--- title: "Thailand LTR · Wealthy Pensioner vs United Arab Emirates Retirement visa" url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/united-arab-emirates-retirement-visa-vs-thailand-ltr-wealthy-pensioner/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Head to head # Thailand LTR · Wealthy Pensioner vs United Arab Emirates Retirement visa Two retirement and savings 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 Pensioner asks for income of $80k+ a year; United Arab Emirates Retirement visa for income of AED 240k+ a year ≈ $65k. - **Family** Thailand LTR · Wealthy Pensioner: family can't join, spouse needs a permit. United Arab Emirates Retirement visa: spouse needs a permit. - **Tax residence** Thailand: at least 180 days (tax year). United Arab Emirates: at least 183 days (12 consecutive months). - **Foreign-source income** Foreign-source income: foreign-source income exempt (LTR) in Thailand, no personal income tax in United Arab Emirates. ## Side by side | | Thailand [LTR · Wealthy Pensioner](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-wealthy-pensioner/) | United Arab Emirates [Retirement visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/retirement-visa/) | | --- | --- | --- | | **Country:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner [Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/) | *2* Retirement visa [United Arab Emirates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/) | | **Type:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner Retire or live on savings | *2* Retirement visa Retire or live on savings | | **Money needed:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **Needs income of $80k+ a year** | *2* Retirement visa **Needs income of AED 240k+ a year ≈ $65k** | | **First stay:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **5 yrs** | *2* Retirement visa **Long-term visa of 5 years.** | | **Renewal:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **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* Retirement visa | | **Family:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **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* Retirement visa | | **Spouse can work:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **Needs a permit** | *2* Retirement visa **Needs a permit** | | **Government fees:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **฿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* Retirement visa | | **Processing:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **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* Retirement visa **Up to 2 days** Details The Federal Authority lists 2 days as its service time for issuing a residence permit. [Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) | | **Where to apply:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **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* Retirement visa | | **Employer needed:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **No** | *2* Retirement visa **No** | | **Tax residence test:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **At least 180 days (tax year)** | *2* Retirement visa **At least 183 days (12 consecutive months)** Details At least 90 days (12 consecutive months) | | **Foreign-source income:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner **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* Retirement visa **No personal income tax** Details The UAE levies no income tax on individuals; foreign-source salary, investment and rental income of an individual is outside Corporate Tax. | | **Tax note:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner [Tax relief · Exemption for foreign-source income brought into Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/tax/) | *2* Retirement visa [No personal income tax](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/tax/) | | **Official source:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner [Thailand Board of Investment](https://ltr.boi.go.th/) | *2* Retirement visa [UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/Residence-visa/residence-visa-for-the-retired) | | **Checked against official sources:** | *1* LTR · Wealthy Pensioner First checked 11 Oct 2026 | *2* Retirement visa 12 Oct 2026 · [Record corrected 12 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-ae-retirement-visa) | ≈ 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 Pensioner 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 ### United Arab Emirates Retirement visa 1. [Residence visa for the retired](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/Residence-visa/residence-visa-for-the-retired) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Residence visa for families of employees (includes UAE citizen's spouse, parent and child)](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/Residence-visa/residence-visa-for-family-members) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Work permits](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) · The UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-10 5. [General provisions for the residence visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Visa-information/general-provisions-for-the-residence-visa) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11