Updated: Navigating the Thailand Elite Visa: Application Process and Benefits

If you intend to stay in Thailand for a long period of time, then it's important to consider which visa you would like to apply for. When it comes to long-term visa offerings, there are many to choose from, including the Thai Retirement Visa, the Thailand LTR Visa, the Thailand Marriage Visa, and the Non-immigrant Business Visa. 

However, one of the more unique choices is the Thailand Elite Visa. Available through the new Thailand Privilege program, it provides a more convenient long-term visa, an easier application process, and additional benefits not found with other visas. This guide will cover all the essentials of the Thailand Elite Visa as well as provide information on how to start your application. 

What is the Thailand Elite Visa?

The Thailand Elite Visa, also known as a Privilege Entry Visa, is given to members of Thailand Privilege, a visa program borne from the old Elite Visa program. Membership with one of Thailand Privilege’s four membership tiers grants you a multiple-entry visa to enter and exit the country for an unlimited number of times without requiring re-entry permits. 

It also rewards you with a membership term ranging from 5 to 20 years, depending on which package you applied for. This multiple-entry visa can be renewed every 5 years in accordance with the total duration of the membership, with each one allowing members to stay cumulatively for at least a year. 

The Thailand Privilege Card Company Ltd., an affiliate of the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sport, is in charge of the Thailand Privilege program and granting this Privilege Entry Visa. A multitude of additional benefits are provided, including discounts, exclusive privileges, and free perks redeemable through a points system. This makes Thailand Privilege an appealing choice if you are looking to reside in or frequently travel throughout Thailand. 

Thailand Elite Visa Membership Programs

The Thailand Elite Visa offers a range of membership programs, each varying in validity, benefit, and cost:

Gold Membership Package:

• Validity: 5 years
• Cost: 900,000 THB
• Privilege Points: 20 per year

Platinum Membership Package:

• Validity: 10 years
• Cost (primary applicant): 1.5 million THB
• Cost (additional applicant): 1 million THB
• Privilege Points: 35 per year

Diamond Membership Package:

• Validity: 15 years
• Cost (primary applicant): 2.5 million THB
• Cost (additional applicant): 1.5 million THB
• Privilege Points: 55 per year

Reserve Membership Package:

• Validity: 20 years or more (available via invitation only)
• Cost (primary applicant): 5 million THB
• Cost (additional applicant): 2 million THB
• Privilege Points: 120 per year

For the Platinum, Diamond, and Reserve packages, applicants can choose to add additional members such as immediate family. To include secondary members, applicants will pay a cheaper amount compared to the amount that the primary applicant has to spend. The additional member shares the same allotment of privilege points distributed to the primary applicant but is also allowed to enjoy the complimentary benefits provided alongside the membership package. 

Privilege points play a major role within the Thailand Privilege program, enabling members to acquire various services and benefits of their choice instead of being locked into a set array of perks. The annual point allocation is dependent on your tier within the program. Gold members, for example, receive 20 points each year whereas Platinum members get 35.

These privilege points can be utilized for a wide range of benefits. Here are just a few examples:

• 1 point: Airport transfers (short hauls), airport lounges, 90-day reporting assistance, and massage treatments (at select establishments).
• 2 points: Access to Elite Personal Liaison (EPL) services, dental assessments, and privileges at select golf courses.
• 3+ points: Health checkups, exclusive spa packages, airport transfers (long haul), and certain outdoor activities (namely the opportunity to partake in elephant care, chances to explore villages owned by hill tribes, and attend a Mahout training course).

Key features of the Thai Elite Visa:

• A five-year, multi-entry visa that can be renewed based on the length of the membership..
• Uninterrupted stay in Thailand for up to 1 year without the 90-day exit requirement or need to apply for a re-entry permit when leaving the country.
• Streamlined and expedited application procedure when applying for the membership with relatively few eligibility requirements.
• Utilization of privilege points for leveraging a number of perks, all redeemable according to the applicant’s choice.
• Expedited immigration and passport control processing via access to the exclusive premium lane at airports.
• Free access to the Elite Personal Assistant (EPA) service for support upon arrival into the country.
• A vast selection of privileges to choose from, both complementary and redeemable via privilege points.
• Annual health checkups and Personal Accident Insurance during the first membership year.
• Discounts at leading restaurants and shopping establishments.
• Exclusive 24/7 hotline via the Member Contact Center (MCC) for advance bookings and assistance related to Thailand Elite Visas.

Qualifying for the Thailand Elite Visa:

To obtain the Thai Elite Visa, you will need to fulfill a series of eligibility requirements for the Thailand Privilege program. A massive advantage of the Thailand Elite Visa in comparison to other long-term visas is that the eligibility criteria are less taxing. Despite this, it is important for you to meet all the qualification requirements to ensure there are no delays or rejections involved with your application.

Here is the eligibility criteria for the Thailand Elite Visa:

• The applicant must have a foreign passport valid for at least 1 year after the application
• Complete compliance with Thai immigration laws, implying no overstay record
• An untarnished legal record: no imprisonment, bankruptcy, or mental incompetency
• Must not be a current or previous holder of a Thai volunteer visa
• The foreign passport must not be from these UN-sanctioned territories:
  • Asia: Afghanistan, North Korea, Pakistan
  • Africa: Countries like Cameroon, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan. In the
  • Middle East: The countries are Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen.

Four Key Steps of the Thailand Elite Visa Application Process

Before beginning an application, consider engaging with a General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA). 

The GSSA will share its extensive knowledge of the Thailand Privilege program to help you make an informed choice on which membership tier is right for you. They will also perform a meticulous assessment of your application prior to submission, making sure that nothing is missing and all the information on the forms is correct and accurate. This is all done to reduce the chances of your application being delayed or outright rejected. Once your application is ready, they will submit it on your behalf, giving you peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to do any extra legwork and that your application was submitted without any errors. 

Below are the documents necessary for the application process:

• Membership Application Form
• Membership Application Fee Payment Form
• PDPA Form
• Photocopy of the passport biopage (in color, with the signature visible)
• Recent passport-sized photograph (in color, taken against a white background)
• Supplementary documents (if adding a family member to the membership or applying as a current/past ED Visa holder)

The Process

Step 1: Thailand Elite Membership Application:

Request for a checklist of required documents, gather all the necessary items and send them to the GSSA. This will include the Membership Application Fee Payment Form, the completion of which requires you to pay the 50,000 THB application fee to the Thailand Privilege Card authority. The GSSA will then submit your application to initiate the background check, which lasts between 4 to 6 weeks on average.

Step 2: Elite Membership Fee Payment:

Upon completing your background check, you will be required to pay the membership within 30 days of receiving your approval letter and payment instructions. Applicants can pay via bank transfer, mobile banking, credit/debit card, or even cryptocurrency if your GSSA offers this service. The 50,000 THB application fee is deducted from the total membership fee, so all you have to pay within these 30 days is the remainder. 

Step 3: Membership Acceptance:

Once your payment has been processed to Thailand Privilege Card Co. Ltd. within 5 to 10 working days, you will receive your Thailand Elite Visa Membership ID and your Welcome Letter. From then on, you will be considered a full member of Thailand Privilege and granted all the available privileges and benefits. 

Step 4: Elite Visa Issuance:

Your final course of action is to affix your new Elite Visa to your passport. This can be done either at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad or upon arrival in Thailand at the airport. If you’re already in Thailand, you can get your visa affixed at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok. To get your new visa issued and affixed in person, simply contact the Member Contact Center (MCC) and book an appointment for it. 

What advantages does the Thailand Privilege Elite Visa have over other visas?

While the Thailand Privilege program involves paperwork and a few months of procedures to obtain membership, it also presents a range of advantages that outpace other visa programs and are designed to help members make the most out of their time in Thailand. These benefits include:

Uninterrupted stay in the Kingdom

Holders of a Thailand Elite Visa are allowed to stay in Thailand for up to a total of 1 year per arrival without needing to leave the country every 90 days. To reset the 1-year clock, it is a simple matter of traveling out of the country and back in again the next day. This provides stability and convenience to the applicant, letting them stay uninterrupted for a whole calendar year, an advantage other tourist visas do not provide. 

Privilege Points

The Elite Visa introduces the concept of privilege points, a new feature that allows Thailand Elite members to acquire a wide range of available privileges regardless of their membership tier via a points redemption system. These points can be redeemed for benefits such as 90-day reporting assistance, free hotel nights, spa packages, and free domestic flights. This system enables members of Thailand Privilege to customize the benefits they receive, unlike the old Thai Elite Visa program that provided static benefit packages.

Expedited immigration and passport control

With a Thailand Elite Visa, members enjoy a seamless transition into the country through a quicker passport control process. At each international airport in Thailand, there are premium lanes for immigration with shorter wait times that Thailand Privilege members get access to.

Exclusive liaison with Elite Personal Assistant (EPA)

An EPA provides services and assistance to Elite Visa holders for free, including escorting them to the premium lane for fast-tracked immigration clearance and ensuring they enter the Kingdom without any problems. Very few visa types enjoy this privilege.

Common Questions: Clarifying the Thailand Privilege program

What is the duration of the Thai Elite Visa?

The Thailand Elite Privilege Visa offers membership terms from 5 to 15 years, with 20 years and over via a Reserve membership. Members receive a 5-year multiple-entry visa that is extendable based on how long their membership term is. They can stay in Thailand for up to 1 year without needing to leave the country, as opposed to every 90 days as with normal tourist visas. 

What is the Thai Elite Visa application waiting period?

Becoming a member of the Thailand Privilege membership program and acquiring the associated Elite Privilege Visa is not automatic. Applicants are often required to wait between 1 to 3 months on average before they can acquire their visa, with a background check lasting between 4 to 6 weeks. This, however, may take longer depending on your nationality. 

Do I need notarized documents for the Thailand Elite Visa application?

Setting itself apart from the conventional requirements of other visas, the Thailand Privilege application requires no notarization. When applying, you can simply scan a document or provide a photocopy without needing to have it pass through a notary or include a stamp as proof that it has been certified. 

My passport will soon expire, can I still apply?

To apply for an Elite Visa, you will need a passport with a remaining validity of at least 12 months. For passports with less than 5 years remaining, the Elite Visa sticker that will be affixed to your passport will include an end date that is in line with the expiration date on your passport. 

What is the income requirement for the Thailand Elite Visa?

There are no income or financial requirements for the Thailand Elite Visa, although it is recommended that applicants have enough savings in their bank account to last them the entire time they want to spend in Thailand, have foreign income sources, or have income from investments in Thailand. To apply, applicants simply pay a one-time membership fee with no requirements for any annual fees. 

Can I own real estate in Thailand with the Thai Elite Visa?

No. By Thai law, no foreigner can own land entirely in their name regardless of their visa. You can, however, own a condominium under your name as well as secure a long-term land lease of up to 30 years. However, you cannot own a house. 

Can I get a job in Thailand while holding an Elite Visa?

No. In accordance with Thai immigration law, foreign nationals holding a Thailand Elite Visa are not permitted to work in Thailand or acquire a Thai work permit. This is because the Thailand Elite Visa is regarded as a tourist visa. However, this does not restrict the member from working remotely for a company based in another country outside of Thailand.  

Foreign nationals interested in applying for the Thailand Privilege membership program should consider contacting a GSSA for answers to any pending questions or concerns and to minimize the risk of delays and rejections occurring during their application journey.