The Smart Visa T, I, and E categories are closed to new applicants; Startup (S) remains open. Whether you are a founder with a National Innovation Agency (NIA) or Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) endorsement, or a T/I/E holder nearing expiry, the right route and timing keep your right to work in Thailand without a gap.
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Smart Visa T, I, and E categories: no new applications
Following Cabinet decisions in 2025, the Talent (T), Investor (I), and Executive (E) categories are closed to new applicants. Existing holders keep their visas until expiry but cannot renew them. Plan your move to the LTR Visa at least 6 months before expiry. Smart Visa Startup (S) remains open for Thai startups in S-Curve sectors endorsed by NIA or DEPA.
What You Get
No separate work permit application. The visa itself authorizes you to work, and your spouse is authorized to work too.
You report to the BOI One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSSC) once a year instead of reporting to Immigration every 90 days. Far less paperwork.
Leave and return freely while your visa is valid, with no re-entry permit before each trip.
Your company does not need to employ four Thai staff for each foreign employee, the usual work permit rule.
2015
Founded in Bangkok
200+
Active SME clients
1 day
Quote turnaround (business day)
2015
Founded in Bangkok
200+
Active SME clients
1 day
Quote turnaround (business day)
Startup and sector assessment
We review your company registration, innovation focus, and S-Curve industry fit to confirm Startup (S) eligibility before you pay any fees.
Agency endorsement (NIA or DEPA)
We manage the endorsement stage with the relevant agency and compile the business plan, technology documents, and founder credentials.
OSSC application and visa issuance
After endorsement, we submit the complete application to the BOI OSSC. The visa is issued with work authorization included.
Annual reporting and compliance
We handle the annual OSSC reporting every year and coordinate family member visas alongside it.
LTR category assessment
We check you against all four LTR categories (Highly-Skilled Professional, Work-from-Thailand Professional, Wealthy Global Citizen, and Wealthy Pensioner) to find the best match for your income, employment, and assets.
LTR application
We assemble documents, arrange Thai translations, and file on the BOI portal while your Smart Visa is still valid.
No gap in status
We time your Smart Visa compliance and the LTR application so your work authorization never lapses during LTR processing.
LTR issuance and benefits
Once the LTR is approved, we coordinate the 17% flat tax set-up, the digital work permit, and the move from annual Smart Visa reporting to annual LTR reporting.
Transparent Pricing
T/I/E categories are no longer accepting new applications: engagements today are Startup (S) new applications, existing-holder maintenance, or transition to LTR. We quote within 1 business day.
About our pricing:
| Tier / Variant | What's included | Govt / 3rd-party fees | Plizz service fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup (S): new applicationActive category | For registered Thai startups in BOI-target S-Curve industries. NIA / DEPA endorsement coordination, BOI OSSC submission, work-permit-free visa issuance. | Visa government fee 10,000 per applicant | Get a quote · 1 business day Reason for quote:Why: startup documentation + endorsement effort depends on industry category and stage |
| T/I/E maintenance for existing holders | Renewal / annual reporting / category-specific compliance for current Talent, Investor, or Executive Smart Visa holders. | Visa government fee 10,000 per applicant | Get a quote · 1 business day Reason for quote:Why: depends on category, original endorsement ministry, and remaining validity |
| Transition support to LTR | For T/I/E holders whose categories are being phased out: assess LTR eligibility, prepare transition application. See LTR Visa. | LTR govt fee 50,000 (10-year) | Get a quote · 1 business day Reason for quote:Why: transition complexity depends on which LTR category fits and document overlap |
Startup (S): new application
For registered Thai startups in BOI-target S-Curve industries. NIA / DEPA endorsement coordination, BOI OSSC submission, work-permit-free visa issuance.
Reason for quote:Why: startup documentation + endorsement effort depends on industry category and stage
T/I/E maintenance for existing holders
Renewal / annual reporting / category-specific compliance for current Talent, Investor, or Executive Smart Visa holders.
Reason for quote:Why: depends on category, original endorsement ministry, and remaining validity
Transition support to LTR
For T/I/E holders whose categories are being phased out: assess LTR eligibility, prepare transition application. See LTR Visa.
Reason for quote:Why: transition complexity depends on which LTR category fits and document overlap
Optional Add-Ons
| Add-on | Fee | Notes | Add to quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family member visas (spouse + up to 4 children) | Get a quote · 1 business day Reason for quote:Why: per-dependent fee; family benefits included in Smart Visa scope | Family benefits are included in Smart Visa scope. | |
| Annual reporting | Get a quote · 1 business day Reason for quote:Why: Smart Visa requires annual (not 90-day) reporting | Smart Visa = annual reporting, simpler than standard Non-B. |
Family member visas (spouse + up to 4 children)
Reason for quote:Why: per-dependent fee; family benefits included in Smart Visa scope
Family benefits are included in Smart Visa scope.
Annual reporting
Reason for quote:Why: Smart Visa requires annual (not 90-day) reporting
Smart Visa = annual reporting, simpler than standard Non-B.
Pricing Notes
Build your quote: Plizz confirms it within 1 business day
Estimate excludes 7% VAT and government fees. Plizz confirms your final quote within 1 business day.
When a Smart Visa T/I/E expires, there is no grace period and no renewal: the category no longer exists. From that day, overstay fines apply (THB 500 per day), and any work you do is unauthorized under the Royal Ordinance on the Management of Foreign Workers B.E. 2560 (fines of THB 5,000 to 50,000, and possible deportation). The LTR application takes time. Starting 6 months before expiry gives you a comfortable buffer. Starting 30 days before almost guarantees a gap in status.
Plizz vs the alternatives
Many Smart Visa agents are not Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa specialists. The two programs have different document standards and different tax implications.
| Dimension | DIY transition | Previous Smart Visa agent | Plizz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge strategy between Smart Visa expiry and LTR issuance | Self-managed; high risk of a gap | Not always an LTR specialist | Continuous status planned from day one |
| 17% flat personal income tax (PIT) rate from LTR issuance | Often missed; it is not automatic | Tax set-up not included | Set up with your employer and the Revenue Department alongside the LTR issuance |
| LTR category assessment (4 tracks) | Self-assessed; wrong category is common | May not screen all 4 tracks | All 4 tracks screened; strongest route identified |
| Startup (S) endorsement (NIA / DEPA) | Self-managed; the endorsement stage is often underestimated | Experience varies | Managed as the main filing; the OSSC filing follows as soon as the endorsement is issued |
Migration guide
The T/I/E categories are being phased out under 2025 Cabinet decisions. Here is the usual next route for each.
| Smart Visa category (phased out) | Typical successor visa | Why |
|---|---|---|
| T: Talent (specialized professionals) | LTR Highly-Skilled Professional | Almost the same target group; LTR adds 10-year validity and a 17% flat PIT rate (work-experience requirement removed in 2025) |
| I: Investor (investing THB 20M+ in promoted projects) | LTR Wealthy Global Citizen | A USD 1M+ asset threshold replaces the investment amount; income requirement removed under the 2025 amendments |
| E: Executive (senior executives at large BOI-promoted firms) | Non-IB Visa or LTR Highly-Skilled | Non-IB if the company holds BOI promotion; LTR if your personal income qualifies (USD 80,000+ a year) |
| S: Startup (early-stage startups with NIA/DEPA endorsement) | Still active as Smart Visa S | No equivalent route before BOI promotion; moves to Non-IB once the startup obtains BOI promotion |
Who this is for
The Smart Visa now serves two groups: Startup (S) applicants, and current T/I/E holders moving to LTR.
Your Plizz Contact
Visa & Work Permit Specialist
Thai immigration and labor relations: Immigration Bureau, BOI, MFA, Department of Employment liaison
Why Plizz
Smart Visa work now means two different jobs: guiding current T/I/E holders through the phase-out, and getting new Startup (S) applicants through the endorsement stage. Plizz handles both, and every T/I/E engagement includes LTR planning from day one.
Benoît
Jérôme
Nantida
Jeerapak
Supanut
Ornjira
Pawinee
Onarnong
T/I/E expiry does not have to disrupt your work. We start the LTR application well before your Smart Visa expires and manage the overlap, so your work authorization continues throughout.
For Startup (S) applications, the endorsement at NIA or DEPA is where most timelines slip. We manage it as the main filing, so the OSSC submission follows as soon as the endorsement is approved.
We handle annual reporting and extension filings for current T/I/E holders as an ongoing engagement, so you stay compliant while we prepare your LTR application in parallel.
Common Questions
Answers to the most common questions before and during engagement.
Explore More
Most Smart Visa T/I/E holders move to LTR. Start the assessment 6 months before expiry so your authorization to work never lapses.
The recommended next visa for Smart Visa T/I/E holders: 10-year validity, a 17% flat PIT rate for Highly-Skilled Professionals, and visas for your spouse and children. Start 6 months before your Smart Visa expires so your work authorization never lapses.
The next step when a Smart Visa S startup obtains BOI promotion: filed through the OSSC, no 4:1 ratio, and visa and work permit issued together.
Once your startup has outgrown the NIA or DEPA stage, BOI promotion is the next milestone: it opens the Non-IB track and removes the 4:1 ratio requirement.
The fallback for Smart Visa T/I/E holders who do not meet the LTR thresholds: the standard Non-Immigrant B (Non-B) work visa, renewed each year outside the OSSC.
Insights
The BOI's Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center brings investment support, visas and work permits under one roof in Bangkok.
A comprehensive guide to Thai work permits for SMEs: eligibility, required documents, the application steps and how to hire foreign employees compliantly.
Seven crucial steps to renew your work permit in Thailand, from checking the expiry date and gathering documents to submitting the application on time.
Get Started
The transition takes time, so starting 6 months before expiry keeps your work authorization continuous. Send us your profile and we assess you in writing against all four LTR categories.
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