The smart Thai visa program
The aim of this program, administered by the BOI (investment agency), is further to develop the target industries or the so-called S-Curve industries.
What is a SMART visa?
SMART Visa is a new type of visa specially designed to attract a highly skilled workforce, investors, executives and startup entrepreneurs who wish to work or invest in the following target industries in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Target industries:
- New generation cars
- Smart electronics
- Medical and health tourism
- Agriculture and biotechnology
- Food for the future
- Automation and robotics
- Aviation and logistics
- Biofuels and biochemicals
- Digital technologies
- Medical Center
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Human resource development in science and technology
- Environmental management and renewable energy
Benefits for SMART visa holders
Each of the four SMART visas comes with a list of benefits, such as a maximum residence permit of 4 years, one-year immigration registration (instead of ninety days), the right to work for spouses and children without a work permit, and re-entry.
SMART visa categories
The following categories will be allocated to SMART visa applicants, depending on the purpose or activity foreigners wish to undertake in the Kingdom of Thailand.
| Visa type | Category | Target |
| SMART | T | Talent (useful) |
| SMART | I | Investor |
| SMART | E | Official |
| SMART< /td> | S | Startup Entrepreneur |
| Non-O | O | Spouse and legitimate children of SMART visa holders |
SMART Talent visa
The four-year SMART T visa is available to science and technology professionals who earn 200,000 baht per month and work in one of ten targeted industries.
SMART Investor visa
The four-year SMART I visa is available to investors who invest 20 million baht in companies that use technology in their manufacturing processes or provide services. These companies must also be in one of the ten target industries.
SMART Executive visa
The four-year SMART E visa is granted to senior managers with a bachelor's degree, ten years of work experience, and a minimum of 200,000 baht per month. Like the SMART T and I visas, senior managers must be employed by companies in one of the ten target industries.
SMART Startup Visa
The SMART S visa, valid for one to two years, is for entrepreneurs who wish to start a business in Thailand. To be eligible for this visa, you must make a 600,000 baht deposit in Thailand, have health insurance, and set up a company in one of the ten target industries within the first year.