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ResourcesVisa & Immigration LawThailand Immigration LawDoes Thailand Have a Permanent Residence by Investment Program?

Does Thailand Have a Permanent Residence by Investment Program?

Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are going to be discussing the possibility of permanent residence in the Kingdom strictly by investment.

There are various countries and jurisdictions around the world that do allow individuals to invest in an ongoing concern in the country or invest in a public project and thereby derive permanent residence in that country or jurisdiction as a result directly of that investment. Thailand isn't specifically one of those jurisdictions so the short answer to the question, “Does Thailand have a permanent residence by investment?” is, strictly speaking; "No, they do not". That being said, Thailand has other programs which are somewhat similar to residency by investment most notably the Thailand Elite Program can provide up to 20 years of lawful status in the Kingdom as a result of membership fees paid into that program and that program provides a visa associated with it that is good for up to 20 years. We have other videos on this channel which specifically discuss various categories of the Thailand Elite Program. But that being said, the thing to take away from this video is that, “No, strictly speaking that is not a residency by investment program in the Kingdom of Thailand”. Furthermore, something else to keep in mind with respect to this is that there is an investment categorization under the new so-called Smart Visa Program.

The Smart Visa program will allow for individuals to go ahead and invest in certain targeted Industries here in the Kingdom and those investors may be able to receive a long term visa as long as four years so long as the underlying endeavor is certified by various agencies in the Kingdom as well as the individual at issue is also certified. So it may be possible to get a 4 year Smart Visa as a result of investment here in the Kingdom. A final thing to take away from this video is it may be possible to get a very long-term retirement Visa. Here in about the last 18 months, a program has been implemented in the Kingdom which allows for retirement visas which can be issued up to 10 years. Various financial qualifications must be met associated with this visa but it may be possible. So the thing to take away from this video is while there is no strictly speaking “residence by investment” program, that are various relatively new programs that have come about here in the Kingdom that allows individuals to either pay membership fees or invest in the Kingdom and receive long-term visa benefits. Specific to the Smart Visa, it may be possible throughout the length of ones tenure in Smart Visa status to go ahead and obtain permanent residence, true permanent residence here in the Kingdom. There is various videos on this channel which address Thai permanent residence directly but that may be possible under the Smart Visa scheme if one meets the requirements for permanent residence, after having been in the Kingdom for a period of time in Smart Visa status it may be possible to apply for permanent residence but that being said the thing to take away from this video is strictly speaking, “no that is no direct permanent residents by investment” currently allowed under the laws in the Kingdom of Thailand.