must be certified as technology-based in manufacturing or delivering services in the targeted industries by relevant government agencies such as the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), Digital Economy Promotion Agency, and National Science and Technology Development Agency.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    In case of investing through a venture capital company, the investment must be certified by relevant agencies as being either a venture capital company investing in the technology-based business in manufacturing or delivering services in the targeted industries.

What official minimum amount, tier or threshold applies to each relevant option?

The Board of Investment sets a minimum investment of either of two amounts. Direct investment in a technology-based business in the targeted industries, as an individual investor or through a Thai venture capital company, requires a total of at least 20 million Baht. Direct individual investment in a startup or in an endorsed incubation or accelerator programme requires a total of at least 5 million Baht, and that investor may spread the amount across more than one business. The page states no separate government fee.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page writes both thresholds in words ('20 million Baht', '5 million Baht') rather than as figures, and states no application or visa fee.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Minimum investment of either of the following amounts:
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Directly investing in technology-based business in the targeted industries in Thailand, as an individual investor or through a venture capital company in Thailand for a total amount of at least 20 million Baht.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Directly investing as an individual investor for a total amount of at least 5 million Baht in a startup or an incubation or accelerator program endorsed by relevant agencies. The investor can invest in more than 1 business but must maintain the investment throughout the validity period of Smart Visa.

How long must the investment be maintained and what continuing ownership, investment or physical-presence conditions are important?

For the startup, incubation or accelerator option the page is explicit: the investor may invest in more than one business but must maintain the investment throughout the validity period of the SMART Visa. That maintenance condition is stated only for that option. The page sets no physical-presence obligation, and the immigration conditions around the investment are a maximum renewable four-year visa, 90-day reporting extended to one year at the One Stop Service Center, and no re-entry permit requirement.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page states no maintenance condition for the 20 million Baht option, and no physical-presence requirement for either option.
  • Qualifications and Criteria
    Directly investing as an individual investor for a total amount of at least 5 million Baht in a startup or an incubation or accelerator program endorsed by relevant agencies. The investor can invest in more than 1 business but must maintain the investment throughout the validity period of Smart Visa.
  • Privileges
    Maximum renewable 4-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.

Which family members can be included where officially stated, and what broad residence/work rights result?

Spouse and children are granted permission to stay in Thailand for the same duration as the SMART visa holder, and the spouse is granted permission to work with no work permit required. The page does not define which children qualify or set an age limit. The holder's own right is that no work permit is required for working with an entity or government agency, with additional endorsements needed if the job changes.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not define the qualifying children, and does not state whether the children may work.
  • 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
    No work permit required for working with an entity or government agency. In case of changes of jobs, additional endorsements in accordance with the relevant requirements must be obtained.

What status is obtained, how is it renewed, what longer-term residence/citizenship direction is officially stated, and what happens to the investment when relevant?

The status is a SMART Visa in category I, granted as a maximum renewable 4-year visa, with 90-day reporting extended to one year at the One Stop Service Center, no re-entry permit required, and fast-track service at Thai international airports where available. The page describes no renewal procedure and no permanent-residence or citizenship direction; nor does it say what happens to the investment when the visa ends, beyond the maintenance condition attached to the startup option.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page states no renewal procedure, fee, permanent-residence direction, or exit treatment of the investment.
  • Privileges
    Maximum renewable 4-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.
  • Privileges
    Access to a fast-track service at international airports in Thailand (where available).

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

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