Can Korean applicants file the Smart Visa themselves?

Yes, self-filing is possible. Most Korean clients still engage professionals because (1) source-country documents require lengthy translation and legalisation, (2) BOI operates primarily in Thai, and (3) missing documents force restarts that cost far more time than the service fee.

What is the total timeline?

Roughly 4–8 weeks: translation and legalisation from South Korea take 2–4 weeks, then Thai filing at BOI takes 30–60 business days.

What is the total cost?

Government fees are charged at the official government rate, plus our service fee confirmed in a written quotation depending on complexity, plus foreign-document legalisation fees confirmed after document review depending on volume.

What changes for South Korea documents after 28 Feb 2027?

If South Korea is a Hague member, its documents receive Apostille instead of full legalisation — saving 5–15 business days and the fee that would otherwise be confirmed in a written quotation.

Can family members follow?

Yes. The Smart Visa typically grants Non-O Dependent status for spouse and children under 20, renewable together with the principal visa.

Can I work in Thailand on this visa?

Yes — with a Work Permit filed at the Ministry of Labour (some visas such as LTR and Smart Visa do not require a separate WP).

My document type is not listed. Can you still help?

Usually yes. Send the document and the instruction from the authority that requested it. The chain of certification depends on who issued the document and who will receive it, not on a fixed catalogue, so unusual documents are assessed individually before a plan and a fee are proposed.

Do you handle electronic documents and e-signatures?

Where the receiving authority accepts them, yes. Thailand recognises electronic signatures under its electronic transactions legislation, but many foreign registries and embassies still require a wet-ink original with physical seals. The accepted format should be confirmed in writing before work begins.

What if the destination changes its requirements mid-process?

We re-check requirements close to the filing date for exactly that reason, and if they change we set out the revised steps and any additional cost before continuing. Documents already certified can often be reused in the new chain, which limits the impact.

Smart Visa for Korean 🇰🇷

Korean clients seeking the Smart Visa (4-year stay). NYC Legal delivers the full pipeline — Korean translation, Apostille, and filing at BOI in 30–60 business days.

Why Korean Clients Choose the Smart Visa

Korean nationals are among Thailand's top inbound investor cohorts. Their dominant investment pattern is Premium condos + K-restaurant franchises + cosmetics manufacturing. The Smart Visa matches that profile because it delivers 4-year stay, No 90-day report, Family can work — with 4-year validity and government fees charged at the official government rate.

Eligibility Criteria (Smart Visa)

• Talent experts • Investors ≥ 20M THB • Executives salary ≥ 200,000/month • Startup S-Curve For Korean applicants unsure whether they qualify, NYC Legal offers a free pre-check via LINE @NYCLegal — send preliminary documents (passport, statements, income proof) and our team assesses eligibility before you commit to the full engagement.

Benefits Once Smart Visa Is Granted

• 4-year stay • No 90-day report • Family can work • No separate Work Permit required Korean holders of Smart Visa can also register BOI-promoted companies faster, enjoy 0–8 year corporate tax holidays, and import machinery duty-free. Preferred residential hotspots: Bangkok (Sukhumvit Plus/Sathorn), Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai (Nimman), Koh Samui.

Document Checklist for Korean Applicants

1) South Korea passport with ≥18 months validity + copies of all stamped pages 2) 4×6cm white-background photos ×4 (taken within 6 months) 3) Financial evidence: 6–12 months bank statements showing minimum balance USD 10,000+ (with Apostille/Legalisation) 4) Police clearance from South Korea authorities, ≤3 months old 5) Thai hospital medical certificate covering TB, Syphilis, Leprosy, Elephantiasis, Substance Abuse 6) Thai-valid health insurance ≥ USD 100,000/year (O-A visas need IPD and OPD cover at the minimum levels set by Thai immigration regulations) 7) Employment/Company letters translated into English and legalised at the Royal Thai Embassy in South Korea 8) Smart Visa-specific: Talent experts

Currency Transfer & Banking Notes

KRW outbound limit USD 50k without filing; Shinhan / KB Kookmin branches in Bangkok ease compliance For Smart Visa filings, financial documents require a FET Form (Foreign Exchange Transaction) from the receiving Thai bank. NYC Legal liaises with Bangkok Bank, SCB, KBank, Krungthai, and HSBC Thailand to issue FET on the same day without the applicant traveling. Transfers >USD 50,000 also require a Source of Funds declaration under AMLO rules.

End-to-End Timeline

Thai-side processing at BOI takes 30–60 business days. Including source-document translation and legalisation from South Korea, the total end-to-end timeline is 4–8 weeks. NYC Legal offers an Express Track that compresses this to 2–3 weeks for a 30–50% surcharge, using fast-lane filing at BOI.

Alternative Visas for Korean Nationals

Other options for Korean include: • LTR-Wealthy • Elite • Investment (B) However, the Smart Visa is best suited for investors and executives who want tax benefits because 4-year stay.

Apostille Transition (28 Feb 2027) for South Korea Documents

28 February 2027 From that date, Thailand accepts Apostille in place of traditional legalisation. For South Korea source documents entering Thailand for the Smart Visa: South Korea is already a Hague member, so an Apostille from South Korea authorities is immediately accepted in Thailand from 28 Feb 2027 — saving 5–15 business days and the fee that would otherwise be confirmed in a written quotation for Thai-embassy legalisation.

NYC Legal Service for This Combination

• Initial case assessment — LINE @NYC168 replies within 30 minutes (Mon–Sat 9am–8pm) • In-house Korean → Thai/English translators with credentials • Notarial attorney signatory licensed by the Thai Lawyers Council • Filing agent at BOI so you need not travel • Status updates every 3 business days by email • If a rejection is caused by our documentation error, we correct and refile at no extra service fee • Written fee schedule in advance — no hidden costs

Aspect	On your own	With NYC Legal
Uncertain requirements	Research yourself and risk relying on outdated information.	Requirements are verified with the relevant authority before work begins.
Multiple documents	The wrong order costs weeks.	Sequenced to finish in a single pass wherever possible.
Advice	No one to help weigh the options.	An advisor assesses the alternatives with you.

Option	What it is	Best for	Watch out for
Handle everything yourself	Research the rules, prepare the file and deal with each authority on your own.	Simple cases, when you have time and are located near the relevant offices.	Requirements change often; one missing document or a missed intake window restarts the cycle.
Outsource only part of the process	Hire help for the step you are stuck on, such as translation or a single filing.	People who already understand the process but face time or distance constraints.	If an early step is formatted wrongly, every later step fails with it.
Let us manage the full route (recommended)	Case assessment, route planning, preparation, translation, filing, follow-up and return delivery.	Anyone on a fixed deadline, living upcountry or abroad, who cannot afford a rejected file.	Share the destination requirements up front so we can plan the route correctly in one pass.

Smart Visa for Korean (South Korea) — Complete Guide

Filing Steps (4)