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What are the benefits and challenges of using the LTR visa at BKK airport's immigration?

LTR visaThai immigrationBKK airportfast track lanediplomatic laneElite visalong-term residencyretirement visaexpat experiencevisa application process
Dec 12, 2023
a year ago
Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I nice surprise at the BKK airport. I was walking to the immigration priority fast track lane, when I spotted another entry lane which is for diplomats, flight crew etc and at the bottom of list was written LTR. I whipped through there as i have an LTR. They seam to rely put a lot of positive emphasis on this visa. More than Elite maybe? I did not see Elite/privilege there but I may have missed it
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around experiences with the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Several users noted a distinct entry lane for LTR visa holders, suggesting that it is positively viewed by Thai immigration, possibly more so than the Elite visa. Participants shared their firsthand experiences with the application process for the LTR visa, noting both challenges such as paperwork and financial requirements, as well as mentioning advantages like using fast-track lanes at the airport. Some users raised questions about specific usage eligibility for the diplomatic lane, while others discussed the perceived ease or difficulty of obtaining the LTR. Additionally, there were comments reflecting mixed feelings about the LTR itself, highlighting issues related to the broader category of long-term visas and the demographics they target.
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Pelle Eriksson
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Marlowe ********
Not really mandatory to have special visa to use that lane. With a normal visa you can ask them politely in Thai and they can let you in. Call it Thai hospitality.
a year ago
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Bent *************
They love farang money!
a year ago
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Marshal *********
LTR is a joke of a visa.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marshal ********
 really your a joke, I have no 90 day reporting can go through diplomatic line. Good for 10 years. good luck with entry
a year ago
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Magnus ***********
Tax exemption for foreign income as well. LTR for wealthy pensioners is the best Visa if you qualify imo. LTR for some of the other groups require investments in Thailand though.
a year ago
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Marshal *********
@Jo *********
 I think you meant "you're" , grampa. Also, big difference between calling another man a joke and a policy a joke. Political policies are meant to be critiqued and questioned, even in Thailand.

Do you know why so many countries are so happy to welcome old men from western countries? It's because you bring your money and then you die, you do nothing else of significance. You tow the status que and and endorse anything for the sake of comfort. You threaten nothing. Good luck with living long enough to renew your LTR and continue your life of insignificance.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marshal ********
 your childish anger matches your intellect
a year ago
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Sheryl *********
@Jo *********
 give it to him Jo,šŸ˜†
a year ago
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Sheryl *********
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Marty *********
@Marshal ********
 How so? Iā€™m quite happy with mine.
a year ago
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Marshal *********
@Marty ********
 was pushed as a Digital Nomad visa because Thailand genuinely is DN Mecca and every other country is creating Digital Nomad visas, about 1% of DNs meet the insane requirements for the LTR. The first six months they had 500 applications for the LTR visa, I'd call that a joke.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marshal ********
 actually there is remote working form of LTR but no digital nomad type
a year ago
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Marshal *********
@Jo *********
 which requires the company (employing) you to be officially established in Thailand. That disqualifies 99% of digital nomads are most are employed as independent contractors.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marty ********
 maybe we are talking about 2 different things. I have secured an LTR based on a company in Singapore. My contract in Singaporean i pay taxes there and work from here. ???
a year ago
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Marty *********
@Marshal ********
 I have the pensioner LTR. They are explicit about targeting ā€œwealthyā€ individuals which excludes a lot of digital nomads so I agree, it didnā€™t really address the needs of the digital nomad opportunity. I think about half the LTRā€™s have gone to pensioners.
a year ago
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Marty *********
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Seema ********
@Jo *********
 Did you show Pension income? or was it passive income from multiple sources?
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Seema *******
 totally different as I applied for remote working visa. I had to show my annual tax returns for two years, my CV, company revenue, education and much more
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Sheryl *********
That's good to hear. I unfortunately had to fly out of CNX the day after Yi Peng. It was chaos so asked if I could use fast track/diplomatic Lane with my LTR. Was flatly refused even though I showed them Boi notice stating we could. Almost missed fIght.

Really busy on our return too so tried again then. Success, much to the annoyance of fellow passengers. Yeah, another positive for LTR.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sheryl ********
 yes i live in Chiang Mai I flew on the 29 to avoid that craze. Also the staff at that airport are very unfamiliar with the visa
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Michael ********
Long term relationship?
a year ago
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Lincoln *******
It's a pity fast track just means a longer wait for luggage. I used fast track with my APEC card last week and my colleagues arrived at the luggage carousel 15 mins later and ended up leaving a few mins before me
a year ago
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Michael *********
ā€˜Privilege cardā€™ members can be met by an agent & get picked up at the gate.
a year ago
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Bobby *********
a year ago
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Jack ****************
Is marriage long term? (The visa, I'd hope the marriage is!)
a year ago
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Stephen *******
@Jack ***************
a year ago
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Marty *********
@Jack ***************
 It is considered long term because 1 year extensions are considered long term. Can you use the fast track lane at the airport? - No
a year ago
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Marty *********
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Marty *********
Using the fast track lane is one of the benefits of the LTR
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marty ********
 yes but I noticed there are 3 the normal, the diplomats, and the fast track. was surprised that you could go diplomatic entry
a year ago
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Marty *********
@Jo *********
 Somehow I knew about this when I applied for the LTR so I looked for the fast track lane when I returned from the US last June.
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Marty ********
 anyone know which lane we use at HKT?
a year ago
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Chris ****
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Nicolas **********************
did you find it difficult to go about getting a long term residency visa?
a year ago
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Marty *********
@Nicolas *********************
 I found the application process to be very easy one year ago. All of my income was pension income which was easy to see on my tax return. The barrier for most people is the financial requirements of $80,000/yr passive income. If your passive income is more complicated than pension income then the application process will be more complicated.

Once they start working on your application the Board of Investment staff are a pleasure to work with.
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Marty ********
 the proof of income from investments took longer to get clarified. Now it is very easy to show income from equities. Itā€™s also possible to use capital gains. So I would say for business men retiring itā€™s as easy as salaried to show proof.
a year ago
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Chris ****
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nicolas *********************
 good question. Itā€™s not easy to answer because for me it was difficult because a lot of paperwork and I donā€™t like that. Things like translation of tax returns were painful
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Jo *********
 what language were you translating from? Mine were in English a did not need translating .
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ***
 Dutch
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Jo *********
 thatā€™s a pain you have to translate. For what itā€™s worth my accountant wrote a cover letter summarizing the returns into a single column. And he also used a brief of the taxes rather than the whole thing. And it was quick and easy that way. My only curveball was when my agent suggested I show titles to property and I had to get that doc sent from overseas. Turned out they approved me before I even got it to them. I asked my agent why did I bother and he said the more assets the better. But I hope at the 5 year mark itā€™s easier and just have to show returns.
a year ago
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Chris ****
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Xilver **************
Sorry..... but what is LTR?
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Xilver *************
 long term

resident visa.
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Andy ******
Can you use the diplomatic lane if have retirement visa ?
a year ago
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Fra *****
@Andy *****
 just try it , works maybe 6 out of 10
a year ago
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Andy ******
@Fra ****
 I will try it this time going home to Phuket
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fra ****
 yes that is true
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Steve ********
@Andy *****
 If you're Australian, just use the priority lane and show your Seniors Card
a year ago
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Dave **********
@Steve *******
 if you over 70 you can use the priority lane.
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Dave *********
 I'm not over 70, but I use the priority lane anyway. Only challenged once, and just flashed the Aussie Seniors Card
a year ago
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Dave **********
@Steve *******
 I amend my statement to, if you over 70 you may use the priority line.
a year ago
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Dave **********
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Andy ******
@Steve *******
 no I'm from UK ,but I did go through the Thai passport section in immigration this year coming back from UK with my Thai wife that was quick
a year ago
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Andy ******
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Todd *********
@Andy *****
 no. LTR visa only. TE can also use. LTR is definitely worth pursuing. Cheapest and best visa there is.
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Todd ********
 I never can find where to go with the LTR. I tried the diplomat lane and they stopped me from even walking down it. That was July.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Chris ***
 walk past passport control towards the visa on arrival desk. There are 2 passport controls and there's a huge arch in the middle of both of them (next to the visa on arrival desk) that's for fast track, LTR
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Chris ***
 really? You showed them the visa and they said no?
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Todd ********
 they wouldnā€™t look at it. I think I elicited doubt in the officers at the beginning of the rope line because I myself was doubtful where to go. Plus there were many hundreds of planes arriving with tourists. Soā€¦I got rebuffed in just a second. But my problem always is - 1. I donā€™t know what line LTR is supposed to use in HKT coming and going and 2. Where to find it. Whenever I asked BOI or others here I get different answers or no answer. Iā€™m going to try the diplomat line if I donā€™t see a fast track. Iā€™m actually on my way to airport now for an international flight. Letā€™s see how it goes.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ***
 in the diplomatic lines there is board which says who can enter and LTR is clearly written on the board
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Jo *********
 thank you gents. I went through the diplomat line swimmingly. There was a large line on the other side and was happy to be in the lounge in just a few. Now enjoying finger sandwiches. My old self would still be on line. Thanks for the tip.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ***
 great!
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Chris ***
 there ya go!!! Nicely done. Cheers
a year ago
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Chris ****
@Todd ********
 cheers indeed. I can share that the immigration officer was very polite when I asked him if it was okay for me to go back to that line for domestic flights too. He actually stood up and went to his supervisor and she said yes for sure. And when he came back he pointed to the LTR stamp and said welcome anytime to come to that section.
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Chris ***
 yes - I have used in CM, Phuket and Krabi. All good
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 in chiang Mai also? that would be helpful for me.
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Brandon ************
@Andy *****
 no
a year ago
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Andy ******
@Brandon ***********
 ok thanks for that
a year ago
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Andy ******
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Ron *******
TE use the diplomatic lane too.

The others that use that lane are those they have been refused entry.

You'll be taken there by immigration.

If you had looked to the right you'll have seen immigration and the holding cells.
a year ago
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Steve ********
Doesn't Elite get met by a concierge who takes them to their chauffeured vehicle?
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 yes
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Jo *********
 I just use the priority lane and if challenged flash the Aussie Seniors Card. Never fails.
a year ago
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Steve ********
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