Ten-year visas for “highly skilled” – or deep-pocketed – foreigners including digital nomads got the nod from Thailand’s cabinet yesterday.
To attract “high potential” foreigners who will “drive economic and investment stimulus measures,” the long-term visa system will be updated to include four types of foreign nationals, government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek announced Wednesday. She said the Labor and Interior ministries have begun drafting regulations.
The four eligible groups were defined as: wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, professionals working remotely from Thailand, and high-skilled professionals.
Interior will issue eligibility rules for the long-term residence visas, or LTRs. The visas will cost applicants THB10,000 (US$300) annually and can be extended five years beyond their original five-year period.
Under the rules being written at Labor, foreigners will be able to work as soon as they get the visa and file a work permit application – without waiting for their permit to be issued.
Prospective foreign workers can obtain qualification certificates and provide other documents in Bangkok at the Thai Board of Investment at Chamchuri Square or abroad at Thai embassies or consulates.
The new regulations, however, won’t be in place until they’re formally announced by the ministries, Rachada said.
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