A man walks in a business area in Bangkok (Illustrative photo: Reuters) According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Trisulee Traisoranakul, the measure is expected to attract at least a million of foreigners on long-term resident visas (LTR visa) to the Kingdom. He also said it should help strengthen the domestic economy and contribute to technical development.
Foreigners with specialised skills who operate in specific Thai industries will pay a flat rate of 17 percent on their personal income.
To be eligible for the LTR visa, foreigners must invest in Thai government bonds or in real estate in Thailand worth a minimum of 500,000 USD through foreign direct investment (FDI). Their personal annual income must also have been at least 80,000 USD for the past two years, with assets worth at least one million dollars.
Foreign retirees who qualify for an LTR visa must be at least 50 years old, have invested in Thai government bonds via FDI or in Thai real estate totaling at least 250,000 USD. They must also have annual income of at least 40,000 USD, or receive an annual pension of at least 80,000 USD.
The third category of LTR applicants comprises those who wish to work in Thailand and have earned at least 80,000 USD in the past two years, or 40,000 USD if they have a Master’s degree, own an intellectual property right, or have received "Series A" funding with at least five years of work experience.
Foreigners in the fourth category are those with specialised skills who have earned at least 80,000 USD annually for the past two years, or a minimum of 40,000 USD if they have completed post-graduate education and have five years of work experience in industries targeted by the Thai government./.
VNA
