Thailand LTR Visa vs Privilege Card 2026: Which One for Entrepreneurs?
Quick Overview
If you plan to live in Thailand long-term while running a business, the visa is the first hurdle. In 2026 there are two mainstream routes: the LTR Visa (10 years, issued by BOI) and the Thailand Privilege Card (formerly Elite Visa, 5–20 years). They serve different people. LTR has financial thresholds but delivers a real tax exemption on foreign-sourced income. The Privilege Card asks nothing about your income, assets, age or health — you simply pay. This guide compares both and explains how each pairs with owning a SOHO townhome at The MIXX.
Side-by-side comparison
| LTR Visa | Thailand Privilege Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Board of Investment (BOI) | Thailand Privilege Card Co. (TAT subsidiary) |
| Duration | 10 years (5+5) | 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 years by tier |
| Official cost | THB 50,000 for the full 10 years | THB 650,000 – 5,000,000 one-off membership |
| Income requirement | Yes — typically US$80,000/year | None |
| Asset requirement | Yes for some tracks — US$1M net worth | None |
| Age requirement | 50+ for some tracks | None |
| Health insurance | US$50,000 cover, or US$100,000 deposit proof | Not required |
| Foreign income tax exemption | Yes (three of four tracks) | No |
| Work permit | Digital Work Permit included | Not included |
| 90-day reporting | Waived — annual instead | Required, but handled by concierge |
| Processing | From ~20 working days | ~1–3 months |
The four LTR tracks
1. Wealthy Global Citizen
- Net assets of US$1,000,000 or more
- Personal income of US$80,000+ per year for the past two years
- US$500,000+ invested in Thailand — government bonds, FDI, or property
2. Wealthy Pensioner
- Aged 50 or above
- Pension income of US$80,000/year; or US$40,000/year plus US$250,000 invested in Thailand
3. Work-from-Thailand Professional
- Income of US$80,000+ per year for the past two years
- Employed by a Fortune 500 company or equivalent-tier overseas employer
4. Highly-Skilled Professional
- Employment contract with a Thai company or institution
- Salary of US$80,000+ per year
- Working in a targeted industry — technology, healthcare, automotive, digital economy
BOI adjusts these criteria periodically. Confirm current requirements with BOI or a licensed immigration adviser before applying.
Thailand Privilege tiers
Membership runs from entry-level Bronze (THB 650,000 for 5 years — roughly THB 130,000 per year, currently a promotional tier) up to Reserve (THB 5,000,000 for 20 years, by invitation). Higher tiers bring more privilege points for airport fast-track, limousine transfers, medical check-ups and golf.
The real advantage isn’t the perks — it’s what they don’t ask. No income verification, no asset disclosure, no age limit, no medical, no employer letter. For anyone with a complex income structure, or who would rather not file overseas financial details with Thai authorities, this is the path of least friction.
Which one fits you? Three scenarios
A — Over 50 with steady passive income
Take the LTR. If you can document US$80,000/year, THB 50,000 buys ten years plus a foreign-income tax exemption. That is dramatically cheaper than any Privilege tier and it is the strongest value in the whole system.
B — Around 40, running a trading or manufacturing business, income from a Thai company
Non-B Business Visa plus Work Permit is usually the direct route: register a Thai company, employ Thai staff, pay tax properly, and your visa and work permit follow the company. The MIXX sits in a mixed-use zone and can serve as your registered company address — which is exactly how many of our foreign owners structure it.
C — You want to land quickly without financial scrutiny
Take the Privilege Card. It costs more but has no qualifying test at all. Note that it does not include a work permit — you cannot legally work in Thailand on it. To run a business you still need a separate company and work permit.
How this pairs with The MIXX
The MIXX is a mixed-use SOHO property — retail on the ground floor, offices on floors 2–3, private residence on floors 4–4.5. The most common structure among foreign owners:
- A Thai company takes building ownership plus a registered 30-year land lease
- The company registers its address at the property
- The founder holds a Non-B visa and work permit, or an LTR under the Highly-Skilled track
- Business downstairs (trading, consulting, clinic, showroom), home upstairs
For the legal detail on what foreigners can and cannot own in Thailand, read our English overview page first — it sets out honestly that foreigners cannot own land directly, and the four legitimate alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Does buying property at The MIXX get me a visa?
Not directly. Thailand has no residence-by-investment scheme for property. However, real estate investment can count toward the US$500,000 investment threshold in the LTR Wealthy Global Citizen track, and toward the US$250,000 requirement for Wealthy Pensioners. Confirm current rules with BOI.
Can a Privilege Card holder work from their own SOHO unit?
No. The Privilege Card carries no work permit, and any paid work in Thailand requires one. To operate a business you would register a company and apply for Non-B plus a work permit, or switch to the LTR Highly-Skilled track.
What exactly does the LTR tax exemption cover?
LTR holders in the Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner and Work-from-Thailand Professional tracks are exempt from Thai personal income tax on foreign-sourced income remitted into Thailand. That is the most substantive advantage LTR holds over the Privilege Card. The Highly-Skilled Professional track instead receives a flat 17% personal income tax rate. Tax rules are complex — consult a Thai tax adviser.
Contact
- Phone: +66 92-455-8222
- LINE: @themixx
- English overview: themixx.in.th/en
- 中文页面: themixx.in.th/zh
This article is general information and does not constitute immigration, legal or tax advice. Visa policy changes frequently — consult a licensed Thai immigration adviser or BOI directly before applying.