SMART Visa
Thailand SMART Visa: for tech experts, investors and startup founders
Verified against official sources on 1 September 2026.
Our service fee and the government fee will be shown as two separate numbers. No indicative figure appears until the real price list exists.
Thailand SMART Visa — key takeaways at a glance
- Validity
- 1–4 years depending on the category
- Stay per entry
- 1 year per entry, renewable
- Government fee
- ฿10,000 per year
- Financial requirement
- Varies by category: salary thresholds, investment amounts or startup criteria
- Where to apply
- Through the BOI SMART Visa unit
- Processing time
- 30–60 days after submission
Who it is for: Highly skilled professionals, investors, executives and startup founders in the 13 targeted S-curve industries.
Who the Thailand SMART Visa is designed for
A good fit
- You are a highly skilled professional in a targeted S-curve industry
- You earn at least ฿100,000/month (SMART T) or meet investment thresholds (SMART I)
- Your employer or startup is in one of the 13 targeted industries
Not for you if
- Your industry is not on the S-curve list
- You do not meet the salary or investment thresholds
- You are looking for a general work visa — Non-B is simpler
Baseline requirements
Qualification in a targeted S-curve industry
Industries include next-gen automotive, smart electronics, medical tourism, biotech, digital, robotics, aviation, logistics, biofuels, tourism, agriculture, medical hub and defence.
Salary or investment threshold met
SMART T: ฿100,000/month minimum. SMART I: USD 200,000 investment. SMART S: startup criteria.
Endorsement from the BOI SMART Visa unit
Costs and fees
| SMART Visa fee | ฿10,000/year | Government fee |
Government fees differ by country of application and change often. Verify with the mission you are applying at before you pay.
Documents: yours and ours
- National ID passport (copy or scan)
- Passport valid for at least 1 year
- Statement of available balance for the last 3 months, in English
- Digital photo: portrait orientation, light background
- The official consulate application form in English, error-free
- Flight and hotel bookings
- Certified translations of your documents
- Guarantee and sponsorship letters
The final list of documents is set by the specific mission you file at.
How we work together
You fill in a short questionnaire and hand over the basics of your case.
We assess the risk — past stamps, refusals, overstays — build the filing strategy and fix the final price with no hidden charges.
You collect the documents from our checklist — bank statement, certificates, photo, bookings.
We audit the documents: statement format, translations, dates, wording. You get corrections back.
You complete the e-Visa form under our supervision and pay the consular fee.
We run the process, track the status and help you answer any follow-up request from the consulate.
You enter Thailand.
We check the issued visa for consulate errors and give you border-crossing instructions.
Where the time goes
We pick the consulate with the lightest current load for your situation.
Common mistakes and refusal reasons
1. Not being in a targeted industry
The SMART Visa is only for the 13 designated S-curve industries. General tech work does not qualify.
2. Salary below the threshold
The salary thresholds are firm. Earning 99,000 THB when the minimum is 100,000 THB means you do not qualify.
Frequently asked questions
What are the S-curve industries?
Next-gen automotive, smart electronics, medical tourism, biotech, digital, robotics, aviation and logistics, biofuels and biochemicals, tourism, agriculture and biotechnology, food, medical hub and defence technology.
Do I need a work permit with SMART Visa?
No. The SMART Visa replaces the need for a separate work permit. That is one of its main advantages.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. SMART Visa holders can sponsor dependants, and dependants are also exempt from needing a separate work permit.
Sources
- Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (business and working) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 27 August 2026
This page is informational and reflects the rules as verified on the date above. Thai visa rules change without notice and the final decision always rests with the Thai authorities. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.