How to get a Thailand Elite Visa 2024

Out of all the countries within the ASEAN sphere, Thailand stands out as among the most majestic and enthralling nations. Appropriately earning its moniker as the Land of Smiles, Thailand has captivated the minds of foreigners across the globe and inspired millions to either visit or immigrate here at some point. Looking for the ideal visa is a goal many are seeking to achieve.

Introducing the Thailand Elite Visa, it is a top-of-the-range visa aimed at promoting longevity and prestige to foreigners looking to move to Thailand. This is a type of privilege entry visa allowing foreign nationals to stay for either 5, 10, 15, or 20 years within Thailand, rewarding them with glamorous benefits and introducing them to the privilege points system.

There are many reasons why getting a Thai Elite Visa is so enticing to foreigners interested in Thailand, either to establish residence there, travel, or more such as:

• The use of privilege points allows for members to spend on any privileges of their choice, offering them more flexibility.
• Applying for an Elite Visa is very straightforward and quick, lacking the pitfalls present in other tourist visa applications.
• Members are entitled to 5-year multiple-entry visas, its amount and renewability dependent on the membership applied for.
• Members are able to fast track their immigration at airports in Thailand via the premium lane service.
• Members can request for assistance (such as opening a bank account or for the 90 day reporting service) via the member contact center hotline.
• Members are greeted upon arrival in Thailand by an Elite Personal Assistant (EPA).

To be a member of Thailand Elite, an application for a Thailand Elite Visa needs to be completed. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for your Elite Visa and what the Thailand Elite application entails. With this information at your fingertips, you will not need to worry about trying to gain residence in or just simply visiting Thailand.

Step 1: Consult a GSSA to Apply for a Thai Elite Visa

(1) Pick a General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) to support you on the visa application:

A Thailand Elite appointed General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) is highly recommended for a Elite Visa applicant for these reasons:

• They can answer inquiries on anything Thailand Elite related, host consultations, provide advice, review documents, and submit the visa application on your behalf through their services.
• They can ensure that your application is correct and is properly submitted.
• GSSAs appointed by Thailand Elite make sure applicants do not run into issues during their application. 

As payment is made to Thailand Elite in order to apply, most GSSAs do not accept additional payment for their services. If you consider Siam Legal as your primary GSSA for instance, we offer to submit your membership application and meet with you for a consultation session, free of charge. We can also provide the much requested immigration services and support, as well as ease your immigration journey into Thailand.

(2) Consider which Elite Visa membership you’d like to apply for:

Thai Elite Visas are grouped into 3 available memberships, each with their own share of tailored privileges. The 20 year RESERVE package, priced at 5 million THB is unfortunately the only membership available to applicants via invitation, targeted at a limited pool of applicants.

• Thailand Elite Visa: GOLD Membership Package
  • Cost: 900,000 THB per applicant.
  • Privilege Points: 20 per year.
  • Membership Validity: 5 years. Provides a 5-year multiple-entry visa.
  • Upgradable to a 10-year PLATINUM or 15-year DIAMOND Membership.

• Thailand Elite Visa: PLATINUM Membership Package
  • Cost (main applicant): 1.5 Million THB.
  • Cost (additional applicants): 1 Million THB.
  • Privilege Points: 35 per year.
  • Membership Validity: 10 years. Provides two 5-year multiple-entry visas, renewable once.
  • Upgradable to a 15-year DIAMOND Membership.

• Thailand Elite Visa: DIAMOND Membership Package
  • Cost (main applicant): 2.5 Million THB.
  • Cost (additional applicants): 1.5 Million THB.
  • Privilege Points: 55 per year.
  • Membership Validity: 15 years. Provides three 5-year multiple-entry visas, renewable twice.
  • Cannot be upgraded.

During a meeting with a Thailand Elite appointed GSSA, the consultant will provide you with a rundown of each of the available membership packages, giving you time to decide on which one is perfect for you. Once you have made a decision, simply select a membership to move on to the next step.

(3) Understand the Thailand Elite requirements needed to be eligible for the visa:

Much like most other visas, certain eligibility requirements* need to be met for obtaining the visa and to become an official member of Thailand Elite. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following before applying for the membership:

• Hold a foreign passport valid for at least 1 year (365 days) or more.
• Not visit Thailand for the purpose of studying, working, or setting up a business.
• Be of sound mind and competence.
• Harbor no history of criminal activity, blacklists, bankruptcies, and/or long overstays.
• Not be a current or previous holder of a Thailand Volunteer Visa.
• Not be a current or previous holder of a (non-legitimate) Thailand Education (ED) Visa.
• Not be a national of a country on the UN Sanctions List**.

*NOTE: A detailed list of all requirements are also shown on the first page (also known as the consent form) of the membership application form.

**NOTE: If the applicant is a dual national, with one country on the UN Sanctions List and the other country not on the list, they can still apply to be a member provided they use the passport of the country that is not restricted.

(4) Understand the Thailand Elite membership restrictions and guidelines before applying for the visa application:

There are some restrictions that aspiring members should keep in mind and some guidelines to follow prior to applying for a Thailand Elite Visa:

• Members cannot work for a company in Thailand or apply for a Thai work permit.
• Members cannot establish a business (especially one requiring workers to hold a Thai work permit) or sell goods or services in Thailand.
• A member cannot hold an Elite Visa and a non-immigrant visa simultaneously while in Thailand.
• Members are still subjected to mandatory 90-day reporting every 3 months while in Thailand.
• A member is only allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year per arrival. You can reset this by simply leaving the country and returning the next day, or requesting an extension at the immigration office.

(5) Book a consultation session with your GSSA regarding the Thailand Elite Visa (for information on the package, whether its a good investment, etc):

If you have chosen Siam Legal as your primary Thailand Elite GSSA for instance and are ready to begin applying for the Thai Elite Visa of your choice, you can contact them to request for a free consultation service. Consultation services pertaining to Thailand Elite are held either in-person* in Thailand (such as at the main Bangkok office) or online.

Booking a consultation with the Thailand Elite is always recommended especially for new applicants:

• You can receive detailed advice from the Thailand Elite department on which membership to apply for.
• You can get all inquiries or concerns answered directly on the spot by a member of the Thailand Elite team.
• You will receive in-depth information on the application process for the membership by a consultant from the Thailand Elite team.
• There is more convenience as all forms can be filled under the guidance of the consultant, your photograph will be taken and your passport will be photocopied all on-site.

*NOTE: For in-person Thailand Elite consultation services such as at Siam Legal’s Bangkok office, a passport is the only required document you will need to bring with you.

Step 2: Gather all required documents for the Thailand Elite Visa application

You will need to submit the following documents for the membership application:

(1) Completed and signed Thailand Elite application form:

1. Choose the membership package and download the application form for that membership. If you are attending an in-person consultation, the form will be provided on-site.
2. Sign the very first page of the membership application form. This is known as the consent form.
3. Fill out the general details, contact information, occupation, and “other” section on the next page. During an in-person consultation, only the occupation section needs to be filled out.
4. Sign the “applicant’s signature” field on the bottom of pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

NOTE: All signatures on the membership application form must match your passport’s signature.

(2) Signed Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) form for applicants:

1. Procure the PDPA form for the membership application. If attending an in-person consultation, the form will be provided during the session.
2. Sign the very last page (page 8) of the PDPA form.

NOTE: The signature on the PDPA form must match your passport’s signature. 

(3) Photocopy of your passport:

1. Check your passport to ensure it is valid for at least 1 year (or 365 days) or over.
2. Scan the biopage of your passport. Ensure that the photocopy is in color and your passport’s signature is visible. If you are attending an in-person consultation, the consultant will photocopy it for you.
3. Scan the signature page of your passport. (Only if the signature is not visible on your passport’s biopage) 
4. Scan the page of your passport showing your last Thai visa (or arrival stamp). (Only if you are in Thailand at the time of the application) 

(4) Passport-sized photo of yourself:

Produce a photo of yourself in color and against a white background:

1. You can photograph yourself using your phone’s camera in portrait mode.
2. If you are attending an in-person consultation, the consultant will take your photo before concluding the session.
3. If you have copies of passport-sized recent photos of yourself already, you can submit these for the Thailand Elite application instead.

(5) Supplementary documentation (if applying with a family member):

• Consider who is applying with you for the Thailand Elite membership.
• Submit the required documents depending on the person accompanying you:
1. If a spouse is being added, you should submit a marriage certificate.
2. If a child or parent is being added, submit a birth certificate.

If you have decided to use the services of a Thailand Elite GSSA such as Siam Legal, the necessary forms for the membership will be provided for you either during the consultation (or sent to you via email, WhatsApp or LINE). If you have booked an in-person consultation, you will be provided the forms to sign towards the end of the session and a staff member will also take your photo as well as photocopy your passport for you.

Step 3: Submit your application for the membership

There are two ways to submit the membership application:

• You can send in all your required documents over to Siam Legal (or a local Thailand Elite GSSA) via email. Siam Legal can also receive documents through WhatsApp and LINE. A consultant from the Thailand Elite department will submit and share your application with the Thai Immigration Authorities to begin the next stage of the application.
• You can attend an in-person consultation to get all documents prepared for the application on-site. The consultant will collect the papers at the end of the consultation and submit them on your behalf.

Upon submitting the application, you will receive an email confirming you of the submission along with some login details. These details will include a username and password to track the status of your Thailand Elite Visa application within an exclusive online portal.

Step 4: Complete the background check to meet requirements

Upon submission, the application will be sent over to the Thai Immigration Authorities where a background check will be conducted. During this, the applicant will be assessed based on their:

• Criminal record history.
• Bankruptcies.
• Removal orders, overstays and/or blacklists.
• History of ED visas (if not genuine) and/or volunteer visas if they visited Thailand in the past.

Processes usually last less than 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the immigration and background history of the applicant. Officers will assess their history not only in Thailand, but also in other countries too. The applicant will be notified via email on the approval or rejection of their background check. If approved, the applicant will receive an approval letter and an invoice to pay their fees over to Thailand Elite.

Step 5: Pay the membership fees to Thailand Elite

The next stage is to pay the one-time membership fee to Thailand Elite. The invoice has instructions on how to pay the fee and the Thailand Elite account the payment should go towards. You have only 30 days to pay the fee over to Thailand Elite upon receiving the approval letter and invoice.

Thailand Elite accepts the following payment methods:

• Debit/credit card.*
• Mobile banking.
• Banking transfer.
• Alipay.
• Payment by cash.**

*NOTE: Links to pay the fee can be requested from your local Thailand Elite GSSA. 

**NOTE: Payment for the fee in cash must be made in Thai Baht only and can only be transferred via a local Krung Thai bank in Thailand.

Step 6: Affix your new Thailand Elite visa to your passport

Once you have paid the fee, in about 5 to 10 working days, you will receive an email with two items in it: a welcome letter and your membership ID. Congratulations, you are officially a member of Thailand Elite. 

Once you are in receipt of these, you can get your new visa affixed to your passport. The start date of your membership begins the moment you receive your membership ID.

You can affix your new Thailand Elite visa to your passport at these locations:

• Immigration Office on Chaeng Wattana Road, Bangkok (if in Thailand).
• Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok or Phuket International Airport (if abroad).
• The nearest Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate (if abroad).

While optional, you can also request for a physical Elite Card to be issued, making it more convenient when wanting to access or use certain privileges while exploring every nook and cranny of Thailand. Present the card to certain establishments to gain access to their privileges and services. A card can be issued either at the locations above or be sent directly to your address and requires a 2 month window.

Step 7: Enjoy your new Thai visa and all its privileges

You now have an Elite Visa. As a member of Thailand Elite, you now have free reign over all the baseline privileges and benefits as well as access to the yearly privilege points. You can now spend a point or two to obtain a particular privilege. With all these and more at your fingertips, you’ll be able to feel like a celebrity upon arriving in Thailand. Enjoy unlimited entries in and out of the country, and no requirements to renew your visa every year to stay in Thailand along with other benefits.

While having a Thailand Elite Visa does not permit you access to permanent residency within the Land of Smiles or allow you to acquire a work permit, it can influence your decision to turn Thailand into a secondary home in the future. Maybe years later you might want a non-immigrant visa to get that work permit you always wanted because you managed to see what the country is really like on that Thailand Elite Visa. Regardless of your choices, having a Thailand Elite Visa is a great investment, especially if you desire privileges that justify the fee you paid and to show your elite privilege status within the country to your friends.

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