Thailand elite visa
Thailand Elite is a program that offers multiple-entry visas to Thailand for 5 to 20 years. It is managed by the private company Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited and falls under the jurisdiction of Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The program was launched by the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat in 2003 and was recently restarted after being temporarily frozen.
Seven packages are available, each with different terms, benefits, and prices. The packages are Elite Ultimate Privilege, Elite Privilege Access, Elite Easy Access, Elite Superiority Extension, Elite Family Alternative, Elite Family Excursion, and Elite Family Premium. The minimum cost for the entry package with a minimum visa term of 5 years and a minimum list of benefits is 500,000 Baht. The maximum price for a 20-year visa is 2,000,000 Baht.
Foreign citizens who become members of Thailand Elite can receive a five-year visa. If they purchase a package that assumes a more extended stay in Thailand, they will receive a visa for an additional five years after the first five years have passed. The visa is pasted into their passport.
Advantages and benefits
Minimum list (for the cheapest package based on the cost per year - 20 years for 1,000,000 Baht)
- VIP meeting and escort on arrival/departure to Thailand;
- Speedy immigration clearance procedure;
- Exclusive arrival/departure lounge;
- Assistance with filing of 90-day residency reports;
- Assistance with driver's license application;
- Help in opening bank accounts;
- Discounts at King Power Duty-Free chain stores and several other stores, golf clubs, and spas;
- Hour Support (hotline).
The complete list, in addition to the above benefits, will also include the following:
- Complimentary limousine transfers from the airport to a hotel and back. International flights (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Samui);
- There is complimentary access to the golf club (24 times/per calendar year);
- Complimentary spa elephant visit (24 times per calendar year);
- Complimentary annual physical exam;
- Receipt Process.
It is possible to become a member of the Thailand Elite Club while abroad or in Thailand. The procedure will consist of the following steps:
- Checking the candidate to make sure there is no criminal record in Thailand
- Filling out an application form and paying the cost of the selected package
- Confirming Thailand Elite membership
- Putting a visa (sticker) in your passport upon arrival in Thailand or at the immigration office in Bangkok (in case you are in Thailand if the current visa allows you to avoid leaving the country)
Pros of Thailand Elite
You only need a passport to get a visa. You don't have to collect a package of documents to prove your place of residence, availability of funds in bank accounts, income in Thailand and abroad, real estate availability, etc. No questions about the purpose of staying in Thailand will not arise from the immigration service or other government agencies. Thailand Elite is a status. Attend any business event and compare people's reactions to a man with a student visa, a business visa, or a Thailand Elite visa. And lastly, none of the foreigners are protected from trouble in a foreign country, theft, road accidents, just misunderstandings with the locals. Suppose it is necessary to intervene in the situation of the state authorities. In that case, the last to judge a foreigner will be "by the clothes," i.e., the type of visa, the availability of a Thai driver's license, etc. The availability of an elite visa and an immediate call to the Thailand Elite support service can determine right and wrong.
Disadvantages of Thailand Elite
Thailand Elite - provides VIP services, and the cost of these services corresponds to the club's name. Payment terms are not negotiated, and installments or discounts are excluded. Therefore, a Thailand Elite visa can only be a solution if you have the money.