MM2H vs Thailand LTR
Both are serious 10-year-plus visas — but they test you differently. MM2H is deposit-based; Thailand's LTR is income/asset-based with no deposit. The right one depends on whether your wealth is parked or flowing.
Figures verified June 2026 · Thailand BOI LTR programme + Thailand Privilege 2026 tiers; MM2H 3.0
Quick verdict
The one-line difference
Thailand’s LTR charges no deposit and no property purchase — instead you prove income or assets: the Wealthy Pensioner track wants ≥ USD 80k/yr passive income (or 40k + USD 250k in Thai assets), and the Wealthy Global Citizen track wants ≥ USD 1M in assets. MM2H flips this: no income test (since June 2024), but a refundable fixed deposit plus property. Strong, provable income → LTR may be lighter. Asset-rich but income-light, and happy to own property → MM2H.
Side by side
The programmes at a glance
| MM2H | Thailand LTR | |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit required | Yes — USD 150k / 500k / 1M (refundable) | None |
| Income / asset test | None (since June 2024) | Pensioner ≥ USD 80k/yr; Global Citizen ≥ USD 1M assets |
| Property purchase | Required | Not required |
| Remote workers | Use DE Rantau instead | Work-from-Thailand track (employer ≥ USD 50M revenue) |
| Visa length | 5 / 15 / 20 years | 10 years (5+5) |
| Foreign-income tax | FSI exemption (to 31 Dec 2026 — confirm) | Exemption on foreign income remitted |
Deposit vs income — which suits your balance sheet
This is the whole decision. If you have strong, documentable passive income or a large portfolio and would rather not lock up a deposit or buy property, the LTR is elegant. If your wealth is more “sitting there” than “flowing in,” MM2H’s deposit-based model (with the money returned to you) can be the easier bar to clear — and you get a property asset out of it.
The remote-worker angle
The LTR’s Work-from-Thailand Professional track suits remote employees of large established firms (employer revenue ≥ USD 50M, personal income ≥ USD 80k). Malaysia’s equivalent isn’t MM2H at all — it’s the cheaper, lighter DE Rantau nomad pass. For the full picture also see the Malaysia vs Thailand overview.
In 15 minutes, you’ll know your next move
A free discovery call — not a sales call. You walk away with a clear, honest read of your situation, even if that read is “not yet, and here’s why.”
- Which MM2H tier your numbers actually reach — and the gap if they don't
- The 2–3 neighbourhoods that fit your budget, schools, and commute
- Your real all-in cost, and the one or two mistakes people in your situation make