Thailand · Work
Thailand SMART Visa E
Income needed: ฿200k+ a month ≈ $5,950
SMART Visa E (Executive)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
SMART Visa E is a work route for Thailand. Applicants need income of ฿200k+ a month ≈ $5,950. You can stay 4 yrs, renewable. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ฿200k+ a month ≈ $5,950
- Government fees
- ฿10k/yr ≈ $300
- Processing
- 20 working days
- First stay
- 4 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ฿10k/yr ≈ $300; income to show ฿200k+/mo ≈ $5,950; decision: 20 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees฿10k/yr ≈ $300
- THB 10,000 a year (≈ $300)Visa processing fee of THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash to Immigration or the embassy; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee.
Shown, not spent฿200k+/mo ≈ $5,950
- THB 200,000 a month (≈ $5,950)Bonuses, accommodation allowance and similar benefits that can be valued in money count towards the total.
RenewalRenewable
The visa is renewable for up to 4 years at a time, not beyond the employment or service contract.
Processing20 working days
Results come from the Smart Visa unit and agencies within 20 working days; a renewal endorsement takes up to 30 working days, so request it at least 60 days before expiry.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
After endorsement, apply for the visa at the One Stop Service Center in Bangkok or at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Presence rulesStay rule
Holders staying more than one year file a yearly status report with the Smart Visa unit.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Thailand
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply5
- The applicant holds a bachelor degree or above, or equivalent, with at least 10 years of relevant work experience.
- The applicant has an employment or service contract with a Thai entity with at least 1 year remaining.
- The post is senior management, such as chairman or managing director.
- The employer must be certified as technology-based in a targeted industry.
- Certification comes from an agency such as the National Innovation Agency, Digital Economy Promotion Agency or NSTDA.
What you must show2
- Pay is at least THB 200,000 (≈ $5,950) a month; bonuses, accommodation allowance and similar benefits that can be valued in money count.
- The visa processing fee is THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee.
What happens at day 180
How Thailand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 4 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 180 days in a tax year in which the income is earnedResident for Revenue Code section 41 purposes.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (from 2024)
Foreign-source assessable income earned from 1 January 2024 is taxed in Thailand in the year it is brought into the country; income earned before 2024 is not taxed even if brought in later.
All tax rules for Thailand Tax records checked
Full official text
Visa for senior executives of technology-based companies in targeted industries. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least THB 200,000 a month (≈ $5,950) · Bonuses, accommodation allowance and similar benefits that can be valued in money count towards the total. 1 2
- A fee of THB 10,000 a year (≈ $300) · Visa processing fee of THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash to Immigration or the embassy; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee. 2
Requirements
- The applicant holds a bachelor degree or above, or equivalent, with at least 10 years of relevant work experience. 1
- The applicant has an employment or service contract with a Thai entity with at least 1 year remaining. 1
- The post is senior management, such as chairman or managing director. 1
- The employer must be certified as technology-based in a targeted industry. 1
- Certification comes from an agency such as the National Innovation Agency, Digital Economy Promotion Agency or NSTDA. 1
- Pay is at least THB 200,000 (≈ $5,950) a month; bonuses, accommodation allowance and similar benefits that can be valued in money count. 1 2
- The visa processing fee is THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee. 2
Stay
- Renewable visa of up to 4 years, not longer than the employment or service contract.
- First stay: up to 48 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
No nationality list.
Work
No work permit needed for the certified position or company; a change of job needs a new endorsement.
Family
Spouse and children may stay for the same period as the SMART visa holder; the spouse may work without a work permit. Your spouse or partner may work in Thailand without a separate permit.
Official sources
- SMART E (Executive) criteria and privileges · Board of Investment of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10
- SMART Visa frequently asked questions (processing fee, insurance, deposits) · Board of Investment of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10
SMART Visa E and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMART Visa E | Needs income of ฿200k+ a month ≈ $5,950 | 4 yr, renewable | Limited |
| LTR · Highly Skilled | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Work visa (Non-B) | – | 3 mo, renewable | Limited |
| SMART Visa T | Needs income of ฿100k+ a month ≈ $2,970 | 4 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the SMART Visa E?
Income of at least THB 200,000 a month (≈ $5,950). Bonuses, accommodation allowance and similar benefits that can be valued in money count towards the total. A fee of THB 10,000 a year (≈ $300). Visa processing fee of THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash to Immigration or the embassy; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee.
How long can I stay on the SMART Visa E?
Renewable visa of up to 4 years, not longer than the employment or service contract.
How long does the SMART Visa E take to process?
Results come from the Smart Visa unit and agencies within 20 working days; a renewal endorsement takes up to 30 working days, so request it at least 60 days before expiry.
Can I work on the SMART Visa E?
Limited. No work permit needed for the certified position or company; a change of job needs a new endorsement.
Can I bring my family on the SMART Visa E?
Spouse and children may stay for the same period as the SMART visa holder; the spouse may work without a work permit.
How are SMART Visa E holders taxed in Thailand?
No special regime in our records is tied to the SMART Visa E. The standard rules apply: A person present in Thailand for 180 days or more in a tax year is a Thai tax resident. Foreign-source assessable income earned from 1 January 2024 is taxed in Thailand in the year it is brought into the country; income earned before 2024 is not taxed even if brought in later.
More in Thailand
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- SMART E (Executive) criteria and privileges · Board of Investment of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10
- SMART Visa frequently asked questions (processing fee, insurance, deposits) · Board of Investment of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.