Why Thailand’s ‘golden visa’ is the perfect fit for digital nomads across the world

In 2025, the interest in golden visas has reached a new high, courtesy the US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ‘gold card visa’ for wealthy foreigners. As curiosity piques, Firstpost and Moneycontrol bring a series, titled ‘The Golden Ticket’ on the world’s most popular residency-by-investment programmes . For this story, we take a closer look at Thailand’s residency scheme and what makes it so popular.

Are your friends and colleagues still discussing HBO’s The White Lotus? Is your social media flooded with reels on the recently concluded hit show? Don’t fret, you aren’t the only one.  The chatter about HBO’s The White Lotus – Season 3 is real. The show, which is set in paradisiacal Koh Samui in Thailand, has caused quite a flutter, and many are aspiring for the idyllic life in the Southeast Asian nation. The HBO show has also led to a spike in Thailand tourism; everyone wants to live out their White Lotus dreams.

And for those who want to live like Greg (aka Gary) indefinitely, they can do so with Thailand’s Privilege Residence Programme, which offers foreign nationals the opportunity to live in Thailand for up to 20 years. In fact, this scheme ranks among Henley’s top 20 residence-by-investment programmes.

More from Explainers

PM Albanese vs Peter Dutton: Who Australia will vote for tomorrow? A look at poll promises India ranked 4th globally in optimism, 62% citizens hopeful of great future: Ipsos survey

How can you get Thailand’s golden visa?

Thailand doesn’t have a traditional golden visa. Instead, it provides residence options through its Thailand Privilege Residence and the Long Term Residence programme.

The Thailand Privilege Card scheme began in 2003 and offers foreign nationals long-term stay in the country. There are five different options, varying in validity.

Bronze card: This provides a five-year entry to Thailand along with VIP airport services. To purchase this, one has to spend THB 650,000 (Rs 16.38 lakh).

Gold card: This grants a five-year privileged entry to expats and businesspeople to enter and exit Thailand. The fee for a gold card is THB 900,000 (Rs 22.68 lakh). Dependents can’t be added to it.

Platinum card: This gives an individual a 10-year entry visa and is ideal for families. The main applicant pays a fee of THB 1.5 million (Rs 37.85 lakh) while dependents pay a fee of THB 1 million (Rs 25.2 lakh).

Editor’s Picks

1

Why Spain has bid ‘adios’ to its popular golden visa programme 2

Why Malta’s golden visa is becoming a popular choice for Indians

Diamond card: Those who purchase this are granted a 15-year entry into the country. However, the cost of this is THB 2.5 million (Rs 63.07 lakh) with an additional fee of THB 1.5 million per dependent.

Reserve card: This isn’t granted to anyone and everyone. It is issued by invitation only. It gives the buyer a 20-year privileged entry visa. It costs THB 5 million (Rs 1.26 crore) with an additional fee of THB 2 million per dependent.

Besides the Thailand Privilege Card programme, there’s also the Long Term Residence Programme. Started in 2022, this grants foreign nationals the opportunity to live and work in Thailand for up to ten years, with very few administrative requirements and attractive tax benefits.

To qualify for Thailand’s Long Term Residence Programme, one has to fall under the following categories:

Wealthy citizen: This applicant must have at least $1 million (Rs 8.65 crore) in assets. They also should have a minimum annual personal income of $80,000 (Rs 68.83 lakh) for the past two years. Additionally, they must have an investment of at least the equivalent of $500,000 (Rs 4.3 crore) in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, or Thai property.

Wealthy pensioner: Applicants for this category must be a retiree aged 50 years or older who have an annual pension or stable income. Their personal income should be at least $80,000 per year at the time they submit their application. Should their personal income be below $80,000 (but no less than USD $40,000 (Rs 34.4 lakh) per year), applicants must also have at least $250,000 (Rs 2.15 crore) in Thai investments.

Work from Thailand professional: These applicants must be remote workers, making it ideal for digital nomads. Their annual income should be a minimum of $80,000 for the past two years. However, if they have an income less than $80,000, they must have a Master’s degree or above, own intellectual property, or receive Series A funding.

Highly skilled professionals: These applicants must be experts with at least five years of experience and have a personal annual income of a minimum of $80,000 for the past two years. If it’s less than that, then the applicant must have a Master’s degree or above in science and technology, or special expertise relevant to their job assignment in Thailand.

Notably, neither the Thailand Privilege Residence nor the Long Term Residence Programmes lead to permanent residency or citizenship.

As Catherine Petit, Thailand programme manager at Henley & Partners, told Firstpost, “While similar to golden visa schemes in that they offer residency in exchange for financial contribution or qualifications, the structure is distinct.”

What is the difference between the two residency programmes?

While both programmes offer a long-term stay in Thailand, there are differences between the two. First and foremost, the Thailand Privilege Residence Programme is an initiative managed by the Thailand Privilege Card Co. Ltd, under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. On the other hand, the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa is a government initiative managed by the Board of Investment (BOI).

It is important to note here that the Thailand Privilege Residence Card, while it offers long-term access to Thailand, doesn’t confer the right to work in Thailand. It is targeted at retirees, frequent travellers, and digital nomads seeking a comfortable, extended stay free from job commitments.

Meanwhile, the LTR, which has specific financial and educational requirements, is aimed at professionals, remote workers, retirees, and investors who wish to support the Thai economy.

What are the benefits of Thailand’s programmes?

For those who wish to live the beach life, Thailand’s Thailand Privilege Residence and Long Term Residence Programme are the answers. Imagine having long-term access to Thailand’s beautiful fauna and flora.

Both schemes provide long-term residency, with the Thailand Privilege Residence providing additional benefits such as exclusive airport services, including fast-track immigration and VIP lounge access. Moreover, those who purchase Thailand’s Privilege Residency cards are given perks such as health check-ups, spa treatments, complimentary hotel stays, and more.

The residency programmes in Thailand are also very flexible with no minimum stay requirement, making it an ideal choice for people who wish to be on the go.

The Long Term Residence also offers tax privileges — those in the ‘highly-skilled professionals’ category enjoy a 17 per cent personal income tax rate, compared to the existing 35 per cent for people with an income greater than $140,000.

The scheme also has the ability to include a spouse and dependents, which makes it attractive for families who are looking for a second home.

Get Golden Visa’s Managing Partner Murat Coskun speaking on the benefits, explained, “Both programmes allow for a stable, long-term stay, which can even be extended to family members. Moreover, the Long Term Residence programme grants exemption from Thai taxes on foreign-sourced income for certain categories and a flat 17 per cent personal income tax rate for highly skilled professionals.”

Petit added, “The Thailand Privilege Residence and the Long Term Residence programmes also facilitate expedited immigration and airport services.”

How popular are Thailand’s Privilege Residence and Long Term Residence programmes?

In short, very popular. As of late 2024, the Thailand Privilege Residence has seen nearly 40,000 people sign up. In 2023 alone, 11,846 new memberships were issued. The most represented nationalities include China, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

On the other hand, for Thailand’s Long Term Residence scheme, 5,589 applications have been approved. Of these, wealthy pensioners make up the biggest chunk at 36.5 per cent, followed by highly skilled professionals at 14.8 per cent, work from Thailand professionals comprising 12.6 per cent and wealthy global citizens making up 4.7 per cent.

Petit also told Firstpost that the Thailand Privilege Card has generated more than seven billion baht in sales.

In the recent past, Indians have shown a big interest in the Thailand Privilege Programme — they are a growing base of applicants.

What’s the future of Thailand’s long-term residency schemes?

Ranked among the best residency programmes by Henley, the Thailand schemes are here to stay. They remain an integral part of the country’s broader strategy to attract high-value foreign residents.

As Petit told Firstpost, “The government aims to attract new LTR visa holders with further policy refinements expected to improve accessibility. The most recent change voted and currently pending implementation will allow more dependents to be added to the application including the main applicant’s parents. This will make it more attractive for multigenerational families.”

Coşkun echoed similar views. He said, “The Thailand Privilege Residence Programme and the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa Programme are expected to play significant roles in Thailand’s future economic development. By attracting affluent individuals, professionals, and retirees, these schemes aim to boost foreign investment, stimulate various sectors such as real estate and tourism, and enhance Thailand’s global competitiveness.”