The Wealthy Pensioner category of Thailand’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa is designed for retirees aged 50 or older with stable passive income. It is the most popular LTR route: by 30 September 2026, 4,483 Wealthy Pensioner applicants had been approved, representing 37.8% of the programme’s 11,872 total approvals, including dependants, since its launch in September 2022.
This page covers the Wealthy Pensioner requirements in detail. For all LTR categories, costs and the application route, see our Thailand LTR visa guide.
Planning to retire in Thailand? Hire AIM Bangkok to handle your Wealthy Pensioner LTR application, from eligibility and document preparation to submission and BOI follow-up. Tell us about your plans to receive a proposal with our scope of service and professional fees.
Wealthy Pensioner LTR Visa at a Glance
| Item | Requirement or benefit |
|---|---|
| Age | 50 or older |
| Income (Option A) | Annual passive income of at least USD 80,000 |
| Income (Option B) | Annual passive income of at least USD 40,000 plus a qualifying investment of at least USD 250,000 in Thailand |
| Health cover | Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage including treatment in Thailand, or the alternative evidence BOI accepts |
| Visa term | 10 years (5 + 5), multiple entry |
| Government fee | THB 50,000 per person when issued in Thailand |
| Reporting | Once a year instead of every 90 days |
| Tax | Exemption from Thai personal income tax on foreign-sourced income |
| Work | Digital work permit available if you take up local employment |
Who Qualifies: Age, Passive Income and Investment
Option A: USD 80,000 passive income
If your annual passive income is at least USD 80,000, no investment in Thailand is required. You must still meet the age, health-cover and other application requirements.
Option B: USD 40,000 passive income plus a USD 250,000 investment
If your passive income is at least USD 40,000 but below USD 80,000, you need a qualifying investment of at least USD 250,000 in Thailand. Qualifying investments include:
- Thai government bonds
- Real estate in Thailand (see the property rules below)
- Direct investment in a Thai company
What counts as passive income
Qualifying passive income includes pensions, rental income, dividends, interest, royalties and realised capital gains. Employment income such as wages or self-employment earnings is not accepted for this category. BOI converts income and asset values into USD using the official World Bank exchange rate, which can differ from your bank’s rate. Leave a margin if you are close to a threshold.
How to Prove Passive Income for the Wealthy Pensioner LTR Visa
Build your evidence around each income source: what generated the income, the amount attributable to you and the period covered. A bank balance alone does not explain whether money came from a pension, rent, investments or a transfer of your own savings.
Start with your personal income tax return
Your filed personal income tax return is the core document to prepare for the income assessment. Start with the official return submitted to your tax authority, such as Form 1040, SA100, T1 General or P.N.D.90/91, together with the relevant income schedules. Identify the entries relating to your pension, rent, dividends, interest, royalties or realised gains, and separate them from employment or self-employment income.
Supporting records then explain the source and amount of that income. The documents needed depend on your income mix and circumstances; prepare them alongside the return so the figures can be reconciled. If no return is available because you live in a tax-free jurisdiction, prepare an explanation and supporting legal documentation as described below.
Check the BOI Wealthy Pensioner document checklist when preparing your file. Documents outside English or Thai require a certified or notarized translation into one of those languages. BOI may request further evidence.
Supporting records to prepare for each income source
Prepare supporting records for each income source and explain any differences between the tax return and payments received:
- Pensions: prepare the pension certificate and bank statements for the past 12 months. Include the provider’s payment schedule where available, and explain deductions or changes during the year.
- Rental income: prepare the signed tenancy agreement, evidence of your ownership or entitlement to the rent, and a schedule matching rent receipts to bank entries. Explain expenses and any difference between rent collected and income reported for tax.
- Dividends and interest: prepare broker or bank income statements showing payments separately from portfolio value. For company dividends, include the dividend notification, audited company financial report, meeting minutes and shareholder list, as applicable to your circumstances.
- Royalties: prepare the agreement establishing your entitlement, royalty statements and matching payment records.
- Realised capital gains: prepare transaction records showing sale proceeds, acquisition cost and the realised gain separately. If a one-off gain is central to meeting the threshold, its treatment and supporting evidence need to be addressed in the application.
Savings withdrawals and retirement accounts
Regular transfers from savings do not automatically establish passive income. BOI’s income-evidence FAQ says principal withdrawals that are not clearly from retirement accounts, private pensions or provident funds are not counted. For retirement-account distributions, include plan documents and statements identifying the account and the nature of each payment in your application evidence.
If you live in a tax-free jurisdiction
Explain why no personal income tax return is available. State your country of tax residence and the local rule that removes the filing obligation. BOI requires legal documentation showing that the jurisdiction is tax-free, together with evidence of your income. Having no tax to pay does not, by itself, mean there is no obligation to file a return.
Put the income evidence into a clear annual summary
Prepare a one-page annual summary listing each income source, payer or asset, reporting period, currency, amount and supporting file references. Flag jointly held income, identify figures before or after tax and expenses, and avoid counting the same payment twice.
Example: USD 48,000 in pension payments plus USD 34,000 in dividends totals USD 82,000. This could meet Option A’s income threshold if the amounts are accepted as qualifying passive income and the evidence supports them. USD 48,000 alone falls under Option B and requires the additional qualifying Thai investment.
Before filing, reconcile your schedule to the source documents. Flag missing months, different names, currency conversions and large unexplained credits. This makes it easier to identify gaps before BOI requests clarification.
Let AIM Bangkok handle your Wealthy Pensioner LTR application. Income-evidence preparation is part of our full application service. We organise the supporting file, submit your application and handle BOI follow-up requests. Tell us about your circumstances to receive a proposal for managing your case.
Using Thai Property for the USD 250,000 Investment
If you use Thai property to meet the Option B investment requirement, the following rules apply:
- Freehold: a condominium unit, building or house registered in your own name qualifies.
- Leasehold: a registered lease of an apartment, house or land qualifies if at least 10 years remain and you are named as the lessee.
- Company-owned property does not qualify.
- BOI counts the original purchase price in the sale and purchase agreement registered with the Land Department, not today’s market value.
The full document checklist for freehold, leasehold and villa purchases is in the LTR property requirements section of our main guide.
Health Insurance Requirement
Wealthy Pensioner applicants must provide health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage for treatment in Thailand, qualifying Thai social security cover, or evidence of a USD 100,000 bank deposit held for at least 12 months. The deposit is an alternative to health cover; it does not replace the passive-income requirement.
Tax Benefits for Wealthy Pensioners
LTR Wealthy Pensioners are exempt from Thai personal income tax on foreign-sourced income, including pensions and investment income remitted to Thailand. A standard retirement visa does not provide this LTR-specific exemption. Income from Thai sources, such as rent from a Thai property, remains taxable under the normal rules.
Costs, Visa Term and Reporting
- Government fee: THB 50,000 per person when the visa is issued in Thailand; fees at embassies abroad vary. Each dependant pays the same fee.
- Term: permission to stay is granted for five years at first. To stay for the second five years, you reconfirm that you still meet the criteria; no further visa fee is charged.
- Reporting: once a year instead of every 90 days, and multiple re-entry is included.
- Work: if you take up employment in Thailand, you can apply for a digital work permit through the LTR system.
Bringing Your Spouse and Children
Your spouse and children under 20 can apply as dependants, subject to the applicable relationship and documentation requirements. Each dependant needs a separate application and pays the government visa fee. Include any family members who will apply when you enquire about our application service.
Wealthy Pensioner LTR vs Retirement Visa vs Thailand Privilege
| LTR Wealthy Pensioner | Retirement visa (Non-O / O-A) | Thailand Privilege | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 50 | 50 | None |
| Financial requirement | USD 80,000 passive income, or USD 40,000 + USD 250,000 investment | Typically THB 800,000 in a Thai bank or THB 65,000 monthly income | Membership fee, from THB 650,000 for 5 years |
| Term | 10 years (5 + 5) | 1 year, renewable | 5 to 20 years, by tier |
| Reporting | Annual | Every 90 days | Every 90 days |
| Foreign-income tax exemption | Yes | No | No |
| Work permit | Digital work permit available | No | No |
If you qualify for the Wealthy Pensioner LTR visa, we recommend choosing it over a standard retirement visa. The longer stay, simpler reporting and foreign-income tax exemption make it the better long-term route. A standard retirement visa remains an option for applicants who do not meet the LTR criteria.
The lower retirement-visa thresholds also come with practical demands. Standard retirement extensions generally require fresh financial evidence each year: typically a THB 800,000 Thai bank deposit maintained for the prescribed periods, or proof of at least THB 65,000 in monthly income. The deposit route ties up funds; the income route requires supporting records at renewal. Exact evidence depends on the route and immigration office.
LTR holders must still maintain their qualifying income, investment where applicable and health-cover arrangements, and reconfirm eligibility for the second five years. The benefit is a longer permission to stay and less frequent routine reporting.
How AIM Bangkok Handles Your LTR Application
- Establish the application route. We assess your circumstances against Option A or Option B and identify the documents needed for you and any dependants. Qualifying Option B investments must be completed before applying.
- Prepare the supporting file. We organise the tax return, income records, any explanation for a missing return, investment evidence and health-cover documents, and arrange certified or notarized translations where needed.
- Submit and follow up. We submit the application through the BOI LTR system and handle requests for additional information or documents.
- Coordinate visa issuance. After qualification endorsement, we guide you through the remaining steps for issuance in Thailand or at a Thai embassy abroad. Keep your current visa valid and wait for the LTR office’s cancellation instructions where applicable.
For the wider programme, government process and indicative timelines, see our Thailand LTR visa guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prove passive income for a Wealthy Pensioner LTR visa?
Start with your filed personal income tax return and relevant schedules, then add supporting records for each income source. The income-evidence section above explains how to organise the file and what to provide if no tax return is available.
Do withdrawals from savings count as passive income?
A transfer from savings does not automatically count. BOI says principal withdrawals that are not clearly from retirement accounts, private pensions or provident funds are not counted as passive income. Retirement-account distributions need evidence identifying the account and payments.
Can I apply without a tax return if I live in a tax-free country?
Explain why you do not file and provide legal documentation supporting the tax-free status of your jurisdiction, together with income evidence. A zero tax bill alone does not establish that there is no filing obligation.
How much does the Wealthy Pensioner LTR visa cost?
The government issuance fee is THB 50,000 per person in Thailand; embassy fees abroad vary. AIM Bangkok’s professional fees for handling the full application are separate and set out in our service proposal.
Do Wealthy Pensioners pay Thai tax on foreign income?
LTR Wealthy Pensioners are exempt from Thai personal income tax on foreign-sourced income. Income from Thai sources remains taxable under the normal rules.
Is it better than a retirement (Non-O / O-A) visa?
Yes. If you meet the criteria, we recommend LTR for its longer stay, annual reporting and foreign-income tax exemption. It also avoids the annual retirement-extension cycle and its recurring financial paperwork, although you must continue to meet the LTR conditions.
Apply for Your Wealthy Pensioner LTR Visa with AIM Bangkok
Apply for your Wealthy Pensioner LTR visa with AIM Bangkok. Complete the form below, and we’ll contact you about the application process, our services and fees. Include:
- Your age and country of residence.
- Each passive income source, its currency and approximate annual amount.
- Any Thai investment you already hold or are considering, including its value and how ownership is registered.
- Whether you have filed tax returns, pension certificates or investment income statements available.
Our application service covers eligibility, supporting documents, submission and BOI follow-up. Start with a summary; there is no need to include account numbers or full financial records in your initial enquiry. BOI makes the final eligibility decision.
