Thailand Visa Guide: Types, Costs, and Requirements for Foreigners in 2025

Thailand Visa Options: Quick Overview for Foreigners

Choosing the right Thailand visa determines how long you can stay and what activities you can legally perform. Thailand offers several visa categories, each designed for different purposes from business and retirement to tourism and family residence.

This streamlined guide covers the essential Thailand visa types most foreign nationals need, including clear requirements, realistic costs, and straightforward application processes.

Business Visa Thailand: For Working and Company Owners

The Non-Immigrant Business (Non-B) visa Thailand enables foreigners to work legally or operate businesses in Thailand. This represents the most popular long-term visa for foreign entrepreneurs and employees.

How Thailand Business Visa Works

Thailand business visa comes in two stages:

90-Day Initial Visa - Apply at Thai embassies abroad in your home country or neighboring countries like Laos, Malaysia, or Vietnam. Processing takes 1-5 business days costing 2,000-10,000 THB depending on location.

One-Year Extension - After entering Thailand on 90-day visa, extend to one year by meeting specific requirements. This extension renews annually for continuous legal residence.

Basic Requirements for Business Visa

For Company Owners:

• Registered capital: 2 million THB per foreign employee

• Paid-up capital: Minimum 500,000 THB deposited in company account

• VAT registration: Active and current

• Thai employees: 4 Thai nationals per 1 foreign worker

• Social Security: Thai staff enrolled with payments current

• Physical office: Verifiable workspace (not virtual office)

• Company documents: Registration certificate, affidavit, MOA, shareholder list

For Employees:

• Valid employment contract with Thai company

• Bachelor's degree recommended

• Employer meeting same company requirements above

• Job description showing role and responsibilities

• Minimum monthly salary: 50,000-80,000 THB depending on nationality

Documents Everyone Needs:

• Passport valid 6+ months

• Educational certificates

• Medical certificate

• CV/resume

• Passport photos

• Financial evidence

  
  

Work Permit Requirement

Thailand visa for business requires work permit before starting any employment. Apply within your first month after entering on 90-day visa.

The 2025 e-work permit system processes applications within 7 business days. Submit job description, company authorization, educational certificates, medical certificate, and office documentation.

Work permit costs 3,000-6,000 THB plus professional service fees (typically 20,000-38,000 THB).

Business Visa Costs

First Year:

• 90-day visa application abroad: 2,000-10,000 THB

• Work permit application: 23,000-44,000 THB (with services)

• One-year extension: 1,900 THB plus 30,000-40,000 THB services

• Re-entry permit (multiple): 3,800 THB

• Total first year: 60,700-97,700 THB

Annual Renewal:

• Extension: 1,900 THB plus 30,000-40,000 THB services

• Total annually: 35,700-45,700 THB

Application Timeline

Week 1-8: Establish company meeting all requirements (if not already existing)

Week 8-9: Apply for 90-day Non-B visa at Thai embassy abroad

Week 10: Enter Thailand on 90-day visa

Week 11-12: Apply for work permit

Week 14-15: Apply for one-year extension at Immigration

Week 16: Receive one-year stamp and obtain re-entry permit

Total timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from company formation through final approval.

Sponsored Visa Thailand: Alternative Without Company

Foreigners wanting legal Thailand visa without establishing companies can use sponsored arrangements. An established Thai company employs you officially while you conduct your actual business independently.

What Sponsored Visa Includes

• Employment contract from sponsoring company

• Non-B visa Thailand for 12 or 24 months

• Valid work permit matching duration

• Multiple re-entry permit capability

• Thai tax residency status

• Social Security enrollment

• Ongoing compliance management

  
  

Who Benefits from Sponsored Visa

Ideal for:

• Digital nomads working for foreign companies

• Consultants and freelancers serving international clients

• Early-stage entrepreneurs testing market viability

• Investors managing overseas portfolios

• Retirees under age 50 wanting long-term residence

  
  

Sponsored Visa Costs

From Tourist Status:

• First year: 180,000-220,000 THB

• Includes visa conversion, work permit, and all compliance

With Existing Non-B/O Visa:

• Annual: 150,000-180,000 THB

• Transfers existing visa to new sponsorship

Two-Year Package:

• Total: 260,000-300,000 THB

• Saves 60,000-80,000 THB versus annual payments

Important Considerations

Tax residency status requires Thai tax returns filing annually. Work permit shows sponsoring company as employer officially. Family dependents can obtain visas based on your sponsored status. Annual renewal requires continued sponsorship fees.

Retirement Visa Thailand: For Age 50 and Above

Foreigners aged 50+ can obtain retirement visa Thailand (Non-Immigrant O-A) for straightforward long-term residence without work authorization.

Retirement Visa Requirements

Age: 50 years or older

Financial Requirements (choose one):

• Bank deposit: 800,000 THB in Thai account seasoned 2-3 months

• Monthly income: 65,000 THB minimum from pension/sources

• Combination: Bank deposit plus annual income totaling 800,000 THB

Other Requirements:

• Police clearance from home country (within 3 months)

• Medical certificate from approved clinic

• Health insurance (some nationalities)

• Valid passport and photos

• Proof of Thai residence

  
  

Application Process

Option 1: Apply from Home Country

Apply at Thai embassy in your home country for one-year Non-O-A visa. Processing takes 1-4 weeks. Upon Thailand arrival, receive one-year permission to stay.

Option 2: Tourist Visa Conversion

Enter Thailand on tourist visa, open Thai bank account, deposit 800,000 THB, wait seasoning period, apply for one-year Non-O visa at local Immigration

Annual Renewal

Renew annually at Immigration in Thailand. Maintain 800,000 THB in Thai bank for 3 months before renewal and keep balance above 400,000 THB remaining 9 months.

Renewal costs approximately 1,900 THB annually plus professional services (25,000-35,000 THB).

Retirement Visa Costs

Full-service package from abroad: 65,000-85,000 THB including consultation, document preparation, bank account opening, Immigration submission, first-year approval, and re-entry permit.

Tourist conversion in Thailand: 55,000-75,000 THB including bank opening, seasoning period management, documents, and approval.

Annual renewal service: 25,000-35,000 THB including balance verification, documentation, and Immigration processing.

Important Limitations

No work permitted - Cannot earn income from Thai sources or conduct business activities.

Financial maintenance - Must continuously maintain bank balance or income proof.

Annual renewal - Requires yearly renewal with documentation and fees.

Tourist Visa Thailand: Short-Term Stays

Tourist visa enables short-term visits for leisure, exploration, or preliminary business research without work authorization.

Tourist Visa Types

60-Day Tourist Visa - Apply at Thai embassies abroad before travel. Extendable once for additional 30 days (90 days total). Costs 1,000-2,000 THB depending on nationality and location.

Visa-Exempt Entry - Many nationalities receive 30-day visa-exempt entry upon arrival. Extendable once for 30 days (60 days total). Free upon arrival, 1,900 THB for extension.

Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) - Valid 6 months with multiple entries, each stay up to 60 days. Costs approximately 5,000 THB. Suitable for frequent short trips.

Converting Tourist to Business Visa

You can convert 60-day tourist visa to Non-B business visa inside Thailand if your company meets all requirements. Visa-exempt entries generally cannot convert.

Conversion process takes 2-3 weeks and requires company documentation proving eligibility. Many foreigners use professional services (30,000-50,000 THB) for conversion assistance.

Tourist Visa Limitations

Cannot work or conduct business activities legally. Cannot open corporate bank accounts. Cannot enroll in Social Security. Maximum 90 days per entry with extension. Frequent consecutive tourist entries may raise questions from Immigration.

Dependent Visa: For Family Members

Foreign nationals holding valid Non-B business visa Thailand can sponsor dependent visas for immediate family.

Who Qualifies

Eligible family members:

• Legal spouse with marriage certificate

• Children under 20 years old with birth certificates

• Parents in some cases with proper documentation

Dependent visa holders receive one-year permission matching primary visa holder's extension.

Requirements

For spouse: Marriage certificate (translated to Thai), passport and photos, relationship proof, financial evidence from primary holder, application forms.

For children: Birth certificate proving relationship, passport and photos, custody documentation if applicable, school enrollment proof, financial evidence.

Application Process

Apply after primary visa holder secures one-year extension. Cannot apply before primary holder receives one-year stamp.

Steps: Primary holder obtains extension, gather dependent documentation, submit application at Immigration, processing takes 1-2 weeks, dependent receives stamp, obtain re-entry permit.

Extension costs 1,900 THB per dependent plus services (15,000-25,000 THB per dependent).

Annual Renewal

Dependent visas renew annually following primary holder's cycle. If primary visa expires or cancels, all dependent visas become invalid immediately.

Permitted and Prohibited Activities

Can do: Reside legally, study at schools/universities, open bank accounts, travel with re-entry permits, access healthcare.

Cannot do: Work for companies, conduct business activities, earn Thai income, register companies as shareholders.