Thai Visa Fees & Costs: Government Fees by Visa Type (DTV, LTR, Retirement, Marriage & More)

Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist

Last updated 6 July 2026 · Last reviewed 6 July 2026

The one-line version

A Thai visa’s real cost is three layers: the government application fee (THB 1,000 to 650,000+ depending on visa), the financial requirement behind it (e.g. 800,000 THB for retirement, ~500,000 THB for the DTV), and the recurring costs — ~1,900 THB annual extensions, re-entry permits, and agent fees. Multi-year visas cost more upfront but slash the annual churn.

Living Summary

Thai Visa Fees & Costs \u2014 living summary

Editorial analysis compiled and periodically refreshed by BAANLYY’s research team — not a live data feed.

Has the DTV visa's financial-proof requirement gotten stricter in 2026?
Yes. As of May 2026 the ~500,000 THB DTV financial-proof requirement must now be shown across three months of seasoned bank statements rather than a single snapshot, and Thai-language schools were dropped from the ‘soft power’ eligibility category. Every DTV application has also routed through the mandatory e-Visa portal since 1 January 2025. None of this changed the ~10,000 THB government fee itself — just how much proof and paperwork now back it up.
Did 90-day reporting or its late fee change?
The fee hasn't moved — reporting on time (14 days before to 7 days after the deadline) is still free, and a late report still carries a flat 2,000 THB fine, separate from the general overstay fine. What changed is the front end: since May 2025 every foreign arrival must register through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours of landing, replacing the old paper TM6, and the 90-day report is now tied more tightly into that digital arrival record.
Is the Thailand Privilege Bronze tier still 650,000 THB?
Yes, and it's gotten temporarily cheaper to enter. The Bronze membership (5-year tier) is still priced at 650,000 THB with its promotional application window extended through 30 September 2026, and the 50,000 THB one-time application fee has been suspended across tiers for 2026 — so the effective all-in cost to join currently sits below the headline figure.
Any 2026 change to LTR or Digital Work Permit costs?
No. The LTR visa issuance fee remains about 50,000 THB (more if collected via an embassy, consulate or e-visa route), and the Digital Work Permit bundled with it still costs roughly 3,000 THB per year to maintain, with LTR holders still exempt from the standard 4:1 Thai-to-foreigner employment ratio. This is the one line on this page that hasn't moved in 2026.

Analysis last reviewed 2026-07-06.

Growth Trajectory

How Thai Visa Costs & Rules Have Evolved

2022
LTR visa program launched
The Board of Investment introduces the 10-year Long-Term Resident visa with a bundled Digital Work Permit — a multi-year alternative to the older Non-Immigrant O/B extension-of-stay routes.
Jan 2025
DTV moves to mandatory e-Visa portal
Every Royal Thai embassy and consulate begins processing Destination Thailand Visa applications exclusively through the centralized e-Visa system, standardizing how the ~10,000 THB visa is applied for worldwide.
May 2025
TDAC replaces paper TM6 arrival card
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card becomes mandatory for all foreign arrivals, who must register within 72 hours of landing — the digital record that now underpins the 90-day reporting system.
Sep 2025
Thailand Privilege Bronze tier extended, application fee suspended
The 650,000 THB Bronze membership's promotional application window is extended and the 50,000 THB one-time application fee is temporarily waived across tiers, lowering the effective entry cost.
May 2026
DTV financial-proof requirement tightens
The ~500,000 THB DTV proof-of-funds rule now requires three months of seasoned bank statements rather than a snapshot balance, and Thai-language schools are dropped from the soft-power eligibility category.

The three layers of a visa's true cost

Most people ask “how much is the visa?” and stop at the application fee. That fee is real, but it’s only the first of three layers that make up what a Thai visa actually costs you:

The government application fee — paid to the embassy or consulate (or immigration) when the visa is issued. This ranges from ~THB 1,000 to THB 650,000+.
The financial requirement — not a fee you hand over, but money you must show and hold: a Thai bank balance or monthly income. This is the real gate on most long-stay visas, and the reason a “cheap” visa can be out of reach.
The recurring costs — annual extensions of stay, re-entry permits, 90-day reporting, and any agent fees. These repeat for as long as you live here and are the most-forgotten line in a relocation budget.

Read the table below as a map of layers one, two and three together. Then click into any visa for the full requirement list. For the bigger relocation picture, see the moving to Thailand checklist.

Visa fees & costs at a glance

Figures are approximate government fees in Thai baht and move over time — treat them as planning ranges, not quotes. “SETV/METV” means single- vs multiple-entry. Confirm the current fee with the Thai embassy or immigration office before you budget.

Visa type	Govt fee (THB)	Validity	Financial requirement	Renewal / extension
Tourist (SETV / METV)	~1,000 / ~5,000	60 days (+30 ext) / 6 months	~20,000 THB funds	1,900 (30-day ext)
DTV (Destination Thailand)	~10,000	5 years, 180-day stays	~500,000 THB funds	~1,900 (180-day ext)
LTR (Long-Term Resident)	~50,000	10 years	income / assets by category	included; 5-yr check-in
Retirement (Non-O / O-A)	~2,000 / ~5,000	1 year (renewable)	800,000 THB or 65k/mo	~1,900 / year
Marriage (Non-O)	~2,000 / ~5,000	1 year (renewable)	400,000 THB or 40k/mo	~1,900 / year
Education (ED)	~2,000 / ~5,000	per course (renewable)	course enrolment + funds	~1,900 / year
Business (Non-B) + work permit	~2,000 / ~5,000	1 year (renewable)	employer + 3,100 work permit	~1,900 / year
Thailand Privilege (Elite)	650,000+ membership	5–20 years by tier	membership fee only	annual fee on some tiers

Browse the full set of options on the visa hub, or jump to the DTV, LTR or retirement cards for the exact criteria.

The application fee — layer one

The visa application fee is paid up front and varies enormously by visa:

Short-stay: a single-entry tourist visa is roughly THB 1,000; a six-month multiple-entry tourist visa around THB 5,000.
Mid-range, multi-year: the DTV is about THB 10,000 for five years — arguably the best cost-per-year on the board for eligible remote workers.
Premium: the LTR visa is about THB 50,000 for ten years, work permit included for qualifying categories.
Membership: Thailand Privilege starts around THB 650,000 and climbs into the millions — a paid membership, not a standard visa fee.
Standard Non-Immigrant (O, B, ED): about THB 2,000 single / THB 5,000 multiple entry.

The financial requirement — layer two

This is the layer that decides whether a visa is realistic for you. It isn’t handed over — it’s money you must prove and keep:

Retirement: 800,000 THB in a Thai bank, or 65,000 THB/month income, or a combination totalling 800,000 THB/year. Funds must be seasoned in the account before and after applying.
Marriage: 400,000 THB in a Thai bank, or 40,000 THB/month income.
DTV: proof of roughly 500,000 THB (~USD 13,500) in available funds, plus category evidence (remote work, soft-power activity, or medical).
LTR: varies by category — wealthy global citizen, pensioner, remote professional or skilled professional — each with its own income, asset or investment thresholds.

Because the financial requirement is the true barrier, a retiree who can’t park 800,000 THB sometimes finds the Thailand Privilege membership — which waives the bank rule — the more practical route despite its higher fee. For the day-to-day cash side, see our cost of living guide.

The recurring costs — layer three

These repeat for as long as you stay, and they’re the line item budgets miss most:

Extension of stay — ~THB 1,900/year. Most long-stay foreigners extend their permission to stay one year at a time at a local immigration office. See extending your stay.
Re-entry permit — THB 1,000 single / THB 3,800 multiple. You must buy this before leaving Thailand or your extension is cancelled the moment you fly out. See the re-entry permit guide.
90-day reporting — free, but agents charge ~THB 500–2,000. Required for stays over 90 days. Details in 90-day reporting.
Agent / visa-service fees — THB 5,000–30,000+. Optional, for those who’d rather not queue at immigration. See using a visa agent.
Overstay fine — THB 500/day, capped at THB 20,000. Avoidable, but expensive and risky. See visa overstay.

This is exactly why multi-year visas earn their higher upfront fee: the DTV (5 years) and LTR (10 years) collapse most of this annual churn into a single payment.

Worked example — annual cost, three ways

Take three foreigners and compare their cost over the first year, government fees only (financial requirements are held, not spent):

Retiree, Non-O route: ~THB 2,000 visa + ~THB 1,900 extension + ~THB 1,000 re-entry ≈ THB 4,900 in year one (must also hold 800,000 THB). Then ~THB 2,900/year ongoing.
Remote worker, DTV: ~THB 10,000 once for five years ≈ THB 2,000/year amortised (must show ~500,000 THB funds). Re-entry built into the multi-entry visa.
Privilege member: ~THB 650,000 for a 5-year membership ≈ THB 130,000/year — but with no bank requirement and fast-track immigration. A convenience-and-eligibility trade, not a budget one.

The takeaway: rank visas by cost-per-year plus which requirements you can actually meet, not by the headline application fee. The cheapest sticker price is often not the cheapest path once the financial gate and annual churn are counted.

Frequently asked

How much does a Thai visa cost?It depends entirely on the visa. The government application fee alone ranges from about THB 1,000 for a single-entry tourist visa, to THB 10,000 for the 5-year Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), to THB 50,000 for the 10-year Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, up to a THB 650,000-and-up membership for the Thailand Privilege (formerly Elite) program. But the application fee is only part of the picture: most long-stay visas also require a bank balance or monthly income, and carry recurring costs — one-year extensions (around THB 1,900), re-entry permits (THB 1,000 single / THB 3,800 multiple), and optional agent fees. Always confirm the current fee with the Thai embassy or immigration office before you budget; visa fees and rules change.

What is the cheapest long-stay visa for Thailand?By upfront government fee, the Non-Immigrant O retirement or marriage route is among the cheapest: the visa itself is roughly THB 2,000 (single entry) and the annual extension of stay is about THB 1,900. The catch is the financial requirement behind it — 800,000 THB in a Thai bank (or 65,000/month income) for retirement, or 400,000 THB for marriage. The DTV is THB 10,000 but valid five years with 180-day stays, so its cost-per-year can be very low for remote workers. The right answer depends on which requirements you can actually meet, not just the sticker fee.

How much is the DTV visa and what does it require?The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) government fee is about THB 10,000. It is a 5-year multiple-entry visa allowing stays of up to 180 days per entry, extendable once inside Thailand for another 180 days (extension around THB 1,900). The headline requirement is proof of roughly THB 500,000 (about USD 13,500) in available funds, plus evidence you qualify under a category — remote work / digital nomad, or a 'soft power' activity such as Muay Thai or Thai cooking courses, or medical treatment. See our DTV visa guide for the full requirement list.

How much money do I need in the bank for a Thai retirement visa?For the retirement route (Non-Immigrant O / O-A, one-year extension), the standard financial requirement is 800,000 THB held in a Thai bank account, OR a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB, OR a combination of savings and income totalling 800,000 THB per year. The 800,000 THB must typically be seasoned in the account for two to three months before and after the application. The visa and extension fees themselves are modest (around THB 2,000 and THB 1,900) — the financial requirement is the real gate. Details are in our retirement visa guide.

What recurring visa costs do people forget to budget for?Four hidden recurring costs catch people out. First, the annual extension of stay (about THB 1,900) on most long-stay visas. Second, the re-entry permit — THB 1,000 for single or THB 3,800 for multiple — which you MUST buy before leaving Thailand, or your extension is cancelled the moment you fly out. Third, 90-day reporting: the report itself is free, but many people pay an agent THB 500–2,000 to handle it. Fourth, agent or visa-service fees, which can run from a few thousand baht to THB 30,000+ depending on how much they do. Overstaying adds a THB 500/day fine (capped at THB 20,000).

Is the Thailand Elite (Privilege) visa worth the cost?The Thailand Privilege program (rebranded from Thailand Elite) is a paid membership, not a conventional visa. Entry tiers start around THB 650,000 for a 5-year membership and rise to several million baht for longer terms and more perks. In exchange you get a long-stay privilege visa with simplified immigration, no 800,000 THB bank requirement, and concierge services. Whether it is 'worth it' is purely a budget-and-convenience question: for someone who can't or won't meet the retirement financial requirement, or who values fast-track immigration and minimal paperwork, the membership replaces years of extension runs. For a budget-conscious retiree who easily meets the 800,000 THB rule, the cheaper Non-O route usually wins. Compare in our Thailand Privilege guide.

Do I pay visa fees again every year?Not the original visa fee, but yes to the extension. Most long-stay foreigners enter on a visa, then extend their permission to stay one year at a time at a local immigration office — each extension costs about THB 1,900. On top of that you pay for re-entry permits whenever you travel, and you complete 90-day reports (free, but agents charge). Multi-year visas like the DTV (5 years) and LTR (10 years) dramatically reduce this annual churn, which is a big part of their value despite the higher upfront fee.

Keep going

Visa Hub DTV Visa LTR Visa Retirement Visa Extending Your Stay 90-Day Reporting Cost of Living

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Sources & References

Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.

General information only — not immigration, financial or legal advice. Thai visa government fees, validity periods, financial requirements, extension and re-entry charges, the Thailand Privilege membership tiers and overstay penalties change over time and vary by nationality, consulate and individual circumstances; all baht figures here are approximate planning ranges, not quotes. Confirm current fees and rules with the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate or a Thai immigration office, or a qualified visa professional, before acting. BAANLYY never takes paid placement.

Thai visa fees & costs: what every visa really costs, by type