--- title: "Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen vs Malaysia Premium Visa (PVIP)" url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/thailand-ltr-wealthy-global-citizen-vs-malaysia-pvip/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Head to head # Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen vs Malaysia Premium Visa (PVIP) Two investor routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application. ## Key differences - **Money** Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen asks for an investment of $500k+; Malaysia Premium Visa (PVIP) for savings of MYR 1M+ ≈ $245k. The two money tests are of different kinds, so the amounts are not directly comparable. - **First stay** Both give a first stay of 5 yrs. - **Renewal** Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen: renewable. Malaysia Premium Visa (PVIP): renewable, 20 years max. - **Family** Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen: family can't join, spouse needs a permit. - **Government fees** The first government fee listed is ฿50k ≈ $1,490 for Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen and MYR 200k ≈ $49k for Malaysia Premium Visa (PVIP); the table lists every fee. - **Tax residence** Thailand: at least 180 days (tax year). Malaysia: at least 182 days (calendar year). - **Foreign-source income** Foreign-source income: foreign-source income exempt (LTR) in Thailand, foreign-source income exempt in Malaysia. ## Side by side | | Thailand [LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-wealthy-global-citizen/) | Malaysia [Premium Visa (PVIP)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/pvip/) | | --- | --- | --- | | **Country:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen [Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/) | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) [Malaysia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/) | | **Type:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen Investing | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) Investing | | **Money needed:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Needs an investment of $500k+** | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **Needs savings of MYR 1M+ ≈ $245k** | | **First stay:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **5 yrs** | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **5 yrs** | | **Renewal:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Renewable** Details Stay is granted for 5 years and can be extended for another 5 years if you still meet the criteria. [Thailand Board of Investment / Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) [Thailand Board of Investment](https://ltr.boi.go.th/documents/Announcement_of_the_Office_of_the_Board_of_Investment_No_Por_3_2568_%28EN%29.pdf) | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **Renewable, 20 years max** Details Passes are issued in 5-year blocks up to a total of 20 years. [Immigration Department of Malaysia](https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/doc/TERMS__CONDITIONS.pdf) | | **Family:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Family can't join** Details Legitimate spouse (including same-sex spouse) and children under 20, up to 4 dependants per LTR holder; unmarried partners are not eligible. The February 2025 BOI announcement text also lists parents and legal dependants. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in Thailand. | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) | | **Spouse can work:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Needs a permit** | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) | | **Work:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Yes** Details Digital work permit available through the LTR system after visa issuance; applicants may work while the permit is processed. | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) | | **Government fees:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **฿50k ≈ $1,490** Details ฿50k ≈ $1,490 Processing fee for the 10-year multiple-entry LTR visa per person when collected in Thailand; embassy collection may differ. | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **MYR 200k ≈ $49k · MYR 2,000/yr ≈ $490 · +1 more** Details MYR 200k ≈ $49k Participation fee for the principal (RM 2,000 at registration and RM 198,000 balance on approval); non-refundable. MYR 2,000/yr ≈ $490 Pass fee per year. MYR 100k ≈ $25k Participation fee for each dependant on a 20-year pass; RM 50,000 for a 10-year dependant pass. | | **Citizenship:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **General rule: 10 years of residence** Details Naturalisation needs residence in Malaysia for at least 10 of the 12 years before applying, including the last 12 months, plus Malay language knowledge, good character and intent to settle permanently. [National Registration Department (JPN), Malaysia](https://www.jpn.gov.my/en/services/citizenship/application-for-citizenship-status-under-article-19-of-the-federal-constitution-aged-21-years-or-above/) | | **Processing:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **20 working days** Details The qualification decision is due within 20 working days of complete documents; the visa must then be collected within 60 days. [Thailand Board of Investment / Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) [Thailand Board of Investment](https://ltr.boi.go.th/documents/BOI-brochure%202025-LTR.pdf) | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) | | **Where to apply:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Abroad or in-country** Details Apply online to the Board of Investment, then collect the visa in Bangkok at the One Stop Service Center or at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. [Thailand Board of Investment / Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **Where to apply** Details All applications go through an authorised PVIP agency. [Immigration Department of Malaysia](https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/doc/FAQ_PVIP.pdf) | | **Employer needed:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **No** | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **No** | | **Tax residence test:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **At least 180 days (tax year)** | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **At least 182 days (calendar year)** Details At least 182 days (basis year (calendar year)) This route allows up to 20 yrs in total. | | **Foreign-source income:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen **Foreign-source income exempt (LTR)** Details Holders of the LTR visa in the Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner or Work-from-Thailand Professional categories are exempt from personal income tax on foreign-source employment, business and property income brought into Thailand; Thai-source income is taxed normally. | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) **Foreign-source income exempt** Details Resident individuals are exempt from tax on foreign-source income received in Malaysia from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036, except income from partnership businesses. | | **Tax note:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen [Tax relief · Exemption for foreign-source income brought into Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/tax/) | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) [Tax relief · Exemption for foreign-source income received by resident individuals](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/tax/) | | **Official source:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen [Thailand Board of Investment](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) [Immigration Department of Malaysia](https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/main) | | **Checked against official sources:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen First checked 11 Oct 2026 | *2* Premium Visa (PVIP) First checked 11 Oct 2026 · [Record corrected 11 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-my-pvip) | ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. **Official sources** ### Thailand LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen 1. [BOI Announcement No. Por. 3/2568: revised LTR criteria and dependants](https://ltr.boi.go.th/documents/Announcement_of_the_Office_of_the_Board_of_Investment_No_Por_3_2568_%28EN%29.pdf) · Thailand Board of Investment · checked 2026-10-10 2. [LTR Visa 2025 criteria update brochure](https://ltr.boi.go.th/documents/BOI-brochure%202025-LTR.pdf) · Thailand Board of Investment · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Long-Term Resident Visa categories, criteria, privileges and application](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) · Thailand Board of Investment / Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center · checked 2026-10-10 4. [LTR Visa frequently asked questions](https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/faq.html) · Thailand Board of Investment (LTR Visa Unit) · checked 2026-10-12 5. [LTR Visa program page: privileges, fees, work permit](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) · Board of Investment of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10 ### Malaysia Premium Visa (PVIP) 1. [Malaysia Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) frequently asked questions](https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/doc/FAQ_PVIP.pdf) · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Terms and conditions for a new applicant of the Malaysia Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)](https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/doc/TERMS__CONDITIONS.pdf) · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Application for citizenship under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution (aged 21 and over)](https://www.jpn.gov.my/en/services/citizenship/application-for-citizenship-status-under-article-19-of-the-federal-constitution-aged-21-years-or-above/) · National Registration Department (JPN), Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11