READ & LEARN Smart Visa Thailand: The Entrepreneur's Gateway to Doing Business in Bangkok
Unlock business opportunities in Thailand with the Smart Visa. Learn how this entrepreneur's gateway helps foreigners thrive in Bangkok's dynamic market
Bangkok is quickly becoming a top choice for entrepreneurs from around the world. The city offers a lively environment that supports new ideas and business growth. True Digital Park, located in the Bangkok CyberTech District, is Southeast Asia’s largest tech and startup hub. It provides a space where startups, investors, and tech companies can work together and succeed.
Thailand's Smart Visa programme, which is designed to welcome talented professionals, investors, and startup founders, is helping to facilitate this. This visa makes it easier for them to live and work in Thailand, helping Bangkok become a great place to start and grow a business.
What is the Smart Visa?
The Smart Visa is a special programme from the Thai government to attract skilled foreigners, investors, executives, and startup founders to work and invest in key industries like technology and innovation. It makes it easier for these professionals to enter and stay in Thailand by cutting red tape and offering benefits such as no need for a work permit and longer visa periods.
There are different types of Smart Visas for various groups:
In 2025, Thailand’s Smart Visa program was significantly simplified, with all categories except the Smart S Visa being cut. This change was made to avoid overlap with the new Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa and streamline the process for foreign entrepreneurs. The Smart S Visa now specifically targets startup founders and directors in industries like digital technology, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Overall, the Smart Visa is a great way for foreign entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in Thailand’s lively innovation scene.
Benefits of the Smart S Visa for Entrepreneurs
The Smart S Visa is designed to help startup entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses in Thailand’s innovation sectors. It offers several key benefits:
Since 2025, the Smart Visa programme focuses mainly on the Smart S Visa for certified startup founders and directors, reflecting Thailand’s strong support for growing its startup ecosystem.
Why Choose Bangkok and True Digital Park?
Bangkok sits at the centre of Southeast Asia, making it a perfect gateway for entrepreneurs who want to reach a large and growing regional market. Its strong connections to nearby countries and major trade routes open up many business opportunities and help companies expand.
True Digital Park is located in the prime Sukhumvit area of Bangkok’s CyberTech District. Covering over 77,000 square meters, it offers modern coworking spaces, private offices, event areas, and smart city technology. The park’s award-winning design encourages teamwork and creativity, giving startups and tech companies a great place to grow.
True Digital Park brings together entrepreneurs, investors, accelerators, and institutions. This lively community creates many chances for networking, mentorship, and partnerships. The park also includes lifestyle benefits like fitness centres, restaurants, green spaces, and international schools, helping residents balance work and life.
The Thai government’s Smart Visa programme supports this ecosystem by offering benefits like longer visa stays, no need for work permits, and family inclusion. True Digital Park also has the TDPK International Service Centre, which helps foreign entrepreneurs with visas, relocation, and business services, making it easier to live and work in Thailand.
With Bangkok’s strategic location, True Digital Park’s top facilities, and helpful government policies, the city is an excellent choice for startups and entrepreneurs looking to innovate and grow in Southeast Asia’s digital economy.
How to Apply for the Smart S Visa in Thailand
Applying for the Smart S Visa follows clear steps to help startup entrepreneurs in Thailand’s targeted industries. Here’s an easy guide:
- Business registration certificate
- Proof of ownership or company role (like a shareholder list)
- Financial proof or bank statements
- Health insurance policy
- Police clearances from your home country and Thailand (if living there)
- Business plan or pitch showing your startup’s work and potential
The Smart Visa, together with the support and community at True Digital Park, offers a great way for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in Bangkok. If you’re thinking about building a business in Thailand, consider applying for the Smart S Visa to enjoy the opportunities and friendly environment that help startups succeed in Southeast Asia. Visit True Digital Park to connect with like-minded innovators and access the resources you need to take your business to the next level.
Thailand's Smart Visa programme, which is designed to welcome talented professionals, investors, and startup founders, is helping to facilitate this. This visa makes it easier for them to live and work in Thailand, helping Bangkok become a great place to start and grow a business.
What is the Smart Visa?
The Smart Visa is a special programme from the Thai government to attract skilled foreigners, investors, executives, and startup founders to work and invest in key industries like technology and innovation. It makes it easier for these professionals to enter and stay in Thailand by cutting red tape and offering benefits such as no need for a work permit and longer visa periods.
There are different types of Smart Visas for various groups:
- Smart S (Startup) Visa: For entrepreneurs who have set up a startup in Thailand’s target industries. Applicants must own at least 25% of the company or be a director, keep at least 600,000 Baht in their bank account for three months, and have health insurance.
- Smart O (Other) Visa: For the spouses and dependents of main Smart Visa holders, with adjusted financial and insurance rules.
In 2025, Thailand’s Smart Visa program was significantly simplified, with all categories except the Smart S Visa being cut. This change was made to avoid overlap with the new Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa and streamline the process for foreign entrepreneurs. The Smart S Visa now specifically targets startup founders and directors in industries like digital technology, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Overall, the Smart Visa is a great way for foreign entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in Thailand’s lively innovation scene.
Benefits of the Smart S Visa for Entrepreneurs
The Smart S Visa is designed to help startup entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses in Thailand’s innovation sectors. It offers several key benefits:
- The Smart S Visa offers a maximum renewable stay of 2 years without the need for a separate work permit, allowing you to work freely in your startup.
- Family inclusion: spouses and children can join you, and spouses can work without their own work permit.
- Simplified immigration reporting: only one annual report instead of every 90 days.
- Multiple entries allowed without needing a re-entry permit during the visa’s validity.
- Airport fast-track service for quicker immigration processing at Thailand’s international airports.
Since 2025, the Smart Visa programme focuses mainly on the Smart S Visa for certified startup founders and directors, reflecting Thailand’s strong support for growing its startup ecosystem.
Why Choose Bangkok and True Digital Park?
Bangkok sits at the centre of Southeast Asia, making it a perfect gateway for entrepreneurs who want to reach a large and growing regional market. Its strong connections to nearby countries and major trade routes open up many business opportunities and help companies expand.
True Digital Park is located in the prime Sukhumvit area of Bangkok’s CyberTech District. Covering over 77,000 square meters, it offers modern coworking spaces, private offices, event areas, and smart city technology. The park’s award-winning design encourages teamwork and creativity, giving startups and tech companies a great place to grow.
True Digital Park brings together entrepreneurs, investors, accelerators, and institutions. This lively community creates many chances for networking, mentorship, and partnerships. The park also includes lifestyle benefits like fitness centres, restaurants, green spaces, and international schools, helping residents balance work and life.
The Thai government’s Smart Visa programme supports this ecosystem by offering benefits like longer visa stays, no need for work permits, and family inclusion. True Digital Park also has the TDPK International Service Centre, which helps foreign entrepreneurs with visas, relocation, and business services, making it easier to live and work in Thailand.
With Bangkok’s strategic location, True Digital Park’s top facilities, and helpful government policies, the city is an excellent choice for startups and entrepreneurs looking to innovate and grow in Southeast Asia’s digital economy.
How to Apply for the Smart S Visa in Thailand
Applying for the Smart S Visa follows clear steps to help startup entrepreneurs in Thailand’s targeted industries. Here’s an easy guide:
- Set Up Your Startup
- First, start a company in one of Thailand’s targeted industries. Your business must be officially registered, and you need to own at least 25% or be a company director.
- Meet Financial and Health Insurance Rules
- Keep at least 600,000 Baht in your personal bank account for at least three months before applying. Also, have valid health insurance that covers your whole stay.
- Prepare Important Documents
- Business registration certificate
- Proof of ownership or company role (like a shareholder list)
- Financial proof or bank statements
- Health insurance policy
- Police clearances from your home country and Thailand (if living there)
- Business plan or pitch showing your startup’s work and potential
- Submit for Qualification EndorsementSend your documents through the Board of Investment’s Smart Visa online portal. They will check your application and approve qualified candidates. This usually takes up to 30 working days if everything is complete.
- Apply for the Smart S VisaAfter approval, use the endorsement letter to apply for the visa at a Thai embassy, consulate, or the One-Stop Service Centre in Thailand. Processing takes about 2 to 10 working days.
- Visa Length and RenewalThe Smart S Visa lasts for 2 years and can be renewed. You don’t need a separate work permit. To renew, keep meeting the requirements and update your documents with the Smart Visa Unit.
The Smart Visa, together with the support and community at True Digital Park, offers a great way for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in Bangkok. If you’re thinking about building a business in Thailand, consider applying for the Smart S Visa to enjoy the opportunities and friendly environment that help startups succeed in Southeast Asia. Visit True Digital Park to connect with like-minded innovators and access the resources you need to take your business to the next level.
