Pick a visa in each column and the tool lays them out row by row — validity, stay, fees, the real financial bar, work rights and a quick pro and con. Start with the two everyone asks about: DTV vs LTR.
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Figures are 2026 estimates sourced from official Thai government, BOI, MFA and Immigration publications — always verify the current rules before you apply. The tool does not save anything; change the dropdowns to compare any pair.
Answer 6 quick questions and the engine matches your single best-fit visa — then bundles your cost of living, schools and a full step-by-step move plan.
Build my free plan →Start with whether you need to work in Thailand. Only the LTR, SMART and Non-B (with a separate work permit) let you take Thai employment. The DTV permits remote work for foreign employers only, while retirement, Privilege, education and tourist visas allow no work at all. If a Thai paycheck is the goal, that single row eliminates most options instantly.
Then weigh validity against the financial bar. Longer visas almost always cost more up front. The 10-year LTR and Non-O-X lock you in but demand serious assets or deposits; the 5-year DTV asks for around ฿500,000 in savings; and the cheap ฿1,900 retirement, marriage and business visas trade a low fee for annual renewals. Decide how much paperwork you are willing to repeat each year.
Finally, match the "best for" row to your life. Retirees 50+ usually land on the Non-O retirement visa; remote earners on the DTV; high earners on the LTR; spouses of Thai citizens on the marriage visa; and anyone who would rather write a cheque than file forms on Thailand Privilege. Use the side-by-side tool above to confirm the trade-offs, then let the engine pick your single best fit.
Want the full picture? See all twelve pathways on the Thailand visa comparison page, or jump straight to building your free move plan.
The DTV is a 5-year, multi-entry visa for remote workers needing roughly ฿500,000 in savings — 180 days per entry, but no Thai employment. The LTR is a 10-year visa for high earners ($80k/yr or $1M assets plus $50k insurance) that includes a work permit and tax perks. The DTV is cheaper and easier; the LTR is longer and lets you work in Thailand.
The in-country Non-O retirement, marriage and business visas carry the lowest government fee at around ฿1,900, and the education visa is about ฿2,000. Thailand Privilege is the most expensive, from ฿650,000 up to ฿5,000,000 as a membership.
Yes — that is exactly what the tool at the top of this page does. Pick any two of the ten main visas and it instantly compares validity, stay per entry, government fee, the key financial requirement, work rights, who each suits best and a quick pro and con.
Yes. Thai visa rules, fees and financial thresholds are updated periodically. We refresh these 2026 estimates from official sources, but you should always confirm the current requirement on the relevant Thai government or embassy site before applying.