Business & investor visas
Thai SMART Visa
A Board of Investment visa for skilled experts, executives, investors and startup founders in targeted industries, carrying a work-permit exemption.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
Category criteria, salary and investment thresholds and targeted-industry lists are updated periodically; verify against the BOI SMART Visa portal before publishing.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Thailand government website before you apply.
- Official name
- SMART Visa
- Route type
- Business / talent
- Administered by
- Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)
- Duration
- Up to 4 years
- Work permit
- Exempt from the standard work-permit requirement
- Categories
- T (Talent), E (Executive), I (Investor), S (Startup), O (spouse/children)
- SMART I investment
- Official guidance cites at least 20 million Baht in a technology-based target business, or at least 5 million Baht via an endorsed startup/incubation/accelerator programme
Who it is for
- Skilled experts (SMART T) in science and technology working in targeted industries
- Senior executives (SMART E) in qualifying companies
- Investors (SMART I) meeting the investment thresholds
- Startup entrepreneurs (SMART S), and dependants (SMART O)
Requirements
- Category-specific criteria on qualifications, salary, investment or business type
- Endorsement from the relevant government agency for the targeted industry
- Supporting documents as listed by BOI for each category
What you can do
- Stay in Thailand for up to four years without a separate work permit
- SMART O spouses may work without a work permit; children may accompany
- Benefit from extended reporting intervals and fast-track facilitations described by BOI
How to apply
- Confirm eligibility and category on the BOI SMART Visa portal
- Submit the application for qualification endorsement to BOI
- Collect the visa at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate or the One Stop Service Centre after endorsement
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.