Planning to Move to Thailand? What to Know About Its Family Visa Rules

Foreigners planning to relocate to Thailand for work, investment or retirement may be able to bring eligible family members through the country’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa programme.

The programme offers qualifying foreigners a long-term residence option of up to 10 years. It targets wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, professionals working remotely for overseas employers and highly skilled professionals.

Thailand’s Board of Investment administers the programme, which also provides a route for eligible family members to apply for dependent visas.

However, applicants must meet specific requirements, including proof of their relationship with the main visa holder and appropriate health coverage or financial resources.

Here are five things to know about Thailand’s family visa rules.

1. Spouses and Children Can Qualify

Under the published LTR Visa requirements, eligible dependants include the legally married spouse and children under 20 years old of a qualifying visa holder.

The programme’s published dependent criteria set a limit of four dependants per main visa holder.

Thailand’s Board of Investment announced broader plans in January 2025 to expand dependent eligibility to include parents and legal dependants, alongside removing the numerical limit. However, the expansion was subject to the relevant official announcements taking effect.

Applicants should therefore confirm the rules currently applicable to their circumstances before applying.

Unmarried partners should not assume they qualify as dependants. Applicants must meet Thailand’s legal requirements for the relevant family relationship.

2. Family Members Must Meet Health Insurance or Financial Requirements

Being related to an LTR visa holder does not automatically qualify someone for a dependent visa.

Under the published requirements, dependants must satisfy one of the programme’s health coverage or financial alternatives.

These include:

• Health insurance providing coverage of at least $50,000.
• Eligibility for social security benefits in Thailand.
• A bank deposit of at least $25,000 for each dependant, maintained for at least 12 months.

Applicants relying on the bank deposit option must meet the programme’s conditions concerning the account holder and maintenance period.

Families should confirm the applicable requirements and acceptable evidence with the Thai Board of Investment before submitting applications.

3. The Main Applicant Must Qualify for an LTR Visa

Family members generally apply through a qualifying main applicant. They cannot rely on the dependent category alone to obtain the same residence status.

Thailand’s LTR programme has four principal categories.

Wealthy Global Citizens: Foreigners who meet the programme’s wealth and investment requirements.

Wealthy Pensioners: Retirees who satisfy the applicable age, income and financial conditions.

Work-from-Thailand Professionals: Eligible remote workers employed by qualifying overseas companies.

Highly Skilled Professionals: Qualified individuals working in designated industries or other eligible fields.

Each category has its own requirements. Applicants should review the relevant criteria on the official Thailand LTR Visa website before beginning the process.

4. Applicants Must Provide Documents Proving Their Relationships

Family members must provide supporting documents to establish their relationship with the main applicant.

The required evidence depends on the relationship and circumstances.

For example, a spouse may need a marriage certificate, while a child may need a birth certificate. Adopted children may also need adoption documentation or relevant court orders.

The authorities may request additional documents during the assessment.

Applicants should consult the official dependent-document checklist to confirm which records apply to their family members.

5. Family Members Must Complete the Visa Application Process

The LTR programme uses an online application and qualification endorsement process.

The main applicant must begin the process and obtain an application reference before linked dependants submit their applications.

Each dependant must create a separate account and submit the required supporting documents. The main applicant must then approve the dependent’s request through the system to complete the linking process.

The relevant Thai authorities review the applications and supporting evidence. Once approved, applicants receive instructions for completing visa issuance at a designated Thai embassy or consulate or through the relevant service centre in Thailand.

The official programme indicates that qualification endorsement decisions are generally communicated within 20 working days after complete and valid documents are received. Processing may take longer if additional information is required.

Applicants should check the latest instructions, fees and appointment requirements before making travel arrangements.

What Families Should Know Before Moving to Thailand

Thailand’s LTR Visa programme provides qualifying foreigners with a route to long-term residence and allows eligible family members to apply for dependent visas.

However, family members must meet the applicable relationship, insurance or financial requirements. They must also complete the required application process.

Because Thailand announced changes to dependent eligibility in 2025, applicants should verify whether the expanded rules apply to their intended application rather than relying on older eligibility summaries.

The safest approach is to consult the official LTR Visa programme, confirm the current requirements and prepare the necessary documents before applying.