Thailand SMART Visa (S)

Last verified September 2026

A startup visa with no separate work permit.

SMART S is for founders and directors of a certified Thai startup in a BOI targeted industry. After 2025 reforms, this is the SMART path BOI kept for entrepreneurs. Talent, investor, and executive demand is steered toward LTR.

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No separate work permit for the endorsed activity••BOI SMART Visa Unit filing

ValidityUp to 2 years

Shareholding25% or director

Deposit600,000 THB

Work permitNot required

Bringing a spouse or children?

SMART O matches the principal's stay. Extra deposit 180,000 THB per person. Spouse work permission follows BOI rules.

Read the guide

Eligibility

Who qualifies for SMART Visa S after the 2025 BOI changes?

Cabinet policy in January 2025 narrowed SMART so it is not a duplicate of LTR. The live founder route is a startup already established in Thailand, certified in a targeted industry by an agency such as NIA or DEPA, and not more than 2 years from authorisation.

Certified startup

Thai company in a BOI targeted industry, certified by NIA, DEPA, or another designated agency

Role

hold at least 25% of registered capital, or be a director of that company

Age of company

established in Thailand and authorised for not over 2 years on the 2-year SMART S route

Deposit

600,000 THB or equivalent, held for at least 3 months in Thailand or in your country of nationality or residence

Insurance

health insurance covering the full intended stay

Not LTR

high earners and skilled employees who are not startup founders should look at LTR, not a retired SMART T, I, or E pitch

What you get

Last verified September 2026

What does SMART S actually allow?

SMART S is a renewable visa of up to 2 years, decided by immigration after BOI endorsement. Work is allowed only in the certified business scope. Changing job, role, or employer needs a fresh endorsement. Re-entry permits are not required on the current BOI category page.

Topic	SMART S rule
Stay	Maximum 2 years, renewable, as granted by immigration
Work	No separate work permit for activity inside the certified startup. Additional or different work needs a new endorsement
Reporting	90-day address cycle is replaced by a 1-year report, plus an annual status report to the SMART Visa Unit
Family	Spouse and legitimate children can apply for SMART O for the same duration
Travel	No re-entry permit required, per the current SMART S category page

Documents

What documents does a SMART S endorsement need?

BOI publishes a SMART S checklist for qualification endorsement. Issa Compass maps your file to the current list before anything is sent to the SMART Visa Unit. Extra items such as a criminal-record certificate can be requested case by case.

Application

completed SMART S qualification-endorsement form

Passport

biodata page and all pages with Thai visa stamps

Deposit proof

600,000 THB or equivalent held at least 3 months. Add 180,000 THB per accompanying spouse or child

Company

certificate of incorporation with objectives (not more than 3 months old) and shareholder list

Role proof

shareholding evidence and/or director appointment

Startup file

certification as a targeted-industry startup, pitch deck, and supporting employment or education records as listed on the current form

Insurance

health cover for the full stay

The Issa process

How does Issa Compass handle SMART S?

Issa Compass checks shareholding, startup certification, and the 3-month deposit before the SMART Visa Unit sees the file. The Issa money-back guarantee covers the Issa service fee on a pre-qualified application that immigration does not approve. Government and BOI fees are never refunded by Issa.

Fit check

we confirm you are a startup founder or director, not an LTR-shaped employee file

Document review

certification letters, shareholder lists, and deposit seasoning are checked against the current SMART S form

Endorsement then visa

BOI qualification first, then embassy or immigration issuance

Family

SMART O is filed only after the principal path is clear, with the extra 180,000 THB per person

Money-back

Issa service fee refunded if a pre-qualified application is not approved

Issa Compass is not the Board of Investment, the SMART Visa Unit, or Thai Immigration. You can apply for qualification endorsement on the official SMART Visa site at smart-visa.boi.go.th without using Issa.

Start a SMART S application with Issa Compass

We check certification, shareholding, and deposit seasoning before the file goes to the SMART Visa Unit.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for startup entrepreneurs. The 2025 announcements repealed the older SMART measure and kept a special residence visa for certified startup founders. High-potential employees and investors are meant to use LTR. Issa Compass will not pitch SMART T, I, or E as if those older tracks were still the default.

Not for work inside the certified startup scope. You still cannot do restricted professions under Thai labour law. If your role, employer, or activity changes, you need a new endorsement. Do not assume SMART S is a general work visa.

The current 2-year SMART S page is for a startup already established in Thailand and certified in a targeted industry. If you have not incorporated yet, talk to Issa Compass before you assume an overseas-founder shortcut still exists.

In a bank in Thailand or in your country of nationality or residence, held for at least 3 consecutive months. It can be THB or the equivalent. Accompanying spouse or children add 180,000 THB each under the same seasoning rule.

SMART S is a founder/director visa for a certified Thai startup, up to 2 years. LTR is a 10-year residence visa with income, employer, or asset tests and different work rules. Many people who used to look at SMART T or E now belong on LTR. Issa Compass compares both before you file.

The Issa service fee if a pre-qualified application is not approved by immigration. BOI and government fees are not refunded. Certain countries or territories are excluded. Confirm eligibility before you pay.

Issa Guarantee

100% money back if we don't deliver.

If a pre-qualified application is not approved by Thai immigration, Issa Compass refunds the Issa service fee in full.

Issa service fee refunded
Terms and conditions apply

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Issa Compass is a software-automated visa services platform for Thailand, operated by Singapore-based Issara Platforms Pte. Ltd. The platform supports individuals with Thai visa applications across categories including the LTR, DTV, Non-Immigrant B, SMART visa, Non-Immigrant O, and more. Issa Compass combines a Visa Intelligence document verification engine with oversight from Thai immigration experts to streamline the end-to-end application process.