Thailand•Asia

Closed

SMART E — SMART Visa Executive

Work

Closed to new applications — February 18, 2025

Closed to new applications as of February 18, 2025. BOI Announcement No. Por 5/2568 repealed the 2018 Smart Visa rules and retained Smart Visa only for startup entrepreneurs (Smart S), to reduce redundancy with the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa program. Existing holders of Smart E visas may continue to hold and extend under prior criteria per immigration bureau guidance, but no new endorsements for the Executive category are accepted. The LTR Highly-Skilled Professional visa (th-ltr-hsp) is the recommended alternative for senior executives employed in Thailand's targeted industries.

See replacement: LTR Visa - Highly-Skilled Professional

At a Glance

Processing Time

1 month

Estimated Cost

THB ฿10,000

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

4 years

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Overview

Discontinued executive work visa for senior management in Thailand's targeted industries; replaced by the Long-Term Resident Highly-Skilled Professional visa.

The SMART Visa Executive was established in 2018 to attract senior executives to Thailand's "S-Curve" industries including technology, robotics, and healthcare under the Board of Investment. It streamlined residency for C-suite professionals as an alternative to traditional work permits. The program closed to new applications on February 18, 2025.

The visa granted up to four years of stay (renewable, not exceeding employment contract term) with a 10,000 THB annual fee and 30+ day processing. Benefits included work permit exemption, annual immigration reporting, and unrestricted work rights for spouses and children.

This visa is ideal for existing holders seeking renewal under prior criteria. New applicants should apply for the Long-Term Resident Highly-Skilled Professional visa (th-ltr-hsp).

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

4 years

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Hold a senior management position (e.g., Chairman, CEO, Managing Director)

Possess a bachelor's degree or higher

Minimum of 10 years of work experience in a relevant field

Minimum salary of 200,000 THB per month

Employment contract with a tech-based company in a targeted industry with at least 1 year remaining

KEY CRITERIA

Education

bachelor or higher

Experience

10+ years

Min. Income

2,400,000 EUR/yr

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed qualification endorsement application form (Smart Visa E)

Copy of valid passport

Medical certificate showing no prohibited diseases (issued within 3 months)

Educational evidence (e.g. university degree certificate)

Evidence of previous employment (e.g. letter from previous employer)

Employment or service contract with Thai entity (stating position, contract term, and income)

Shareholder list (not more than 3 months old)

Corporate organization chart

Company annual report, brochures/catalogues, and latest audited financial statements (if applicable)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Exemption from work permit requirements for endorsed executives
Extended annual reporting to immigration instead of 90-day requirement
Up to 4 years renewable visa tied to employment contract
Spouse and children can reside and work in Thailand
No re-entry permit required during visa validity
Access to S-Curve industries targeted by Thailand's economic policy
Streamlined qualification endorsement for qualifying executives

Worth Knowing

Requires senior management position (Chairman, CEO, Managing Director or equivalent)
Minimum bachelor's degree and 10+ years relevant work experience required
Must be employed in a BOI-approved S-Curve or targeted industry
Visa duration cannot exceed the length of your employment contract
Upfront fee of 10,000 THB per year of visa permission (40,000 THB for 4-year grant)
Closed to new applications as of February 18, 2025; consider th-ltr-hsp as alternative
Only existing visa holders may extend; no new endorsements accepted
Minimum 200,000 THB monthly salary requirement is strict and non-negotiable

Application Process

Register and apply for qualification endorsement on the SMART Visa website

Submit required documents in PDF format for screening

Receive notification of endorsement results from the One Stop Service Center

Apply for visa issuance at a Thai Embassy, Consulate, or the Immigration Bureau within 60 days of endorsement

Verified Claims (14)

Last verified Jun 26, 2026

Discontinued

true

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Discontinued At

2025-02-18

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Discontinued Note

Closed to new applications as of February 18, 2025. BOI Announcement No. Por 5/2568 repealed the 201…

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Fee Breakdown

Visa issuance fee: 10000 THB

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Included Nationalities

null

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Job Offer Required

true

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Application Portal

https://smart-visa.boi.go.th/smart

boi.go.th

Official Info

https://smart-visa.boi.go.th/smart/pages/smart_e.html

smart-visa.boi.go.th

Apply Now Official Information

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Overview

Discontinued executive work visa for senior management in Thailand's targeted industries; replaced by the Long-Term Resident Highly-Skilled Professional visa.

This visa is ideal for existing holders seeking renewal under prior criteria. New applicants should apply for the Long-Term Resident Highly-Skilled Professional visa (th-ltr-hsp).

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Hold a senior management position (e.g., Chairman, CEO, Managing Director)

Possess a bachelor's degree or higher

Minimum of 10 years of work experience in a relevant field

Minimum salary of 200,000 THB per month

Employment contract with a tech-based company in a targeted industry with at least 1 year remaining

KEY CRITERIA

Education

bachelor or higher

Experience

10+ years

Min. Income

2,400,000 EUR/yr

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed qualification endorsement application form (Smart Visa E)

Copy of valid passport

Medical certificate showing no prohibited diseases (issued within 3 months)

Educational evidence (e.g. university degree certificate)

Evidence of previous employment (e.g. letter from previous employer)

Employment or service contract with Thai entity (stating position, contract term, and income)

Shareholder list (not more than 3 months old)

Corporate organization chart

Company annual report, brochures/catalogues, and latest audited financial statements (if applicable)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Exemption from work permit requirements for endorsed executives
Extended annual reporting to immigration instead of 90-day requirement
Up to 4 years renewable visa tied to employment contract
Spouse and children can reside and work in Thailand
No re-entry permit required during visa validity
Access to S-Curve industries targeted by Thailand's economic policy
Streamlined qualification endorsement for qualifying executives

Worth Knowing

Requires senior management position (Chairman, CEO, Managing Director or equivalent)
Minimum bachelor's degree and 10+ years relevant work experience required
Must be employed in a BOI-approved S-Curve or targeted industry
Visa duration cannot exceed the length of your employment contract
Upfront fee of 10,000 THB per year of visa permission (40,000 THB for 4-year grant)
Closed to new applications as of February 18, 2025; consider th-ltr-hsp as alternative
Only existing visa holders may extend; no new endorsements accepted
Minimum 200,000 THB monthly salary requirement is strict and non-negotiable

Application Process