Thailand · Business / Startup
Thailand SMART Visa S · 6 months
First stay: 6 mo
SMART Visa S (Startup): startup plan or promotion activity, 6-month visa
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
SMART Visa S · 6 months is a business / startup route for Thailand. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- ฿10k/yr ≈ $300
- Processing
- 20 working days
- First stay
- 6 mo
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ฿10k/yr ≈ $300; 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. For the 6-month visa the BOI says that after this fee is paid and the 6-month visa is received, another THB 10,000 (≈ $300) is paid on the day a visa is requested.
RenewalRenewable
The 6-month visa can be extended once for another 6 months if your company is not yet set up, then converted to a 2-year Smart S after the company is registered.
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.
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant has an endorsed plan to set up a technology startup, or takes part in an endorsed startup promotion activity.
- Endorsement comes from agencies such as the National Innovation Agency or other government agencies.
What you must show2
- The visa processing fee is THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee.
- For the 6-month visa, another THB 10,000 (≈ $300) is paid on the day a visa is requested, even after the first fee is paid.
Documents1
- Health insurance covers the whole stay, with hospitalisation cover of at least THB 500,000 (≈ $14,900); you can apply without it, but proof is due before the endorsement letter needed for the visa is issued.
After you arrive1
- Extension to the 2-year visa needs an established certified company and a deposit of at least THB 600,000 (≈ $17,800) held for 3 months.
What happens at day 180
How Thailand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
6 months 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 people planning to set up a technology startup in Thailand, or taking part in an endorsed startup promotion activity. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- 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. For the 6-month visa the BOI says that after this fee is paid and the 6-month visa is received, another THB 10,000 (≈ $300) is paid on the day a visa is requested. 2
Requirements
- The applicant has an endorsed plan to set up a technology startup, or takes part in an endorsed startup promotion activity. 1
- Endorsement comes from agencies such as the National Innovation Agency or other government agencies. 1
- The visa processing fee is THB 10,000 (≈ $300) per year, paid in cash; the BOI qualification endorsement has no fee. 2
- For the 6-month visa, another THB 10,000 (≈ $300) is paid on the day a visa is requested, even after the first fee is paid. 2
- Health insurance covers the whole stay, with hospitalisation cover of at least THB 500,000 (≈ $14,900); you can apply without it, but proof is due before the endorsement letter needed for the visa is issued. 1 2
- Extension to the 2-year visa needs an established certified company and a deposit of at least THB 600,000 (≈ $17,800) held for 3 months. 1 2
Stay
- Visa of up to 6 months, renewable to a total of 2 years if requirements are met.
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
No nationality list.
Work
No work permit needed to set up the endorsed startup or take part in the endorsed activity.
Official sources
- SMART S (Startup) 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 S · 6 months and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMART Visa S · 6 months | – | 6 mo, renewable | Limited |
| SMART Visa S · 2 years | Needs savings of ฿600k+ ≈ $18k | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| SMART Visa S · 1 year | Needs savings of ฿600k+ ≈ $18k | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Business Manager Japan | Needs an investment of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Golden · Entrepreneur United Arab Emirates | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the SMART Visa S · 6 months?
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 S · 6 months?
Visa of up to 6 months, renewable to a total of 2 years if requirements are met.
How long does the SMART Visa S · 6 months 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 S · 6 months?
Limited. No work permit needed to set up the endorsed startup or take part in the endorsed activity.
How are SMART Visa S · 6 months holders taxed in Thailand?
No special regime in our records is tied to the SMART Visa S · 6 months. 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
Business / startup 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 2026-10-12 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 S (Startup) 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.