Diamond is the highest tier of the Thailand Privilege membership option allowing a 15-year stay in the Kingdom achievable without an invitation, and is open to all who are eligible. It provides more points to redeem for rewards, a longer Thai Elite Visa, and more complementary perks than any other tier, save for the exclusive Reserve tier.
Diamond tier membership is ideal for retirees, long-term expats, and frequent visitors to Thailand with solid plans for extended stays in the country, especially those with dependents. It’s perfect for travelers who enjoy luxury perks and know Thailand is the place for them, and could be their first step on a path to the even more rewarding Reserve tier.
Additionally, like all Thailand Privilege tiers, getting a Diamond membership and the accompanying elite visa is a quick and easy process when compared to the application processes of other Thai visas.
Overview of the DIAMOND Membership
Here are the basic details for Diamond membership:
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- Membership Validity: 15 years
- Membership Fee (primary applicant): 2.5 Million THB
- Membership Fee (additional members): 1.5 Million THB
- Privilege Points: 55 points per year
- Transferable: No
Note that for the privilege points feature, additional family members will NOT receive their own allotment of points. All additional members must share the pool of 55 points granted to the primary member.
Similar to Platinum, Diamond membership provides a multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years, which can be renewed twice to extend the maximum membership validity up to 15 years. This Thai Elite Visa enables the holder to travel in and out of Thailand as often as they please without the need to apply for a re-entry permit. Additionally, it offers its members quicker airport immigration processing via a premium lane.
Though the Diamond membership grants a visa with a range of benefits, it is important to note that it is still a tourist visa, so members are unable to obtain a work permit or gain employment with a company. Fortunately, there are no restrictions on foreign income and profit from investments in Thailand.
Another thing to keep in mind is that members are still obligated to do their 90-day reporting, but to ease the process, they have the option to spend a single privilege point to enlist a visa agent to perform this task for them and save them the trouble. And with recent news as of early 2024, the 90-day timeframe may just be extended to 1 year as reported by the Thailand Privilege Card authority.
What are the Benefits of the DIAMOND Membership?
Thailand Privilege sets itself apart from other long-term Thai visa programs by offering a wealth of additional benefits. The long list of perks, discounts, and free services available through Thailand Privilege are too numerous to mention all of them here, but here are some examples:
- Premium Lane for immigration fast-tracking at ports of entry
- Elite Personal Assistant (EPA) service upon arrival at the airport
- Concierge services to assist with various administrative tasks, including visa-related processes (90-day report, etc.), driving license applications, and opening a bank account
- Health checkups, wellness packages, and other medical treatments at Thailand’s leading hospitals
- Discounts at popular retail shopping and fine dining establishments
- Wealth advisory services
- Free movie tickets, rounds of golf, spa treatments, hotel stays, airport transfers, and much more
- Member Contact Center (MCC), an exclusive 24/7 hotline to assist with everything related to Thailand Privilege
- And many, many more
Eligibility Requirements
While less stringent than those for other long-term Thai visas, Thailand Privilege has a handful of eligibility criteria that applicants must meet to ensure their application is not rejected.
- The applicant’s foreign passport must have at least 1 year of remaining validity at the time of application.
- There must be no record of overstay or other violations of Thai immigration law.
- No record of bankruptcy, criminal conviction, or mental incompetency.
- Applicant must not hold or ever have held a volunteer visa.
- Applicant’s foreign passport must not be from these UN-sanctioned territories:
- Asia: Afghanistan, North Korea, Pakistan
- Africa: Central Africa, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan
- Middle East: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, Yemen
How to Apply for a Thailand Privilege Diamond Membership
The first step to apply for a Thailand Privilege membership and the accompanying Thai Elite Visa should be to engage the services of a General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA). These are organizations certified by the government to assist applicants to the Thailand Privilege program. They have comprehensive knowledge of the program and its processes, enabling them to provide consultations as well as application preparation services.
Applying through a GSSA makes the whole process swift and streamlined while minimizing the chances of rejection. Best of all, these services are completely free to applicants thanks to government subsidies. Applicants are warned against applying through unauthorized visa agents, as there is always a risk of fraud, and should look for the official GSSA seal:
Application Process
- Gather Required Documents:
- A Thailand Privilege Diamond membership application form
- Membership application forms for additional members (if applicable)
- A Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) form
- A Membership Application Payment Form
- A recent passport photocopy (in color)
- A recent passport-size photo (in color, against a white background)
- Supplementary documents (as required, such as if adding family members or if applicant is a previous/current holder of an ED Visa)
- Submit Application: Forward all required documents to a GSSA. They will review the application for completeness and accuracy. At this point, the applicant must also pay the 50,000 THB application fee. This fee will be deducted from the total membership fee upon completion of the background check.
- Background Check: Once the application is cleared and submitted, the Thai immigration authorities will perform a background check, which will take 4-6 weeks.
- Approval and Payment: Following a successful background check, applicants receive an approval letter and an invoice. The next step involves payment of the membership fee to the Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. minus the 50,000 THB application fee.
- Welcome Kit: After payment is processed, applicants will receive a welcome letter and membership ID within 10 business days.
- Visa Affixation: The final step is the affixation of the Thailand Elite Visa to the member’s passport, which can be done at the immigration office, the airport upon arrival, or at a Thai embassy.
Interested in applying for a Thailand Privilege Diamond membership?
If you’re ready for the easiest and most rewarding way to stay in Thailand long-term, then contact Siam Legal to begin your Thailand Privilege application. We are a leading GSSA authorized by the Thai government to provide knowledgeable, effective, and free support for your application. Partner with us and we’ll make sure your application process is smooth, stress-free, and has the best chance for success. Fill out and submit the form on this page to get started!
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