Legal service for foreign clients
Immigration Lawyer — Retirement, Marriage, LTR, Overstay in Thailand
All visa types, citizenship, and PR applications.
Quick answer
Thailand offers many long-stay visas: Non-O Retirement (age 50+, THB 800k deposit), Non-O Marriage, LTR (Wealthy/Skilled/Retiree 10 yrs), Smart Visa 4 yrs, Elite 5–20 yrs, Non-B for work. Overstay fine THB 500/day, capped at 20,000, plus 1–10 yr blacklist. Fees from THB 15,000 including filing, immigration liaison, and denial appeals.
From THB 15,000 — Non-O 15k / LTR 55k / Smart 45k / appeals 35k+ · Non-O 7–14 days / LTR 20 days
Who this is for
- Retirees wanting long-term stay
- Thai–foreign spouses
- Executives / specialists applying for LTR / Smart
- Overstay / blacklist appeals
What you receive
- File Non-O / Non-B / LTR / Smart / Elite
- Visa renewals + 90-day reports
- Work permit + re-entry permit
- Denial appeals / blacklist removal
- PR + Thai citizenship applications
Documents to prepare
- Passport + current visa
- 3-month bank statement
- Marriage / children / accommodation docs
How it works
5-step process
- 1
Assess best visa type
Compare privileges, cost, term.
- 2
Compile + translate documents
EN–TH translation + MFA legalization if needed.
- 3
File at Immigration or BOI
Book appointments and accompany client.
- 4
Receive visa + 90-day report
Set up 90-day reminders.
- 5
Renew / change type
Plan renewals 30 days ahead.
In depth
Immigration Lawyer — Retirement, Marriage, LTR, Overstay: what foreign clients need to know
Thai visa and work-permit matters fail most often at the seam between the company's papers and the individual's, because a foreigner's right to stay is tied to the employer's standing, its registered capital and its Thai-staff ratio. We therefore get the corporate side in order first, then assemble the personal file to match on the same day.
The visa category dictates what is and is not permitted
Entering on a tourist category and starting work at once is the most common exposure, because employment requires a work permit consistent with the visa held. Changing category from inside the country is possible only in certain cases and depends on the days remaining, so the sequence should be settled before tickets are booked.
Business entrants, retirees, dependants and promoted specialists face visibly different evidence sets and financial conditions. Choosing the route that matches the applicant's real circumstances from the outset cuts the repeated requests for further documents that are the main reason files drag on for months.
The work permit turns on how ready the employer is
The employer side must line up four groups of evidence: the current entity registration, the up-to-date ownership split, audited trading results, and a wage trail with contributions for Thai-national staff. If one group is missing or contradicts another, the foreign applicant's file waits, however complete the personal paperwork is.
The stated position must fall outside the occupations closed to foreign nationals, and the described duties should match what the person actually does. Drafting the role too broadly creates problems at inspection; drafting it too narrowly forces an amendment every time the scope grows. We word the duties to fit the organisation as it stands.
Extensions and reporting are where people slip after approval
Approval brings continuing duties: periodic reporting, notifying a change of address, and obtaining re-entry permission before leaving the country. Missing any one triggers fines or interrupts the right to stay, which affects the work permit and any dependants' status too.
For families, a spouse's and children's extensions hang on the principal applicant's status. When the principal changes employer or stops working, dependants' rights shift within a short window, so a job move should be planned against every household member's dates, not only the worker's.
Cost structure: government fees vs professional fees
| Item | Official fee | Professional fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business visa application and corporate document set | Visa fees at embassy or Department of Consular Affairs rates | THB 12,000–30,000 per person | Filing abroad and filing in Thailand require different evidence sets |
| New work-permit application | Application fee plus the annual fee for the period granted | THB 15,000–35,000 | Investment-promoted companies use a different channel and timeline from ordinary employers |
| Annual extension of stay including dependants | Extension and re-entry permit fees at official rates | THB 10,000–25,000 per family | Preparation should start at least thirty days before the expiry date |
A foreign executive who arrived before the company was fully registered
Situation: The applicant held a short-stay visa with under three weeks remaining
What we did: We closed out the corporate filings in parallel, then lodged the change of category and the work permit consecutively inside the remaining window
Outcome: He began work on schedule without leaving the country to refile
A family that missed reporting after misreading the deadline
Situation: The principal applicant and two children faced fines and a risk to the next extension
What we did: We prepared an explanation with proof of residence, settled the fines, and aligned every family member's reporting calendar
Outcome: A further year was granted in a single round with no outstanding entries on the record
When to act, and when waiting is fine
You have not yet hired Thai staff to the ratio applied in assessment
Settle the staffing structure and social-security records before filing so the application is not held up
You want to change employer while the permit is still valid
Take advice before resigning; the gap between jobs directly affects the right to remain
You have overstayed, by however few days
Do not let the days accumulate; seek advice at once because the consequences escalate with the length of overstay
You plan a long stay for retirement or to support family in Thailand
Choose a durable route from the start even if the paperwork is heavier; it beats renewing a temporary basis every year
Documents in detail
| Document | Issued by | Certification / translation | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A passport with sufficient remaining validity | The passport authority of the holder's country | Blank pages for stamps are required, and copies of every page bearing entry or exit stamps should accompany the file | Generally more than six months of validity on the submission date |
| Form TM.7 or the application form matching the category | The Immigration Bureau | Signed by hand by the applicant, matching the passport signature | Use the latest version the bureau has published |
| Financial evidence at the threshold for that visa category | A Thai bank issues the balance confirmation letter | A bank letter must accompany a passbook updated to the latest entry | Bank letters are typically accepted for only seven days from issue |
| Relationship documents where the extension is family-based | The registrar that recorded the marriage or issued the birth certificate | Foreign documents need certified translation and Consular Department legalisation | Best re-issued within six months, as officers usually ask for a current copy |
| Employer company documents for a work-based visa | Department of Business Development and Revenue Department | Financial statements, tax filings, and a staff list showing the required Thai-to-foreign ratio | The latest filed annual accounts plus the most recent monthly tax returns |
Timeline and who does what
| Stage | Owner | Duration | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess the current immigration standing | Handled by our team | 1–2 working days | We read every stamp to find the true expiry, since even a single day of overstay changes every remaining option. |
| Pick the right category and gather documents | You provide | 1–3 weeks | Some categories require funds seasoned in the account before submission, so the countdown starts the day the decision is made. |
| Submit to the Immigration Bureau | Handled by our team | A single appointment day | We attend with you and field the officer's document questions, cutting the chance of being sent back to prepare more. |
| Await the decision and report as required | Depends on the agency | Around 30 days of consideration under a temporary permission | A temporary stamp is usually granted and you must return on the appointed day; missing it ends the application. |
| Post-approval upkeep | Handled by our team | Continuous through the year | We diarise 90-day reporting, the re-entry permit before you travel out, and the next extension deadline. |
Common pitfalls
Departing Thailand with no re-entry permit in hand, so the granted extension of stay lapses on the spot
Obtain a re-entry permit before every departure, even a two-day trip
Drawing down the account used in the application during the period the balance must be maintained
Keep the visa account separate from the day-to-day spending account from the start
Assuming the work permit and the permission to stay are one and the same
Track both expiry dates separately: different agencies issue them and the dates rarely align
Skipping 90-day reporting on the belief that a trip abroad reset the clock
Confirm the next reporting date from the latest receipt slip each time rather than estimating it
Doing it yourself vs working with us
| Aspect | On your own | With our team |
|---|---|---|
| Document accuracy | Frequently sent back for corrections, losing the appointment slot each round | Checked against that office's own list before the appointment day |
| Choosing the category | Copied from an acquaintance's route, which may not fit your income or family situation | Every route compared on deposit requirements, tax, and the right to work |
| When overstay has happened | Often handled in a way that creates a record and affects the next entry | We weigh the option with the least record impact and attend to explain to the officer |
| Long-term upkeep | You remember every renewal and report yourself | Advance reminders plus renewals run for you each year |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
LTR vs Elite?
LTR waives foreign-income tax + yearly 90-day report; Elite is more flexible with no income proof.
1-day overstay consequence?
THB 500 fine, no blacklist / 90+ days = 1-yr blacklist.
Must the THB 800k stay for the full year?
Yes for 2 mo before renewal + keep THB 400k min balance.
When can I apply for Thai citizenship?
After 5 yrs PR + Thai language + income threshold.
Smart Visa salary?
Smart T (Talent) THB 100k+/mo; Smart S (Startup) differs.
Can a tourist-category holder obtain a work permit?
As a rule no; the category must first be changed to one that supports employment, which in some cases can be done in-country if enough days remain.
How much registered capital does a company need to employ a foreigner?
The threshold scales with the number of foreign employees and the type of business; promoted companies are assessed more leniently than ordinary ones.
May an accompanying spouse work?
Only after obtaining their own work permit with an employer whose documents are complete; dependant status alone does not cover employment.
What if the work permit is lost?
File a police report and apply for a replacement within the prescribed period; do not keep working without a document evidencing the right.
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Written by: Thai Law & Accounting Services — attorneys and licensed accountants
Reviewed by: Reviewed by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand.
Last updated: 2026-08
Information as of August 2026. Government fees and processing times change — verify with the relevant agency before acting, or let our team verify for you.