Thailand · Startup Visa
Thailand SMART S Visa for Startup Founders
Thailand's startup route is the SMART S visa, endorsed by the Board of Investment for founders of certified startups in targeted industries. A 2025 reform cut the SMART program back to this single founder category plus dependents.
- Startup route
- SMART Visa (SMART S)
- Minimum capital
- THB 600,000 personal deposit held for 3 months
- Permanent residence
- 3+ years of non-immigrant extensions; annual quota
- Citizenship
- 5 consecutive years' domicile; Thai required
SMART Visa (SMART S, startup entrepreneurs)
The SMART Visa began as a multi-category visa for skilled foreigners, but on January 13, 2025 the Cabinet approved keeping only the startup category to avoid overlap with the Long-Term Resident visa. BOI Announcement No. Por 5/2568, issued on February 18, 2025, repealed the 2018 rules and now covers startup entrepreneurs and their dependents. Applicants must run a business established in Thailand and certified as a startup in a targeted industry by an agency such as the National Innovation Agency or the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, and must hold at least 25% of its registered capital or sit on its board. Holders may work in the certified business without a separate work permit for their whole permitted stay.
- Validity
- Up to 2 years, renewable; 6-month and 1-year types exist
- Government fee
- THB 10,000 per person per year
- Endorsement review
- Agencies examine requests within 20 working days
- Funds
- THB 600,000, plus THB 180,000 per dependent, held 3 months
- Work rights
- No work permit needed in the certified business
- Family
- Spouse and children; the spouse may work
- Reporting
- Yearly report instead of 90-day reporting
Requirements
- Run a business established in Thailand and certified as a startup in a targeted industry by a relevant government agency.
- Hold at least 25% of the company's registered capital or serve as a director.
- Keep at least THB 600,000 in a bank account in Thailand or your home country for three months before applying.
- Add THB 180,000 for each accompanying spouse or child, held under the same three-month rule.
- Carry health insurance covering yourself and your family for the entire stay.
- Have no prohibited characteristics under Thai immigration law.
How to apply
- Obtain startup certification from an agency such as the National Innovation Agency or the Digital Economy Promotion Agency.
- Register on the BOI SMART Visa system and apply for qualification endorsement.
- Use the endorsement letter to apply for the visa at a Thai mission abroad or in person in Thailand.
- File a yearly status report with the SMART Visa Unit during your stay.
What the 2025 reform changed for founders
Before 2025, the SMART program also served highly skilled talent, investors and executives. The Cabinet resolution of January 13, 2025 kept only the special temporary residence visa for startup entrepreneurs and steered other high-potential foreigners toward the Long-Term Resident visa, which the government now promotes as the main visa for that group. For founders, the practical result is a narrower but workable route: endorsement now rests on agency startup certification, a modest personal deposit and health insurance rather than on salary or investment thresholds.
Certification is the gatekeeper. The startup must operate in one of the targeted industries listed in BOI Announcement No. Por 5/2566 of March 16, 2023, and a government agency must certify it as a startup. The current announcement speaks of businesses already established in Thailand, so founders who have not yet incorporated should confirm their options with the SMART Visa Unit. A lawful spouse receives permission to work, but never beyond the work rights of the founder they accompany.
Questions and answers
Is Thailand's SMART Visa still open in 2026?
Yes, but only for startup entrepreneurs and their dependents. BOI Announcement No. Por 5/2568, issued on February 18, 2025, applies to applications submitted from that point and replaced the 2018 rules. People who would once have used the talent, investor or executive categories are directed toward the Long-Term Resident visa.
Do SMART S holders need a Thai work permit?
No. The announcement allows startup entrepreneurs to work without a work permit for their whole permitted stay, provided they work in the certified business or activities. If the work changes or expands, the holder must apply for additional certification. A lawful spouse also receives permission to work.
How much money does a SMART S applicant need?
The applicant needs a bank deposit of at least THB 600,000 or the equivalent, held for at least three months before applying, in Thailand or in the country of nationality or residence. Each spouse or child adds THB 180,000. The BOI FAQ lists a visa fee of THB 10,000 per person per year.
Can a founder apply before setting up a Thai company?
The 2025 announcement covers startup entrepreneurs whose business is already established in Thailand and certified in a targeted industry. The BOI FAQ still mentions a six-month SMART S type, so founders planning to incorporate later should ask the SMART Visa Unit whether that option remains available under the current rules.
Official sources
- Smart S (Startup) (Smart Visa, BOI)smart-visa.boi.go.th
- Announcement of the Office of the Board of Investment No. Por 5/2568 (unofficial translation)smart-visa.boi.go.th
- Frequently asked question (FAQ) (Smart Visa, BOI)smart-visa.boi.go.th
- LTR Visa Thailand (Long-Term Resident Program, BOI)ltr.boi.go.th
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Thailand.
Startup visa
SMART S for certified startup founders; BOI endorsement, up to 2 years
02Temporary residence
Renew SMART S, or move to a 10-year LTR visa or Thailand Privilege
03Permanent residence
Residence permit after 3 years of extensions, within an annual quota
04Citizenship
Naturalization after 5 years' domicile, Thai language and Royal Assent