Thailand Elite Visa FAQs

As a top-performing General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) authorized by the Thai government to carry out Thailand Privilege services, we at Siam Legal are determined to streamline your journey in acquiring a Thailand Privilege membership and ensure you receive your Thailand Elite Visa. To further our goal of helping all Thailand Privilege applicants, we have compiled a list of questions below that our extensive client base commonly ask as well as the answers our experienced Thai Elite Visa team provides.

What is a Thailand Privilege membership?

Created by Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., this is a membership that enrolls you into the Thailand Privilege program. Becoming a member allows you to utilize all the benefits available with the program and also entitles you to a Thailand Elite Visa.

What is a Thailand Elite Visa?

The Thailand Elite Visa is a long-term elite privilege visa issued to Thailand Privilege members. This visa is affixed to your passport and allows you to fly into and out of the country without needing to apply for a re-entry permit. The elite visa typically lasts for 5 years and is renewable a number of times determined by your membership option.

What membership options are available?

There are a total of 4 available options with visa durations ranging from 5 to 20 years, each costing a different fee and offering different allotments of yearly privilege points.

• Thailand Privilege Visa 5-year GOLD Membership
• Thailand Privilege Visa 10-year PLATINUM Membership
• Thailand Privilege Visa 15-year DIAMOND Membership
• Thailand Privilege Visa 20-year RESERVE Membership (only available via invitation)

How much does it cost to apply for a Thailand Privilege membership?

• GOLD Membership: 900,000 THB
• PLATINUM Membership:
• Primary applicant: 1.5 million THB
• Additional applicant(s): 1 million THB
• DIAMOND Membership:
• Primary applicant: 2.5 million THB
• Additional applicant(s): 1.5 million THB
• RESERVE Membership:
• Primary applicant: 5 million THB
• Additional applicant: 2 million THB

What are the benefits of a Thailand Elite Visa?

• 5-year multiple-entry visa, renewable (at no cost) according to the membership duration and offering a 1-year extendable length of stay per arrival
• Uninterrupted stay in Thailand for up to 1 year per arrival
• Can fly into and out of Thailand without requiring a re-entry permit
• No annual fees
• The opportunity to upgrade the membership to higher tiers
• A more seamless application process lacking in any of the complexities and strenuous requirements of other visa applications
• Immigration fast-tracking at airports in Thailand via the premium lane
• Ability to access the services of an Elite Personal Assistant upon arrival
• Introduction to the Thailand Privilege Points system, a new feature allowing for perks to be redeemed via the use of privilege points
• Annual health checkups are available for free at least once per the validity of the membership
• Personal Accident Insurance is leverageable during the first member year (the number of available days varies based on membership)
• Discounts offered at top-tier restaurants and shopping avenues throughout Thailand
• Specialized benefits that include but are not limited to buy-1-get-1-free incentives, seasonal gifts, and various shopping privileges

What are the qualifications for a Thailand Elite Visa?

• Valid foreign passport with no less than 12 months validity remaining
• No history of mental incompetency
• No history of bankruptcies
• No history of long overstays or pending overstay penalties
• Must not be a current or past holder of a volunteer visa
• There are NO age, education, employment, financial, or income requirements that need to be met
• 50,000 THB must be paid to fulfill the application fee requirements (this is deducted from the total membership fee following a successful background check)

Do I need to acquire health insurance?

No, you are not required to obtain health insurance to apply for a Thailand Elite Visa; however, it is highly recommended. To acquire health insurance, contact one of our partners to get started.

Are there any nationalities prohibited from applying?

Yes, if you are from any of the countries listed on the UN Sanction List, then you are not eligible to apply for the Thailand Privilege membership program. The sanctioned countries are as follows:

• Africa: Central Africa, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome, and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan
• Middle East: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen
• Asia: Afghanistan, North Korea, and Pakistan

What is the application procedure for obtaining a Thailand Elite Visa?

The application process consists of the following steps:

1. Review the eligibility requirements.
2. Consult a government-authorized General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) such as Siam Legal International.
3. Receive a checklist from the GSSA and gather all required documents.
4. Send all necessary documents to the GSSA for review.
5. Your GSSA will submit your application and send over login details for you to check your application status on the Thailand Privilege online portal.
6. Wait for your background check to be completed.
7. Wait for your approval letter and payment instructions to be issued.
8. Pay your membership fee using the payment instructions listed.
9. Wait until you receive your membership ID and welcome letter.
10. Book an appointment by calling the member contact center to affix your visa.
11. Get your Thailand Elite Visa affixed to your passport.

What are the documents needed to acquire a Thailand Elite Visa?

• Membership Application Form (for the package of your choice)
• Membership Application Fee Payment Form
• PDPA Form
• Photocopy of your passport’s biopage (in color, with passport signature visible)
• Passport-sized photo of yourself (in color, taken against a white background)*
• Proof of relationship (if adding a family member to the membership)
• Education Visa Holder Acknowledgement Form (only if a current or previous ED Visa holder)
• Photocopy of your latest visa (shown on your passport, only if applying in Thailand)
• Photocopy of your passport signature page (only if the signature is not available on your passport’s bio page)

*NOTE: Consult Siam Legal for information on the photo dimensions and format.

What if my passport expires while my Thailand Privilege membership is still valid?

If you have a valid Thailand Privilege membership and your passport expires, you can renew it and arrange for your membership to be updated. Simply call the member contact center the moment you successfully renew your passport so they can update it within their database.

What if I want to change my passport?

You can phone the member contact center to update your passport number with the Thailand Privilege database. However, you cannot link your membership to a passport of a different nationality from the one you applied with. If you want to go down this route, you will need to cancel the Elite Visa and apply for a new one (you can still maintain your membership, however).

Can I upgrade my current Thailand Privilege membership?

Yes, you can upgrade your Thailand Privilege membership to a higher tier. You will need to pay a fixed upgrade fee of 100,000 THB, an additional membership fee, and submit an application to upgrade your membership. If you want to upgrade to a Reserve membership, you will need to acquire an invitation from the Thailand Privilege program. The additional membership fee is calculated as the difference in the prices between your current membership and the one you want to upgrade to:

• Upgrading a Gold Membership:
• From Gold to Platinum: 600,000 THB
• From Gold to Diamond: 1,600,000 THB
• From Gold to Reserve: 4,100,000 THB
• Upgrading a Platinum Membership
• From Platinum to Diamond: 1,000,000 THB
• From Platinum to Reserve: 3,500,000 THB
• Upgrading a Diamond Membership
• From Diamond to Reserve: 2,500,000 THB

Can I add family members to my Thailand Privilege membership?

Yes, you have the option to add your family members to your Thailand Privilege membership if you are applying for a Platinum, Diamond, or Reserve Membership. You will need to pay a reduced membership fee, complete an additional form, and provide proof of relationship documents (such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate) for each additional member. You will also need to provide each family member’s passport and photograph. A breakdown of the costs each additional member incurs is detailed below:

• Platinum Membership: 1,000,000 THB per applicant
• Diamond Membership: 1,500,000 THB per applicant
• Reserve Membership: 2,000,000 THB per applicant

If you have any children below the age of 15, then they are not required to hold a visa in order to join you in Thailand.

Once my family members are added, will they receive their own allotment of privilege points?

If you add any of your family members as Thailand Privilege members, they will share the same annual privilege points that you will be using. For instance, if you are a Diamond member, you will receive 55 privilege points every year shared between you and your family members. If any member redeems a privilege using the points redemption system, it will be deducted from that pool of points.

How long is the application process?

• The total turnaround time for the entire process is 1 to 3 months on average.
• The timeline for the background check is usually between 4 to 6 weeks (though could be longer if any delays arise).
• Waiting for a welcome letter and membership ID to be issued after paying the membership fee could take between 5 to 10 days.

Do I have to be in Thailand to apply?

No, a benefit of the Thailand Privilege program is that you’ll be able to apply for it while abroad. There are no restrictions or extra charges applied when applying within another country, the only change is the location in which you will be collecting your Thailand Elite Visa.

Can I work while holding a Thailand Elite Visa?

No, you cannot work in Thailand or apply for a Thai work permit while on a Thailand Elite Visa. This includes being unable to work for a Thai company or NGO, volunteer, or perform any kind of service that requires a Thai work permit. This is because this visa is classified as a tourist visa which does not permit you to apply for a work permit. However, there are no restrictions against working remotely from Thailand for a company situated abroad or earning income from investments in Thailand.

Can I apply for a Thailand Elite Visa while holding an ED Visa, Volunteer Visa, or Non-immigrant Visa?

If you currently hold or have held a volunteer visa, then you are not eligible for the Thailand Privilege program. If you currently or previously held a Thai ED Visa, you can apply for the program as long as you have completed the Education Visa Holder Acknowledgement Form and have all the required documents from your school. You can apply as a Thai non-immigrant visa holder, but you must cancel your visa first. This is because a Thai immigration visa forbids foreigners from holding a tourist visa (such as the Thai Elite Visa) and a non-immigrant visa simultaneously.

How long will I have to pay my membership fee?

You have 30 days following the issuance of your approval letter and payment instructions to pay the membership fee. To extend the deadline, you can send a request to Thailand Privilege by reaching out to the member contact center. While doable, there is no guarantee that your extension will be approved. Failure to pay the membership fee within this time period surrenders your 50,000 THB application fee, and you’ll need to pay it again if you apply a second time.

Where can I affix my visa to my passport?

Once you have your membership ID and welcome letter, you can book an appointment with the member contact center to affix your visa to your passport. If you are in Thailand, you can collect your Thailand Elite Visa at the immigration office on Chaeng Wattana Road. If you are outside Thailand, you can either obtain it at the nearest Royal Thai Consulate or Thai Embassy, or you can acquire it when arriving in the country at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok or the Phuket International Airport.

How long do I have after being approved to get my visa affixed to my passport?

There is no time limit to getting your visa affixed. However, your membership term starts the moment you are issued a membership ID and welcome letter. This is a fixed start date that cannot be altered, so it is recommended that you collect your visa as soon as possible.

How long do the visas last?

As a Thailand Privilege member, you will receive a 5-year multiple-entry visa that is also renewable according to which membership package you applied for (if you are a Gold member, then you cannot renew it).

• If you are a Platinum member, you receive a 5-year multiple-entry visa that can be renewed once, for a total duration of 10 years.
• If you are a Diamond member, your 5-year multiple-entry visa can be renewed twice for a total of 15 years.
• If you are a Reserve member, you will receive a 5-year multiple-entry visa that can be renewed three times. In addition, you can continue staying in Thailand beyond your 20-year membership term by continuing a 5-year visa that can be renewed indefinitely.

Do I need to report to immigration every 3 months?

Yes, if you hold a Thailand Elite Visa, you are still responsible for reporting to immigration every 90 days. However, you can request assistance from an Elite Personal Liaison who will complete the reporting entirely on your behalf. If you opt for this you will have to spend at least one privilege point and arrange a reservation with the member contact center. If you do not report every 90 days to immigration, you will be penalized for overstaying in the country. The Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. discussed the possibility of changing the reporting requirement for Thai Elite Visa holders to once a year instead of once every 90 days, but as of early 2024, this has not been confirmed. Refer to Siam Legal’s Travel Blog for updates on Thailand’s immigration policies.

Can I purchase real estate in Thailand as a Thailand Elite Visa holder?

Yes, you have the option of purchasing and owning a condominium or leasing an empty plot of land long-term as a sort of de facto ownership. You are allowed to stay within these accommodations for as long as your membership and visa are still active. You cannot acquire a house fully in your name, however. Originally, applicants could apply for a free Thailand Elite Visa after they had purchased property valued at a certain amount. This has now been discontinued.

Can I open a bank account?

Yes, as a Thailand Elite Visa holder, you have the opportunity to open a bank account in Thailand. If you are willing to spend 2 privilege points, you can also acquire assistance from an Elite Personal Liaison in opening the account. You will also need a Thai phone number to complete the procedure, but this is easily obtainable from a phone provider.

Can I reside in Thailand without needing to leave the country?

Yes, but only up to one year per arrival, as the Thai Elite Visa is still technically a tourist visa. If you have been staying inside the country for one year, you will need to exit Thailand before the year is up to avoid penalties. However, you can easily leave the country and return the next day to reset the cycle, allowing you to stay for another full year.

How do I pay for a Thailand Elite Visa application?

There are two payment cycles involved: the application fee and the membership fee. The application fee is fixed at 50,000 THB. You can pay this by filling out the membership application fee payment form and following all the instructions listed. If your background check is a success, this fee will be deducted from the total cost, so when it comes time to pay the membership fee, you only need to pay the remaining amount. The membership fee is payable after passing your background check. You will receive payment instructions to follow to lodge your payment and you will have a total of 30 days to ensure that Thailand Privilege receives it. You have the following payment channels to utilize for this:

• Credit or debit card
• Mobile banking transfer
• International banking transfer
• Alipay
• Cryptocurrency (must reach out to Siam Legal to initiate this)
• Physical cash (must be paid via a Krung Thai bank branch)

It should be noted that the fee is a one-time payment and you do not need to pay annually or each time you want to renew your 5-year multiple-entry visa. You also must pay the fee upfront as it cannot be paid in installments.

Will I receive a refund?

This depends if you failed the background check or decided to forfeit applying for the Thailand Privilege membership. If you failed your background check, you are entitled to a refund of the application fee that you had to pay. However, if you willingly decide to opt out of the application, you will not be refunded.

Does Siam Legal charge any fees for its Thailand Privilege services?

No, all of our services are free of charge, made possible by subsidies from the Thai government. From initial consultations to assistance with affixing your new Thai Elite Visa to your passport, you’ll enjoy our full support at no extra cost beyond the application and membership fees.

If I transfer from another bank account overseas, will I have to pay tax as a Thai Elite Visa holder?

You are liable to pay taxes in Thailand if you have stayed for at least 180 days and are earning any income from overseas. If you are just transferring money from abroad into your Thai savings account, you will not be liable to pay taxes on it.

Will this program label me as a Thai tax resident?

You will only be classified as a Thai tax resident if you have stayed in Thailand for over 180 days. Applying for a Thai tax identification number (TIN) is voluntary, but required if you are earning any foreign income, a common occurrence with digital nomads or remote workers. If you have any questions about all things taxation-related, it's best to reach out to a Thai tax consultant for accurate answers.

I have some questions that aren’t listed on the Thailand Elite Visa FAQs, what should I do?

Contact Siam Legal if you have any additional questions regarding Thailand Privilege or any other Thai visa that need answering. Our Thailand Elite Visa team is more than happy to provide you with the answers you need by leveraging our extensive knowledge of all things Thailand Privilege. We can also host private consultation sessions with you to discuss which membership package fits your needs and address any concerns you may have about the Thailand Privilege program in general.

Start Your Application Now!

You may download the Thailand Elite application forms here:

 

The process of applying for the Thailand Elite Visa seems easy and straightforward. It is the most convenient visa option to travel and enter Thailand with ease during this time or even after this pandemic.

Should you be interested in applying for a Thai Elite Visa, please do not hesitate to contact us. You may call us for a free consultation or contact us via LINE and WhatsApp. Just scan with your phone any of the QR codes below.