Thailand has long been one of the most beautiful and desirable destinations in the world – with many Western expatriates looking to relocate their lives and spend their days immersed in a glorious tropical climate with some of the most wonderful and friendly people in the world.

Of course, if it were as easy as simply packing your bags and hopping on a plane then everybody would do it. The fact is, the price of living in paradise isn’t so much high, but complicated!

There are restrictions in place to prevent anyone simply turning up and starting a life in Thailand. As such, if you want to obtain a quality visa and residence permit so that you can legally remain in Thailand for an extended period of time, you’ll have some work to do.

In this article, we’re going to look at what type of visa one can get in Thailand when buying property. We will also list some other visa options as well, so you can decide which approach is best for you and your individual circumstances.

Want to learn more? Simply read on and let’s get stuck in!

5-year residence permit (AKA Elite Visa Flexible One)
There is a 5-year visa available to those who invest in real estate. There are certain restrictions which apply, for example, your nationality and country of origin. So, if you want to find out more about your eligibility for a visa like this, you should contact your local embassy for more information.

In any case, this visa is excellent for people who were already planning on buying property in Thailand and would like to remain legally, and comfortably.

The Elite Visa offers:

5-year renewable multiple entry benefits with an extendable 1-year length of stay per each entry.
Uninterrupted stay in Thailand without the usual requirement to leave the country every 90-days as with the other visa type (which can be a total nightmare).
Representation from Thai Elite staff on the 90-day reporting as required at Thai Immigration.
Expedited immigration formalities and passport control processing when arriving in Thailand.

The minimum transaction amount for a visa like this is 10-million THB (or $300,000). This is ideal if you are looking to purchase multiple condos, or if you would like to invest in a single, more expensive luxury property.

10-year residence permit
There is also a 10-year residence permit that is available to investors, digital nomads, pensioners, and specialists. Those who hold one of these visas will be able to work and live in the country, whilst receiving attractive tax benefits.

That being said, this visa is predominantly designed to attract wealth, so it isn’t easily accessible to anyone. Which is understandable given your average tourist visa grants up to 90-days, with regular working visas for most teachers only lasting up to 1-year with the possibility to renew.

In any case, in order to qualify for a 10-year residence permit foreign investors must:

Invest a minimum of 16.5 million THB ($500,000) – this can be in the form of government bonds, foreign direct investment, and/or real estate.
Annual income needs to be at least $80,000 (with two-years proof in bank statements).
At least $1-million total value of assets in your possession.
Take out Thai medical insurance with coverage up to $100,000 and beyond.

For pensioners:

Invest a minimum of $250,000.
Annual pension income of $40,000.
Health insurance coverage of $100,000.

For remote workers (digital nomads):

Must continue working for an overseas company or independently while living in Thailand.
No investment into real estate or government bonds is required.
A minimum earnings amount is required, for more information speak to your local embassy.

For specialist professionals:

Specialist who move to Thailand for work can include university professors, tech specialists, engineers, and any other areas of expertise that require significant experience and training.
Specialist must have a minimum of 5-years’ experience in their industry with a minimum annual income of $40,000 +
Health insurance coverage of $100,000.

Family members and spouses are typically granted visa privileges alongside the individual in question – again, terms and conditions apply which means you must contact your local embassy for information specific to your case.

What other visa options are there?
If you are not interested in buying property, or you certainly weren’t planning on spending a minimum of $300,000 +, then what other options are there for you?

Special Tourist Visa (STV)
Tourist Visa (TR)
Non-Immigrant Visa-B (Business)
Non-Immigrant Visa-B (Working)
Non-Immigrant Visa-ED
Non-Immigrant Visa-O-A (Long Stay)
Non-Immigrant Visa-O-X (Long Stay)
Non-Immigrant Visa-O (Thai Spouse)
SMART Visa
Tourist MT Visa (Medical Treatment)
Elite Visa
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
SPECIAL TOURIST VISA (STV) for those who travelling by yachts

Is buying property in Thailand the easiest way to obtain a visa?
Buying property in Thailand isn’t necessarily the easiest means of obtaining a visa and residency, however, it is effective.

For example, one can work and reside in the country without buying property in Thailand. There are Non-Immigrant visas which are issued when being sponsored by an employer (e.g., teaching English at a school, working as a salesman at a digital marketing agency).

In this case, you can rent property and stay in Thailand for as long as you have a job and work permit. The frustrating thing is, you will need to report to immigration every 90-days, with many people having to leave the country and come back.

As such, buying property in Thailand and getting an Elite Visa with 5 to 10-year residence is recommended. That way, you can enjoy the many other benefits that go with it, such as having VIP treatment at immigration.

Why is it so difficult to get a visa in Thailand?
Obtaining a visa in Thailand is comparatively easy when you compare it to most Western countries. The fact is, if it were too easy to obtain, anybody could up and move to Thailand. The reason why the government doesn’t want this to happen is because allowing such a thing to happen could put a lot of unnecessary strain on their infrastructure.

For example: if certain people turned up to live but weren’t in a financial position to properly support themselves, it can be troublesome. The same applies with foreigners taking jobs from Thai locals: it would be unfair for the native residents.

That, and in all honest, it really isn’t that difficult to obtain most visas – so long as you meet the entry requirements and process your application properly.

Conclusion
All in all, Thailand is a spectacular country that has so much to offer expatriates and retirees looking for a beautiful way of life for an affordable price. Certainly, obtaining something like the Elite Visa requires a significantly large investment, however, once you arrive in Thailand, you can enjoy an attractively low cost of living – particularly when compared with the West.

So, father than invest in property in your home country, why not get more for your money and buy property in Thailand, whilst enjoying some of the most incredible residency options available?!