Thailand
South-eastern Asia
Asia
An Asian country with a 5-year citizenship path, residence by investment and a digital-nomad visa, but case-by-case immigration and tax rules.
62
Overall score
Moderate · 97% data coverage
Language
ThaiCurrency
THBCitizenship
5 years of permanent residencePersonal tax
Progressive, up to 35%Cost of living
$1,000 / mo (single)Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.
Score breakdown
52
Access
17%49Residence12%
59Citizenship and passport5%
74
Earning power
25%69Salary and work12%
79Buying power13%
63
Business and wealth
20%64Taxes7%
62Business8%
62Investment5%
63
Daily life
25%63Quality of life18%
63Education7%
47
Rights and institutions
13%37Freedom6%
55Rule of law7%
Pros
- A 5-year citizenship path
- Residence by investment
- A digital-nomad visa
Cons
- Case-by-case immigration and tax rules
Best for
Remote workersStudentsInvestors
Score profile
Access
Residence
49
Citizenship
69
Passport
42
Earning power
Salary & work
69
Buying power
79
Cost of living
93
Economy
69
Business and wealth
Taxes
64
Personal tax
36
Corporate tax
43
Business
62
Investment
62
Wealth building
69
Daily life
Safety
57
Healthcare
58
Environment
75
Infrastructure
78
Education
63
HDI
80
Rights and institutions
Freedom
37
Rule of law
55
Access
Residence
Openness to residents
49Moderate
Migrant stock4.4% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.11 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
| Student | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
|---|---|
| Work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Self-employed | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Permanent | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
69Good
| Years required | 5 years of permanent residence |
|---|---|
| Dual allowed | Yes |
| Language | Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route |
| Residence | Typical headline route: 5 years of permanent residence; qualifying residence and absence rules apply |
| Notes | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Passport
Passport power
42Limited
83 / 198
Mobility
#60
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
- Visa-free41
- On arrival39
- eTA3
- Visa required115
Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.
Earning power
Salary & work
Labour-market strength
69Good
Output per worker$38,289 PPP (2024)
Unemployment0.8% (2025)
Participation66.7% of 15+ (2025)
Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$368 · $1,225 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$737 · $2,544 PPP (2024)
| Freelance | Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation |
|---|---|
| Job market | Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions. |
Buying power
Purchasing power score
79Good
GNI / person$25,570 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$13,799 PPP (2024)
Price level32 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality33.3 Gini (2024)
Inflation-0.1% / yr (2025)
Cost of living
Affordability
93Excellent
Price level32 (US = 100) (2025)
| Rent | Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,000 / mo (single) |
| Cities | Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket |
Economy
Economic strength
69Good
Output & income
GDP$577B (2025)
GDP / person$8,057 (2025)
GNI / person$25,570 PPP (2025)
GDP growth2.5% / yr (2024)
Stability & labour
Inflation-0.1% / yr (2025)
Unemployment0.8% (2025)
Output per worker$38,289 PPP (2024)
Sector composition
Agriculture8.7% of GDP (2025)
Industry31.1% of GDP (2025)
Services60.2% of GDP (2025)
Main industries
Automotive & electronicsTourismAgriculture & foodPetrochemicalsMachinery
Top exports
Vehicles & partsElectronics & machineryRubberRice & food
| Type | Upper-middle-income, manufacturing- and tourism-led |
|---|---|
| Key sectors | Auto manufacturing ('Detroit of Asia'), Tourism, Agri-food processing |
| Summary | A diversified economy and regional auto-manufacturing hub, with major tourism and a leading agri-food sector. |
| Currency | Thai baht |
Business and wealth
Taxes
Tax friendliness
64Moderate
| Personal | Progressive, up to 35% |
|---|---|
| Corporate | 20% |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Personal tax
Personal tax
36Limited
| Personal | Progressive, up to 35% |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
43Limited
| Corporate | 20% |
|---|---|
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Business
Business friendliness
62Moderate
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.11 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.25 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Operating rules
| Foreign company | Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules |
|---|---|
| Local company | Available company forms and capital requirements vary |
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
Investment
Investing environment
62Moderate
Market cap89% of GDP (2025)
Private credit143% of GDP (2025)
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Data not available yet |
| ETFs & funds | Data not available yet |
| Wealth tax | Check current national and subnational rules |
| Brokers | Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks |
| Foreign access | Data not available yet |
| Tax-advantaged | Data not available yet |
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
69Good
Salary & work
69Good
Business
62Moderate
Investment
62Moderate
Tax friendliness
64Moderate
Cost of living
93Excellent
Daily life
Safety
Safety & stability
57Moderate
Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.53 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.68 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.
Healthcare
Healthcare score
58Moderate
Outcomes
Life expectancy76.6 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality9.0 per 1,000 births (2024)
Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.54 per 1,000 (2021)
Hospital beds2.39 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$1,067 PPP / person (2023)
System & costs
| System | Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements |
| Average cost | Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage |
Environment
Environment score
75Good
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure23.5 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress23.0% (2022)
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
78Good
Digital infrastructure
Internet use90.9% (2024)
Internet resilience67 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed93 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed75 / 100 download index (2026)
Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index
Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses7.2% of output (2023)
Transport
Transport quality3.70 / 5 (2022)
Rail density8.0 km / 1,000 km² (2017)
Air connectivity4,680 departures / million people (2023)
Education
Education score
63Moderate
Attainment
Expected schooling15.4 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.0 years (2023)
Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment49% gross (2025)
Education spending2.5% of GDP (2023)
| Tuition | $3,000-15,000 / yr |
|---|---|
| Public university | Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality |
| Languages | Thai |
| Student work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
HDI
Human development score
80Excellent
HDI0.798 (2023)
Knowledge
Expected schooling15.4 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.0 years (2023)
Rights and institutions
Freedom
Freedom score
37Limited
| Freedom in the World | 36 / 100 (Not free) |
|---|---|
| Freedom on the Net | 39 / 100 (Not free) |
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
55Moderate
| Rule of Law percentile | 55 / 100 |
|---|
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comASEAN: Member Statesasean.orgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.