Thailand increases the applicable industries of "smart visa" to 18

The Thai government expanded the applicable international group of BOI smart visa applications. After adding the defense industry, circular economy-related industries, and aerospace industries, the covered industries increased from 13 to 18. This move is also to better comply with the development requirements of the national 4.0 strategic policy.

Anucha, Deputy Secretary of Political Affairs of the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed the resolution at the release meeting after the regular cabinet meeting yesterday, saying that the cabinet discussed and passed the relevant adjustments submitted by the Ministry of the Interior and the expansion of Thailand’s Investment Promotion Committee (BOI) to foreign high-level Amendments to the executive management principles for technical talents, investors, senior managers or start-up entrepreneurs to facilitate the application of smart visas.

The biggest change in this adjustment is to increase the types of industries to which foreign applicants belong to the smart visa. Previously, BOI only opened the application for this visa to technical experts, investors, senior managers and start-up entrepreneurs in 13 types of target industries, but After the revision, three new industries will be added, such as the defense industry that is in urgent need of development, water resources management and waste fuel production related to the circular economy, and the aerospace industry and innovative technology management.

As the Thai government's international talent introduction policy, holders of a smart visa will enjoy many privileges, such as no need to apply for a work visa, multiple round-trips and no need to return visas, 90-day registration is changed to 1 report per year, and legal spouses and children enjoy the same Thai residency and work rights.

He emphasized that the newly revised regulations better reflect the government's determination to attract international talents to help the country make progress in all aspects, and also better respond to the government's national 4.0 strategic development requirements.