ข้ามไปยังเนื้อหาหลัก
Thai Notary Phuket
Thai Notary Phuket
Phuket · English Desk
Home/Services/SMART Visa • BOI OSS • Phuket
SMART Visa • BOI OSS • Phuket

SMART Visa Thailand — 4-Year Talent / Investor / Executive / Startup Route

A 4-year residency for talent, investors, executives and startup founders in Thailand's 13 target industries — no separate Work Permit, no 90-day report, dependents work-authorised.

094-895-8999 LINE @THAINOTARY Contact@thainotary.co.th
TL;DR

SMART Visa is a 4-year BOI-issued residence granted to foreigners in Thailand's S-Curve industries. Five sub-types: T (Talent, salary >=THB 200k + PhD/15y), I (Investor, >=THB 20M), E (Executive, salary >=THB 200k + senior role), S (Startup, THB 600k deposit + DEPA/NIA endorsement), O (Dependent — spouse/child, free, work-authorised). No separate Work Permit; annual (not 90-day) reporting; OSS one-stop service in Bangkok.

Pricing
฿65,000 – ฿85,000
per applicant (4-year visa, one-off)
Turnaround
60-90 days incl. endorsement
Duration
4 years multi-entry
Work Permit
Not required — SMART Visa IS the permit
Reporting
Annual — no 90-day report
Dependents
SMART-O free + work-authorised
Target Industries
13 S-Curve sectors

The 5 SMART Visa Sub-Types — Which One Fits You

The SMART Visa program divides applicants by economic contribution, not by nationality. Choose the sub-type that matches your role and evidence base — misfiling wastes an endorsement cycle.

  • SMART T (Talent): Salary >=THB 200,000/month + PhD OR 15 years experience in an S-Curve field
  • SMART I (Investor): Direct investment of >=THB 20M in a BOI-promoted or S-Curve Thai company
  • SMART E (Executive): Bachelor's + 10 years experience + Senior Management role + salary >=THB 200k
  • SMART S (Startup): Founder — THB 600k bank deposit + DEPA/NIA/TCEB endorsement + accelerator acceptance
  • SMART O (Other/Dependent): Spouse and children of T/I/E/S holders — free visa, allowed to work without a separate Work Permit

Endorsement — The Gate Everyone Underestimates

Every SMART application requires a written endorsement from the sector regulator BEFORE BOI accepts the file. The endorsement, not the BOI review, is where most applications stall.

  • Digital / Software / AI: DEPA (Digital Economy Promotion Agency)
  • Innovation / Startup / Biotech: NIA (National Innovation Agency)
  • MICE / Events / Creative: TCEB (Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau)
  • Medical / Wellness / Pharma: Ministry of Public Health
  • Aviation / Robotics / Automotive: Ministry of Industry
  • Endorsement lead time: 30-60 days; requires structured business plan + 3+ years domain track record

SMART vs LTR vs Non-B — When SMART Actually Wins

SMART is not always the right visa. Here is the honest comparison against its two nearest neighbours.

  • vs LTR: LTR is 10 years and offers 17% flat tax for HSP — pick LTR if you qualify (USD 80k income, USD 500k investment)
  • vs Non-B: Non-B is 1 year and requires Work Permit + 4 Thai per foreigner. SMART wins for lean teams and BOI companies
  • SMART is unbeatable when: (a) startup founder with runway but no Thai employees, (b) spouse wants to work legally, (c) you hate 90-day reporting
  • SMART is not for you if: industry off the 13-sector list, or salary/investment below threshold — apply Non-B or DTV instead

Phuket Smart City Angle — Why This Matters Here

Phuket is one of Thailand's officially designated Smart Cities, which changes the SMART qualification calculus for tech workers based on the island.

  • Phuket Smart City Sandbox: DEPA-endorsed digital businesses get expedited SMART-S review
  • PSU Phuket + Prince of Songkla partnerships qualify academic-linked hires for SMART-T
  • Remote CTOs of overseas tech companies with Phuket residence can qualify for SMART-T if payslips show THB 200k+/month
  • Songkhla Innovation District (2h drive) counts as part of the Andaman digital cluster for endorsement

Documents you'll need

Personal (all sub-types)
  • Passport valid 18+ months + 4 blank pages
  • CV with detailed employment + publications history
  • Educational certificates + transcripts (MFA-legalised)
  • 10-15 years experience letters from employers
  • Police clearance from country of residence
  • 6 passport photos (4x6 cm, white background)
T / E — Employment evidence
  • Employment contract showing salary >=THB 200,000/month
  • Detailed job description matching S-Curve criteria
  • Employer's BOI certificate OR S-Curve industry proof
  • Sector endorsement letter (DEPA / NIA / TCEB / MoPH)
I / S — Investment / Startup evidence
  • Business plan (English) with 3-year financial projection
  • Bank statement: THB 20M (I) or THB 600k (S), held >=6 months
  • Accelerator/incubator acceptance letter (S only)
  • Share transfer + capital paid-in confirmation (I only)

How it works

  1. 1

    Eligibility screen + sub-type selection

    1 day

    1-hour consultation to match your profile to T/I/E/S/O.

  2. 2

    Endorsement dossier + submission

    30-60 days

    Build the DEPA/NIA/TCEB/MoPH file and manage clarifications.

  3. 3

    SMART application at BOI OSS

    30 days

    File at One-Stop Service Center (Chamchuri Square, Bangkok).

  4. 4

    Qualification Endorsement Letter

    1 day

    BOI issues the QEL — authorises the visa stamp.

  5. 5

    Visa stamp — embassy or OSS

    5-7 days

    Stamp the SMART Visa at a Thai embassy abroad OR change status inside Thailand.

  6. 6

    Handover + annual report calendar

    1 day

    You receive the 4-year visa + calendar of annual reporting dates.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really not need a Work Permit?+

Correct — the SMART Visa itself functions as work authorisation for the endorsed role and employer. Changing employer requires a new endorsement.

Can my spouse work on SMART-O?+

Yes — this is unique to SMART-O. The dependent can take any employment in Thailand without a separate Work Permit application.

SMART vs LTR — which is better?+

LTR is longer (10y) and offers a 17% flat tax for HSP holders. Pick LTR if you qualify. SMART is easier for startup founders and staff of BOI companies.

Can a remote worker for a foreign company qualify?+

Yes for SMART-T if you can prove THB 200k+ monthly income, PhD or 15y experience, and work in an S-Curve field. Otherwise the DTV is the correct visa.

What are the 13 S-Curve industries?+

Next-Gen Automotive, Smart Electronics, Medical Tourism, Agriculture/Biotech, Food, Robotics, Aviation & Logistics, Bio-Fuels, Digital, Medical Hub, Defense, Education, HR Development.

Does SMART accelerate Permanent Residence?+

No — the 3-year continuous residence clock is the same as any other visa. But SMART time counts fully towards it.

Related services

Long-Term Visas • Phuket

Long-Term Thailand Visas in Phuket — LTR, DTV, Thailand Privilege, Retirement O/O-A

Thailand has launched five major long-term visa categories since 2022: LTR (10 years), DTV (5 years), Thailand Privilege (5–20 years), Retirement Non-O/O-A/O-X, and the BOI Smart Visa (4 years). Each fits a different profile — wealth, income, profession, age, remote-work — and the choice has major tax and lifestyle consequences. Our Phuket team specializes in choosing the right route and submitting a clean application that gets approved without re-submission.

View service
DTV • Destination Thailand Visa

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) — 5-Year Multi-Entry Visa Processed from Phuket

The DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) is a 5-year multi-entry visa introduced July 2024 allowing 180-day stays per entry, extendable once. Two main tracks: Workcation (remote workers/freelancers with foreign employer or portfolio + THB 500k funds) and Soft Power (Muay Thai, Thai cooking, medical treatment, sports training, seminars). We prepare the entire dossier in Phuket, translate & notarize supporting docs, and file through the correct e-Visa portal or embassy for your nationality.

View service
Work Permit • Non-B • Extension

Thailand Work Permit for Foreigners — Filed from Phuket, End-to-End

A Thailand Work Permit requires 3 coordinated steps: (1) Non-B visa from a Thai embassy abroad OR change-of-status inside Thailand, (2) Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour at your business address, (3) 1-year Extension of Stay from Immigration. Employer must show THB 2M paid-up capital per foreigner + 4 Thai employees per foreign hire (BOI/US Treaty exempt). We handle all 3 steps from Phuket with fixed pricing and a full compliance calendar (TM.30, 90-day, work permit renewal, tax filings).

View service
Company Registration • Phuket

Thai Company Registration for Foreigners — Phuket Corporate Formation

A Thai Limited Company (Co., Ltd.) needs 2+ shareholders, THB 2M paid-up capital per foreign work permit, 51% Thai ownership unless BOI/FBL/US Treaty exempt, and DBD registration in the province of the head office. We handle the full stack from Phuket: MOA + AOA drafting, DBD filing at Phuket DBD, VAT + SSO registration, corporate bank account opening (Kasikorn/SCB/Bangkok Bank), and work permit-ready capital certification — 10-14 business days end-to-end.

View service

Ready to apply for SMART Visa? Send us your CV + salary/investment evidence to LINE @thainotary — we return a T/I/E/S/O recommendation and endorsement plan within 24 hours.

094-895-8999 LINE @THAINOTARYภาษาไทย
Offices on Phuket

Four locations · on-site island-wide

สาขาเมืองภูเก็ต (สำนักงานใหญ่)

ถนนเฉลิมพระเกียรติ ร.๙ ตำบลตลาดใหญ่ อำเภอเมืองภูเก็ต จังหวัดภูเก็ต 83000

จุดบริการป่าตอง (Patong Service Point)

ถนนราษฎร์อุทิศ 200 ปี ตำบลป่าตอง อำเภอกะทู้ จังหวัดภูเก็ต 83150

จุดบริการลากูน่า–เชิงทะเล

ถนนศรีสุนทร ตำบลเชิงทะเล อำเภอถลาง จังหวัดภูเก็ต 83110

จุดบริการอ่าวฉลอง (Yacht & Marine)

ถนนเจ้าฟ้าตะวันออก ตำบลฉลอง อำเภอเมืองภูเก็ต จังหวัดภูเก็ต 83130

Need this handled this week?

Fixed price and timeline within 30 minutes during opening hours.

094-895-8999 LINE @THAINOTARY