Thai Elite Visa

What is the best Thai Visa for someone wanting to stay in Thailand? Is it the Thai Elite Visa, Thai Retirement Visa, Thailand Marriage Visa, or a Non-immigrant Business Visa? This featured article will offer a comprehensive look into the world of Thailand visas for foreigners wishing to live in Thailand.

I have been working in the field of Thai immigration for the last 13 years. I started out working the night shift in the Bangkok headquarters for Thailand’s largest network of law offices. My responsibilities were to chat with visitors online and receive telephone inquiries to guide foreigners regarding which was the best Thai Visa for their travel to Thailand. I received calls and chats from nearly every country in the world. Each night I would consult with people from around the world who desired immigration advice for their upcoming long stay in Thailand. Nowadays, I lead the customer service team for Thai Immigration in the Bangkok law firm. I often speak to 15 to 20 people a day offering immigration advice for entering Thailand.

It is interesting to note that Thai visa issuance policies change almost on a monthly basis. When I am home at night I will often read the forums and blogs trying to stay on top of the latest experiences of persons who have made visa applications for Thailand at the Thai Embassies and Consulates around the world. About ten years ago it was commonplace for foreigners to obtain a 1-year multiple-entry Thailand visa by post within their home country using an invitation letter from a Thai Company. However, Thai Embassies restricted that practice, first in the UK, then in Australia, and finally in the US for the 1-year Thai Visas.

Thai Elite Visa

The Thailand Elite Visa is a long-term visa given to the Thailand Privilege Card members. It is categorized under Tourist Visa (Privilege Entry Visa “PE”) allowing residency in Thailand along with benefits for a period between 5, 10, or 20 years depending on the chosen package in exchange for a membership fee.

• The Thai Elite Visa is a 5-year renewable multiple entry visa with an extendable 1-year length of stay per each entry.
• The Thai Elite visa holder can have an uninterrupted stay in Thailand without the usual need to leave the country every 90 days as with the other visa types.
• The Elite Visa holder will be represented by the Thai Elite staff on the 90-day reporting as required by Thai Immigration.
• Thai Elite Visa holders will receive expedited immigration formalities and passport control processing when arriving in Thailand

Thailand Elite Visa Qualifications

The applicant/member must have and maintain to have the following qualifications:

• Holder of a foreign passport
• Being allowed to stay in Thailand in accordance with the immigration laws, which means the applicant has no overstay record in Thailand
• No age limit is required for this program apart from the Elite Ultimate Privilege (Premium Package) which requires to be at least 20 years old
• Not having been sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment in any country except for an offense committed to negligence
• Not having been adjudicated bankrupt
• Not having been declared as a person of unsound mind, incompetence, or quasi-incompetence

The application for the Thai Elite Privilege Card membership and the Thai Elite Visa may take 1 to 3 months.

Thailand Elite Visa Cost

The Thailand Elite Visa cost is based on the membership program. There are different membership programs available for Thai Elite Visa, each varying in validity, benefits, and cost, as follows:

1. Elite Easy Access

• Thai Elite Visa validity of 5 years
• It costs 600,000 Thai baht with no annual fee
• You have an option to upgrade to Elite Superiority Extension or Elite Ultimate Privilege
• No age restriction; members can be any age

2. Elite Family Alternative

• Membership validity of 10 years
• The Elite Visa validity of 5 years and renewable for another 5 years
• It costs 800,000 Thai baht with no annual fee (main applicant)
• For additional family member there is a fee of 700,000 Thai baht

3. Elite Privilege Access

• Membership validity of 10 years
• The Elite Visa validity of 5 years and renewable for another 5 years
• It costs 1,000,000 THB with no annual fee
• For additional family member there is a fee of 800,000 Thai baht
• No age restriction; members can be of any age

4. Elite Superiority Extension

• Membership validity of 20 years
• It costs 1 million Thai baht with no annual fee
• The Elite Visa validity of 5 years and renewable for another 5 years (4 sets of 5-year multi-entry visa)

5. Elite Ultimate Privilege

• Membership validity of of 20 years
• It costs 2.14 million Thai baht with annual fee of 21,400 Thai baht
• The Elite Visa validity of 5 years and renewable for another 5 years (4 sets of 5-year multi-entry visa)
• Members must be over 20 years old

6. Elite Family Premium

• Applicable only to family members of Elite Ultimate Privilege members
• Membership fee of 1 million Thai baht with an annual fee of 10,000 Thai baht
• Membership and Thai Elite Visa validity will be based on the membership and visa validity of the Elite Ultimate Privilege family member
• Visa is renewable after 5 years (4 sets of 5-year multi-entry visa)

How to Apply for Thai Elite Visa

1. Application for Membership and Background Check

You can apply for the Thailand Elite Visa whether you are in Thailand or abroad. All you need to do is to send a soft copy of your passport and application form to an accredited Thai Elite Visa agent. Then, the agent will work with the Thailand Elite Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Immigration Bureau to do immigration and criminal background checks. The process may take 1 month for most nationalities and up to 3 months for special countries.

2. Transfer of Elite Membership Fee

When the applicant has passed a background check and the application has been approved, the applicant will be instructed to transfer the membership fee. The membership fee ranges from 600,000 Thai baht to 2 million Thai baht depending on the membership package the applicant has applied for. The payment for the membership fee can be made through a bank transfer.

3. Elite Membership Acceptance

After completing the payment or bank transfer, the applicant will receive the Membership ID and instruction on how to receive the visa.

4. Thailand Elite Visa Issuance

The Thai Elite member can affix the Thai Elite visa at the Thai embassy or consulate in his/her respective country. If it is not convenient for the applicant to collect the visa from the Thai embassy, it is also possible that the applicant obtains the Thai Elite Visa upon arrival in Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chiang Mai Airport, or Phuket Airport. In case the Thai Elite member is in Thailand, the Thai Elite agent may arrange the visa issuance at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.
 

Thailand Elite by Siam Legal

Your Thailand Elite Visa application will be handled by Siam Legal staff in Bangkok

Comparing Other Long-Term Thai Visas for Foreigners with Thai Elite Visa

Here are other types of long term Thai visas available to foreigners who wish to live or move to Thailand:

Thai Retirement Visa

Benefits of the Thailand Retirement Visa

Having the Thai retirement visa delegates a lot of benefits to those choosing to apply for it. The retirement visa can offer the following perks:

• The retirement visa can be extended every year provided you meet the eligibility requirements. If your visa is about to expire by the end of the year, you need not worry and will only have to renew it to continue staying in Thailand.
• Holders of a Thailand Retirement Visa can stay in Thailand for an entire year uninterrupted. This means you do not need to fly home at one point during the year.
• Thai retirement visas also come with 5 year and 10 year options, as well as options that enable the visa holder to enter and exit the country multiple times within a year.

Advantages of having the Thailand Elite Visa over the Thailand Retirement Visa

The Thailand Elite Visa sometimes will seem more preferable to apply for over the Thailand Retirement Visa. This can be because of the following:

• The Thai Elite Visa application can be completed entirely online. A representative on their behalf will instead be coordinating with Immigration Officers in Thailand on processing the application. Applying for this saves the time and hassle of having to book flights to Thailand or changing flights back home, and having to present yourself at the embassy. Applying for the Thailand retirement visa usually requires applicants to be stationed in Thailand for the entire process, especially if applying for the O-Retirement visa. This also includes extending the visa. While there are cases of applicants applying for and being approved for it overseas, the chances are much, much lower than if applying for it locally.
• Having insurance, while recommended, is completely optional for the Thai Elite Visa. Some retirement visa options such as the O-A Retirement visa require health insurance, sometimes ones with a coverage of over 100,000 THB, the amount increasing yearly. Being obligated to purchase insurance on top of the visa can be an expensive endeavor for a lot of people.
• The Elite Visa Thailand does not have any financial or medical certificate requirements or bank amount limits that need to be met to be considered for the program. Applicants applying for a Thai Retirement Visa must have 800,000 THB in savings within their bank account for the Non-Immigrant OA visa, while those apply for the Non-immigrant OX visa need 3 million baht. If they lack this amount in their bank accounts, then they need to meet the required monthly income amounts.
• A good benefit of having a Thai Elite Visa as opposed to a Retirement visa is its flexibility. With a Thai Elite Visa, the retiree can choose either a 5 year, 10 year, or even 20 years option. This helps the retiree live in Thailand long enough to decide whether this is the right location for them to retire in. Sometimes retirees will apply for a retirement visa in Thailand and then move over there only to realize after a couple of months that it’s not a right fit for them. This could pose problems for their retirement visa or make it so that the money they spent for it was such a waste.
• Visa holders of a Thai Retirement Visa also do not gain access to the VIP-level perks offered by the Thailand Elite Visa, such as easier 90-day reporting sessions and complimentary immigration fast tracking at airports.

Thai Marriage Visa

Benefits of the Thai Marriage Visa

For those considering the Thailand Marriage Visa, there are benefits involved:

• For one, the marriage visa is extendable every year, so you won’t need to be worried about not being able to continue it after its expiration date. Applying for an extension is also very convenient in the sense that you can apply for it entirely within Thai borders. The fact that you don’t need to leave Thailand can seem very enticing to any foreigner, especially given that it lets them save money on plane ticket costs and also time (traveling to another country is a long, tedious procedure that can take an entire day).
• Being a holder of a marriage visa also allows you to obtain a work permit in Thailand. This enables workers to be able to provide their services to benefit the Thai economy along with local businesses and startups. Having a work permit also provides many options for the visa holder with regards to money making opportunities.
• The marriage visa offers the holder a validity period of one year, but can be renewed annually while the holder is in Thailand. This allows the holder a chance to stay in the country uninterrupted without having to leave.

Advantages of having the Thai Elite Visa over the Thai Marriage Visa

In some cases, it’s preferable to apply for the Thai Elite Visa instead given the following benefits:

• When you apply for the Thai Elite Visa, you only apply for one visa valid for 5 years. A Thailand marriage visa requires applicants to have applied for a non-immigrant O visa first. Then they will receive a 90-day visa and then you can apply for the marriage visa. The applicant will also need to apply for a re-entry permit. Being forced to complete multiple applications can feel time consuming and expensive to many.
• Both holders of a Thai Elite Visa and holders of a Thai Marriage Visa will also be required to complete their 90-day reporting while residing in Thailand. Thai Elite Visa however grants holders support from Thai Elite Agents. Thai Elite members can send their documentation to the agents who will report them on their behalf to the Immigration Officers. This is convenient for those who do not want to present themselves in person.
• A Thai Elite Visa is simpler and less complicated to apply for, if you married a Thai person in another country outside Thailand. For the Thai marriage visa, you must complete the following steps:
• Gather documents pertaining to the marriage certificate.
• Get said documentation stamped and verified at the embassy in Bangkok.
• Have the document translated into Thai and then taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Take the marriage certificate into an Amphur to obtain Kor Ror 22.
• Apply for the marriage visa.
• Applicants who apply for the Thailand Elite Visa, will not need to fulfill any financial or banking requirements. For the Thai Marriage Visa, applicants need to have at least around 400,000 THB within their savings account or alternatively, they require at least 40,000 THB per month to be transferred into their account on a monthly basis.
• The Thai Elite Visa grants additional VIP-level perks to members that they won’t get if they applied for the Thai Marriage Visa. These complimentary benefits include:
• Support in opening a Thai bank account.
• Support in acquiring a Thai driver’s license.
• Access to exclusive VIP lounges at airports.
• Immigration fast tracking via the fast tracking lane.

Thai Business visa

Benefits of the Thai Business Visa

The Thai Business Visa can be desirable based on the following perks:

• Being a holder of a Thai Business Visa comes with the complimentary add-on of being able to apply for a Thai work permit. This is perfect for foreign nationals who not only want the privilege of being able to experience Thailand, but also want to be able to work here.
• A Thai Business visa holder is able to open up a business within the country. This can be extremely enticing towards aspiring business owners.
• The cost to apply is very affordable. If interested, you can choose to pay 2,000 THB for a single-entry visa with 3-months worth of validity, or shell out 5,000 THB for a multiple-entry visa with a years’ worth of validity.
• There are also a number of different options for the Thai Business Visa that the applicant can choose, providing a list of choices with their own benefits and differences. Examples include:
• Non-Immigrant B visa (Business): geared towards foreign nationals that want to apply for a work permit to either work in the country or establish businesses.
• Non-Immigrant B-A visa (Business Approved): geared towards foreign nationals looking to merely invest in or start a business in Thailand.
• Non-Immigrant IB visa (Investment and Business Visa): geared towards foreign nationals hired by the Board of Investments to work on investment related projects.
• Non-Immigrant B (Teaching) Visa: geared towards applicants looking to teach in Thailand.

Advantages of having the Thai Elite Visa over the Thai Business Visa

• Acquiring the Thai Elite Visa is cheaper and more stress-free. Acquiring a work permit as a business owner comes with tough requirements. Starting a business in Thailand is a very expensive venture and business owners will often need 2 million THB worth of capital invested in order to qualify for the work permit, along with having hired at least 4 staff members (all must be of Thai nationality).
• You need to meet a couple of requirements in order to be able to acquire a Thai Business Visa. These include:
• Having a job offer (if you want to work in Thailand).
• Having an investment (if you want to invest).
• Having an invitation entitling the applicant to set up a business venture within the country (if you want to conduct business here).
• Having a sponsorship from either a Thai Business Partner or entity.
• Holders of a Thai Business Visa do not benefit from the Thai Elite Visa’s unique VIP-level perks:
• Assistance with the mandatory 90-day reporting.
• Support in opening a Thai bank account.
• Support in acquiring a Thai driver’s license.
• Access to exclusive VIP lounges at airports.
• Immigration fast tracking via the fast tracking lane.

Thai SMART Visa

Benefits of a Thai SMART Visa

The Thai SMART Visa comes with a list of benefits for those interested:

• Holders of a Thai SMART Visa will be permitted to only present themselves at immigration institutions for compulsory reporting once every year, rather than every 90-days.
• The Thai SMART Visa holder, their spouse and their children do not need a work permit in order to work in Thailand. This saves them time from submitting an application and having to carefully meet requirements.
• You do not need to apply for a Thai re-entry permit in order to gain access into the country everytime you leave.
• There are different packages to choose from regarding the Thai SMART Visa, depending on your experience and situation:
• SMART Talent Visa (T) : available to science and technology experts earning 200,000 baht per month and employed by one of the ten targeted industries.
• SMART Investor Visa (I): available to investors who invest 20 million baht into companies using technology in their manufacturing process or deliver services. NOTE: These companies also must be in one of the ten targeted industries.
• SMART Executive Visa (E): available to senior managers with at least a Bachelor’s degree, ten years’ work experience, and earn a minimum of 200,000 baht per month. Senior managers must be employed by companies in one of the ten targeted industries.
• SMART Startup Visa (S): available to entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Thailand. To be eligible, you must deposit 600,000 baht in Thailand, have health insurance, and set up a company in one of the ten targeted industries within your first year.

Advantages of having the Thai Elite Visa over the Thai SMART Visa

• Applicants applying for a Thai Elite Visa can choose from a list of 5, 10, and even 20-year visas. SMART Visas are granted to applicants only for a maximum of 4 years (4 x 1-year extendable visas). After those 4 years are up, the visa holder will need to leave Thailand.
• There are no financial or employment requirements to apply for the Thai Elite Visa. To qualify for the SMART visa, depending on the option you’ve selected, you need to meet certain financial or employment requirements. For instance with SMART Visa Ts, you need at least 100,000 THB income per month (or at least 50,000 THB if you are working for a startup) and need to be a highly qualified professional.
• Holders of a SMART Visa do not gain any sort of access to the VIP-level benefits provided by the Thai Elite Visa. Thai Elite Visa holders earn benefits such as:
• Access to exclusive VIP lounges at airport establishments,
• Assistance from a representative to open a Thai bank account.
• Assistance in acquiring a Thai driver’s license.
• Special immigration fast tracking at airports.
• Exclusive support for the mandatory 90-day reporting procedure.

Conclusion

Having a Thai visa is essentially your golden ticket into the Land of Smiles and a jumpstart to your Thailand experience. Out of all alternatives, the Thai Elite visa would be the most convenient and hassle-free option if you aspire to live in Thailand long-term. If you ever feel intrigued by the Thai Elite Visa and all the options available, feel free to consult one of our professionals to measure which visa package is best suited to your needs. We can receive any inquiries on the web form above or in the comment section below.

Rex Baay
Senior Immigration Consultant
Siam Legal International

For inquiries about your Thai visa options, please post your comments or questions below.