Apply Visa to Thailand in South Africa

Overview

Please download attached documents below for more information

Please complete 2 sets of this form (STM.6 Form) with blue ink ONLY

• 1. Basic Information about SMART Visa

The SMART Visa is a new type of visa designed to attract highly skilled manpower and investors to help accelerate the development of the country’s targeted industries. SMART Visa is offered to foreign experts, executives, entrepreneurs and investors who wish to enter into the Kingdom of Thailand to work or to invest in the following “S-Curve industries” or the country’s targeted industries.

• 2. Types of Smart Visa

The following categories of Smart Visa will be allocated to Smart Visa applicants, depending on the purpose or activity that foreigners wish to conduct in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Category	Purpose
T	Talent
I	Investor
E	Executive
S	Startup
O	Spouse and legal childern of Smart Visa holders

Further details about eligible applicants in each category are available at https://smartvisa.boi.go.th/smart/

• 3. Benefits and Privileges of SMART Visa

These benefits include:
(1) Visa validity up to 4 years (instead of the usual 1 year)
(2) No requirement of work permit
(3) Extension of reporting of stay to Immigration Bureau – from every 90-day to every year
(4) The right of legal dependents (spouse and children who are over 18 years of age) of the SMART Visa holder to live and work in Thailand equivalent to SMART visa holder (only for SMART Visa holder in Talent category).


• 4. Application Procedures

The applicants for Smart Visa must have qualifications according to the criteria specified by the office of the Board of Investment. Their qualifications will be verified by relevant agencies. After technical and non-technical endorsements have been obtained, the Smart Visa unit will then proceed to issue a letter of qualification endorsement which the applicant will bring to the Royal Thai Embassies or Royal Consulates (in case of residing overseas) or the Immigration Bureau at the One Stop Center for Visas and Work Permits or EEC Labour Administration Center in Chonburi in order to file for Smart Visa.

• 4.1 Procedures for Qualification Endorsement Application

(1) Register for online qualification endorsement application for Smart Visa on https://smartvisa.boi.go.th/register.php and activate an online account through a confirmation e-mail.

(2) Complete an application form for the type of Smart Visa you wish to apply (T, I, E, S, and O if any) and make sure that you have a PDF version of the required documents you will need to upload and submit after the application form and required documents are all uploaded. By completing the online application, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted the qualification endorsement requirements.

(3) After completing the online application, submit an application package (paper package) via airmail or in person either to Smart Visa Unit at One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit (OSS) located at Chamchuri Square Building.

(4) Within 30 working days after having received complete documents, OSS will notify the applicant, the Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant agencies of the result of qualification endorsement application.

(5) The qualified applicant can then proceed with applying for Smart Visa issuance at one of the following places, within 60 days from issuance date of the endorsement letter, which will be used as one of the supporting documents for application.

§ The Royal Thai Embassies/The Royal Thai Consulate Generals (in case of residing overseas)

§ One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit (OSS), Chamchuri Square Building, Bangkok

§ EEC Labour Administration Center in Chonburi.

• 4.2 Procedures for visa issuance at the Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria

* These procedures are the qualified applicants with residence in South Africa and Embassy’s accredited countries only *

(1) After receiving Smart Visa result via email, please inform the Smart Visa Unit via email at smartvisa@boi.go.th that you plan to receive Smart Visa at the Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria at least one month in advance before the tentative date of flight to enter Thailand

(2) Your notification letter will be forwarded to your selected Royal Thai Embassy/ConsulateGeneral via Telex by the Department of Consular Affairs in Bangkok. When this is done, you will be informed by Smart Visa unit via email. This process normally takes around 7-14 working days.

(3) Directly contact the Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria at visa.pre@mfa.go.th to make an appointment for Smart Visa issuance as soon as possible and inquire about the required documents since each embassy reserves the right to request additional documents.