The visa you hold decides what you can do in Thailand: whether you can work, how freely you can leave and come back, how often you report to immigration, and whether your family can join you. The table below compares the main long-stay visas side by side. Find your visa's row, then read its linked guide before you apply.
Checked 13 November 2026.
Thai long-stay visas compared
| Visa | Who it is for | How long | Work in Thailand | Leave and re-enter | Reporting | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTV | Remote workers, freelancers and people on a qualifying Thai course such as Muay Thai or Thai cooking | Valid 5 years; up to 180 days per entry [1] | No Thai work permit and no work for companies in Thailand [1] | Multiple-entry; no re-entry permit needed | 90-day report if you stay more than 90 days in a row | Spouse and children can apply as dependants [1], each on a separate application |
| Non-O retirement | People aged 50 or over with 800,000 THB in savings or a 65,000 THB monthly pension | 90-day stay, then a 1-year extension, renewed each year | No; it is a retirement stay, not a work route | Usually single-entry; get a re-entry permit before you travel | Every 90 days | We route family cases through the Non-OA instead |
| Non-OA | People aged 50 or over, with the same savings or pension test, applying from outside Thailand | 1 year, multiple-entry from issue | No; it is a retirement stay, not a work route | Multiple-entry; no re-entry permit needed | Every 90 days | Spouse under 50 and children under 20 apply for a Non-O as dependants |
| Marriage (Non-O) | Foreigners legally married to a Thai national, with 400,000 THB in savings or 40,000 THB a month in income | 90-day stay, then a 1-year extension, renewed each year | Yes, with a work permit, on reduced requirements compared with a Non-B | Usually single-entry; get a re-entry permit before you travel | Every 90 days | Does not cover dependent children |
| Non-B (work) | People employed by a Thai company | 90-day single-entry visa, then a 1-year extension once the work permit is approved | Yes; a work permit is required before you start work | Single-entry; get a re-entry permit before you travel or the visa is cancelled | Every 90 days | Dependants have their own route as dependants of the Non-B holder |
| LTR | Wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, work-from-Thailand professionals and highly skilled professionals | 10-year visa; 5 years of stay first, then renewal if you still qualify [2] | Depends on the category; work-from-Thailand professionals cannot get a Thai work permit [2] | Multiple re-entry included [2] | Once a year [2] | Dependants have their own LTR dependant route |
| Thailand Privilege (Elite) | People who buy a membership, with no income or savings test | Membership of 5 to 20 years; 1 year per entry, then annual extensions while the membership is valid | No; the holder cannot apply for a work permit | Multiple-entry | Every 90 days | Spouse and children under 20 on Platinum tier and above |
Three rules apply across the table. First, an extension of stay costs a government fee of 1,900 THB [3]. Second, a multiple re-entry permit costs a government fee of 3,800 THB [3], and you only need one on a single-entry visa. Third, every financial figure above is the visa's own test; it is separate from any service fee you pay.
How to use this table
- Want to work? Of the visas in this table, only the Non-B, the marriage visa and some LTR categories lead to a Thai work permit. For remote work for foreign clients, read DTV vs LTR.
- Retiring? Compare the Non-O and Non-OA in Non-OA vs Non-O for retirees.
- Reporting and forms? See Thai immigration forms and terms explained and the 90-day reporting rule.
- Arriving soon? Every foreign traveller completes the TDAC arrival card first.
- Not sure which visa fits? Book a consultation and we will check your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Thailand on a DTV?
Not for a Thai company. DTV holders may not get a Thai work permit or work for companies in Thailand. The DTV suits remote work for employers or clients outside Thailand.
Can I work on a Thai retirement visa?
No. The Non-O retirement visa and the Non-OA are retirement stays, not work routes. If you need to work for a Thai employer, look at the Non-B instead.
Which Thai visa lets me leave and come back freely?
Multiple-entry visas: the DTV, the Non-OA, the LTR and Thailand Privilege. On a single-entry visa, such as the Non-B or a Non-O, get a re-entry permit before you leave.
Which Thai visa lets me bring my family?
The DTV, the Non-OA, the Non-B and the LTR all have dependant routes, and Thailand Privilege covers family on Platinum tier and above. The marriage visa does not cover dependent children.
Which visa has the lightest reporting?
The LTR. Holders report once a year instead of every 90 days, and do not need a re-entry permit.
References
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) (budapest.thaiembassy.org)
- Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR) (ltr.boi.go.th)
- FAQ: About Visa and Work Permit (osos.boi.go.th)
