THAILAND PRIVILEGE VISALONG-TERM STAY IN THAILAND
WITH VIP TREATMENT

Thailand Privilege Visa E-book

TABLE
OF CONTENTS
About Siam Legal International

3

The Thailand Privilege Program
What is a Thailand Privilege Elite Visa?
Why was the program created?
Beneﬁts of Thailand Privilege Membership

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5
5
5

Types of Thailand Privilege MembershipGold Membership
Platinum Membership
Diamond MembershipReserve Membership

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How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Methods of Payment
Comparison Chart
Contact Us

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ABOUT
SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL
Siam Legal International is one of Thailand’s premier full-service law ﬁrms headquarteredin Bangkok with branch ofﬁces across the country.
Our local ofﬁces are strategically located throughout the major cities in Thailand including
Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket, and we operate international representative ofﬁces in
London and Las Vegas.
At Siam Legal, our attorneys specialize in a wide range of legal disciplines, including but
not limited to:• Real Estate Transactions – Thai Property Purchases (including leasehold),
Condominium Purchases, Villas, Project Development, Construction Law, Licensing• Immigration – Thai Citizenship, Permanent Residency, Thai Visa Applications(business, marriage, retirement, etc.)• Litigation Services – Civil, Commercial, Criminal• Process Service of Court Papers and Investigation Services – Individual
and Corporate• Family Law – Divorce (contested and uncontested), Child Custody,
Child Legitimization• Corporate and Investment Law – Foreign Business Licenses,
Board of Investment (BOI), Treaty of Amity
Our licensed Thai lawyers and qualiﬁed foreign attorneys and solicitors have a proven trackrecord of providing highly effective legal solutions to both local and international clients.
Our loyal clients appreciate our high degree of expertise, personalized services, andreasonable costs, keeping us in business for over 20 years.
Siam Legal is also an active member of the American Chamber of Commerce,
the British Chamber of Commerce, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.

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THAILANDPRIVILEGE PROGRAM
Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles” and is famous for its exotic destinations, vibrantbeaches, rich history and culture, peaceful temples, scrumptious foods, promising business
opportunities, and affordable cost of living. It is a massive tourism hotspot in Southeast Asia,
attracting millions of visitors from all over the world every year. Thailand has relaxed entry
requirements to accommodate tourists by providing easy short-term tourist visas, but somepeople want more.
Foreigners often come to Thailand to stay long-term and live in the Kingdom as residents.
At any given moment, there are millions of expatriates living and working in Bangkok andacross Thailand. Many are retirees hoping to spend their golden years in paradise, as
Thailand consistently ranks as one of the most comfortable places to retire in the world.
Others are professionals and entrepreneurs hoping to take advantage of the fertile businesslandscape in Thailand and the ease of starting a business in the Kingdom. The rest also
have their own reasons for wanting to stay long-term in Thailand.
Whatever their reasons, they all need the same thing: a visa that enables them to staylong-term and uninterrupted in Thailand so they can pursue their ambitions. This is easier
said than done, however, as many of the long-term visas in Thailand have stringent eligibility
requirements. The Thailand Privilege program was designed to give afﬂuent foreign nationals
an easier path to a luxurious and convenient life in the Kingdom.
Thailand Privilege replaced the old Thai Elite Visa program which offered a similar path.
However, the old Elite Visa was more complex and relatively sparse when it came to beneﬁts.
Thailand Privilege aims to not only provide a convenient multi-year and multi-entry visa, butalso a wealth of perks and extras to make life in Thailand the pinnacle of ease, comfort, and fun.
Obtaining a Thailand Privilege membership and the accompanying Elite Visa is more streamlined
and straightforward than any other available long-term visa in Thailand. Not only do membersof Thailand Privilege get more rewards than holders of other visas, they also havea lot more time to enjoy the country without much stress, thanks to simpler
application and renewal processes.

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WHAT IS A THAI ELITE VISA?
The Thailand Privilege Elite Visa comes with a Thailand Privilege membership. It is a long-term, multiple-entry tourist
visa. This means that while holders can buy a condominium, open a bank account, and freely leave and enter Thailand,
they cannot get a work permit and obtain lawful employment in Thailand. The good news is, holders of the Elite Visacan still proﬁt from investments in Thailand and foreign income.
The Elite Visa allows holders to stay in Thailand for 5 years, 10 years, or even up to 20 years depending on
the membership tier of the holder. There are four membership tiers, each with its own visa validity period.
WHY WAS THE PROGRAM CREATED?
The Thai Elite Visa program was created to attract “high-potential foreigners,” including businesspeople, investors,
digital nomads, afﬂuent expats, and retirees to Thailand to stimulate the economy. By providing applicants witha privileged entry visa, a wide range of additional discounts and beneﬁts, and reduced bureaucratic requirements,
Thailand hopes to make the Kingdom a hub for wealthy and inﬂuential global citizens.
BENEFITS OF THAILAND PRIVILEGE MEMBERSHIPThe Thailand Privilege program is all about the beneﬁts. Memberships of every tier provide visa holders the opportunity
to enjoy discounts, deals, free perks, and more in addition to a convenient visa. Listing them all here would take
too long, but here are some of the most notable:• Multiple entry visa that is valid for 5 years to 20 years (depending on the membership) with a one-year
extension period.
• Streamlined and straightforward application journey lacking all the pitfalls commonly
associated with long-term visa applications.
• Ability to add family members to the membership for a reduced price (except Gold tier).
• Elite Personal Assistants (EPA) to meet and escort the Thai Elite Card Member or VIPs on arrival and departure.
• Enrollment into the new privilege points feature for more ﬂexibility over which
membership privileges to leverage. Redeemable rewards include:◦ Hotel stays◦ Rounds of golf at leading courses◦ Spa and other wellness treatments◦ Wealth management services◦ And many, many more
• Upon arrival and departure, Thai Elite members will have access to a special fast-track
immigration and passport control line.
• Concierge services provided by the government, including:◦ Business networking and immigration services◦ Assistance in obtaining a driver’s license and opening a bank account in a foreign currency◦ 90-Day Reporting services• Complimentary annual health-checkups (once per membership validity).
• Access to parking spaces, premium lounges, and a Personal Shopping Assistantat select mall outlets.
• 24/7 special hotline service via the Member Contact Center (MCC).
• Special discounts at leading restaurants and stores.
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TYPES OF
THAI ELITE MEMBERSHIP
There are four distinct Thailand Privilege Membership tiers, with the main differences being costand visa validity duration. Higher tiers also receive marginally more beneﬁts than lower ones,
such as getting complimentary perks instead of having to redeem points for them. As long as
an applicant meets the overall Thailand Privilege eligibility requirements, all tiers are open tothem. However, note that the highest tier, Reserve, is only available via an invitation fromThailand’s tourism authority.
For every tier above Gold, applicants can include family members on their Thailand Privilege
application to add them to the membership and get them their own visas. Each additional
member costs a reduced price, but these members will not get their own allotment ofprivilege points, and must share the pool provided to the primary member.
GOLD MEMBERSHIP:

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Membership Validity: 5 years
Membership Fee: 900,000 THB (VAT included)
Additional Membership for a Family Member: Not available
Annual Fee: None
Privilege Points: 20 points per year
Membership Transfer: Not Allowed
Upgrade to Platinum (additional 5 years): 600,000 THB (VAT included)
Upgrade to Diamond (additional 10 years): 1,600,000 THB (VAT included)
Upgrade to Reserve (additional 15 years, invitation only): 4,100,000 THB (VAT included)
Privilege Entry Visa: 5-year multiple-entry visa.

PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP:

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Membership Validity: 10 years
Membership Fee: 1,500,000 THB (VAT included)
Additional Membership for a Family Member: 1,000,000 THB (VAT included)
Annual Fee: None
Privilege Points: 35 points per year
Membership Transfer: Not Allowed
Upgrade to Diamond (additional 5 years): 1,000,000 THB (VAT included)
Upgrade to Reserve (additional 10 year, invitation only): 3,500,000 THB (VAT included)
Privilege Entry Visa: Renewal 5-year multiple entry visa with an extendable
1-year length of stay per entry. You will be able to have 2 sets of
5-year multiple-entry visas.
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TYPES OF
THAI ELITE MEMBERSHIPDIAMOND MEMBERSHIP:

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•
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Membership Validity: 15 years
Membership Fee: 2,500,000 THB (VAT included)
Additional Membership for a Family Member: 1,500,000 THB (VAT included)
Annual Fee: None
Privilege Points: 55 points per year
Membership Transfer: Not Allowed
Upgrade to Reserve (additional 5 years, invitation only): 2,500,000 THB (VAT included)
Privilege Entry Visa: Renewable 5-year multiple entry visa with an extendable 1-year lengthof stay per entry. You will be able to have 3 sets of 5-year multiple-entry visas.

RESERVE MEMBERSHIP (VIA INVITATION ONLY):

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•
•
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Membership Validity: 20++ years
Membership Fee: 5,000,000 THB (VAT excluded)
Additional Membership for a Family Member: 2,000,000 THB (VAT included)
Annual Fee: None
Privilege Points: 120 points per year
Membership Transfer: Allowed
Upgrade: None
Age: Any Age
Privilege Entry Visa: Renewal 5-year multiple entry visa with an extendable 1-year lengthof stay per entry. You will be able to have 4 sets of 5-year multiple-entry visas.
After the membership term of 20 years, you can apply for additional 5-year multiple-entry
visas to extend your stay in Thailand.

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HOW TO APPLY
If you’re interested in applying for a Thailand Privilege membership and the Elite Visa
it provides, here’s a step-by-step process you can follow.
PREPARATION:

The ﬁrst step should be to engage the services of a government-certiﬁed General Sales andServices Agent (GSSA), like Siam Legal International. A GSSA is an organization, typically a law ﬁrm
or visa consultancy authorized by the government to provide FREE assistance with Thailand
Privilege applications. They have insider knowledge of the requirements and processes toanswer any of your questions, ensure your application is prepared correctly,and liaise withthe government on your behalf. This gives your application the best chance at approval andstreamlines the whole process. Best of all, it’s free!

APPLICATION:

You can apply for a Thai Elite Visa anywhere in the world by submitting the required documents
to your GSSA digitally. They will provide you with a document checklist, and review thesematerials as well as your application form to ensure there are no mistakes or errors, which could
lead to delays or an outright rejection. If everything is in order, they will send it to the tourism
authority, who will then perform a background check on you to determine your eligibility.
Depending on which country you are from, this process may vary from 1 to 3 months after
ﬁlling out the form. To initiate the background check, you will need to pay the ﬁxed application
fee of 50,000 baht. If your background check is successful, this amount will be deducted fromthe membership fee you will be paying later, so this is not an additional cost. Should you failyour background check, this amount will be refunded.
MEMBERSHIP FEE:

After a successful background check, you will receive an approval letter and a document withbanking details and instructions on how to pay for the cost of the Thai Elite Visa membershippackage you have chosen. The payment can be made through local or international banktransfers, or via online payments. Note that if you fail to make the payment within 30 daysof receiving the approval letter, your application will fail and you will not be refunded
the 50,000 THB application fee.

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HOW TO APPLYISSUANCE OF VISA:The Thai Elite Visa can be obtained either within Thailand at the immigration ofﬁce oran international airport, or abroad at a Thai embassy or consulate (see below).

ACCEPTANCE:

After paying the membership fee, you will be issued a membership number along witha welcome letter. By this point, your visa has been ofﬁcially approved and is ready to
be afﬁxed to your passport.
WHERE TO GET YOUR VISA

In Thailand Proper

The Immigration Bureau in Bangkok will issue your visa andassist you in setting up an appointment to get it afﬁxed to yourpassport. Depending on the date or time of day, you may be
expected to spend an hour or more at the immigration ofﬁce.

Bangkok and Phuket Airport New Thailand Privilege members can also make an appointment
to afﬁx their visa at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Muang Airport,
Chiang Mai Airport, or Phuket Airport upon their arrival.
Appointments must be booked no less than 5 working daysin advance. You can request for a complimentary Elite Personal
Assistant to help you on the day of the appointment, but only
at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket Airport.

Outside Thailand

The visa afﬁxation can be requested at the Royal Thai Embassyor the Royal Thai Consulate-General in your country. Due to
Ministry of Foreign Affairs policy, members in particularareas/countries are required to check with the Royal Thai
Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in their area
concerning the visa afﬁxation service.

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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONSWhat are the required documents for the Thai Elite Visa application?
▪ Completed Thai Elite Visa membership application form
▪ Completed Membership application fee payment form
▪ Copy of passport photo page (with visible signature)▪ Passport-size photo with white background (high-resolution)▪ Copy of proof of relationship as immediate family of core member (if applicable)
Is it necessary for me to apply for membership in person?
No, in fact you need not even be in the country, as the GSSA you retain will do the necessary
work for you. However, you are required to be present when the visa is afﬁxed to your passport.
How long will it take to process my application?
The background check may take up to 1 to 3 months depending on the country your passport
originates from. Payment processing and scheduling the visa appointment may add someweeks to this process.
Who is eligible to apply for the Thailand Elite Visa?
Here are the qualiﬁcations that each Thailand Privilege applicant must meet:▪ Hold a foreign passport with at least 1 year of validity remaining at the time of application▪ Adhere to all tenants of Thai immigration law▪ Never have been declared bankrupt▪ Never been declared as a person of unsound mind, incompetent, or quasi-incompetent▪ Have no pending or ongoing overstay record in Thailand▪ Cannot be a current or previous holder of a volunteer visa
▪ Complete the Education Visa Holder Acknowledgement Form and submit the required
supplementary documentation (if either a current or previous holder of an ED Visa)▪ Have no criminal record or been sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment in any
country (some exceptions are made, contact your GSSA for more information)
Is there any age limit?
There is no age limit requirement.

10FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONSIs there any income requirement to apply for the Thai Elite visa?
There are none, as long as the applicant pays the membership fee in full for their chosen tier.
However, the eligible applicant must not have ever declared bankruptcy.
What happens if my passport expires in less than a year?
Your Thailand Privilege visa will be afﬁxed in line with the expiration date stated on the passport.
Once you have renewed your passport, you must let the Thailand Privilege Card authority know
so they can extend the remaining duration of your membership.
Are any nationalities excluded from applying for a Thailand Privilege Membership?
Yes. Listed below are the countries that are ineligible to apply for a Thai Elite Visa:
AFRICAASIAMIDDLE EASTCENTRAL AFRICACAMEROON
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF CONGO
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGOEQUATORIAL GUINEAGUINEAGHANA
LIBERIA
NIGERIASAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
SIERRA LEONESOMALIASUDANNORTH KOREA
AFGHANISTANPAKISTAN

ALGERIA
IRAQ
EGYPT
IRAN
LEBANONLIBYA
PALESTINE
SYRIA
YEMEN

Is a notary stamp or certiﬁcation required on any Thailand Privilege
application documents?
No, it is not required. Sending a clear, scanned copy ofthe documents needed will be enough.
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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONSCan I apply for the Thailand Privilege membership if I hold a work permit?
As the Thai Elite Visa provided by this program is categorized as a tourist visa, it does not allow
the holder of the membership to legally apply for a work permit to obtain employment
in Thailand. If you are currently holding a Non-Immigrant visa, along with your work permit,
it must ﬁrst be canceled in order for your Elite Visa to be validated.
Can I ﬁnd employment in Thailand as a Thailand Privilege member?
Yes, but it will require you to apply for a non-immigrant working visa before ﬁnding workwithin the country. You will then have to cancel your Thai Elite Visa, but you can still remaina Thailand Privilege member and enjoy the associated beneﬁts. Note that while you cannot
get a job in Thailand with the Elite Visa, you can still proﬁt from investments in Thailand
and overseas sources of income.
As a Thailand Privilege member, do I have to do the 90-day reporting to immigration
during my stay?
Yes, you are still required to do a 90-day report if you do not leave the country within 90 daysof your previous arrival. This can sometimes be done online or you can spend just 1 privilege
point and have a service take care of this for you. Talks are underway as of February 2024 topossibly extend the 90-day reporting requirement to 1 year for Thailand Privilege members.
Follow our Travel to Thailand blog for updates to see when/if this goes into effect.
What will happen if one does not perform the 90-day report?
You will be penalized for overstaying your visa, which will lead to ﬁnes. If you continue tooverstay for an extended period and are caught, you may be banned from entering Thailand
for several years or more.
Is it possible for a Thailand Privilege holder to purchase real estate in Thailand?
No, it is not possible for foreign nationals to hold property in Thailand solely under their name.
However, you can own a condominium under your name as a foreign national. Also,
you are allowed to lease land, but you cannot buy the land and must seek
permission from the owner before building anything. There are ways that
foreigners can partially own land through businesses or throughmarriage, but these are not common. Contact Siam Legal’s
property law team for more information.
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METHODS
OF PAYMENT
Here’s how to pay your Thailand Privilege application and membership fees.
TRANSFER FROM LOCAL BANK ACCOUNTBank Deposit
First, deposit the amount into the Thailand Privilege Card bank account as stated in
the Approval Letter. Then, take a picture of the pay-in-slip and send it to Thailand
Privilege Card as proof of payment.
Mobile Banking Transfer
After payment is completed, you must submit a screenshot of the receipt for reference.
Online Payment
In order to pay using your credit card, you will need to go through an ofﬁcial payment
portal. After online payment is completed, you must send a screen capture for reference.
Your GSSA can send over the link to make the payment if you do not have it.
TRANSFER FROM OVERSEAS

Money Transfer from Overseas
Applicants must submit the form MT 103 which includes all payment details such as date,amount, currency, sender, and recipient for tracing payments that are missing or delayed.
This is required to show the route of the payment between the banks.
Transfer through WISE
Applicants must send the ofﬁcial conﬁrmation letter from WISE (formerly TransferWise)
as proof of payment.

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THAILAND PRIVILEGE VISAMEMBERSHIP PACKAGESGOLDPLATINUM

RESERVE

MEMBERSHIPMEMBERSHIPDIAMONDMEMBERSHIPMEMBERSHIP(Invitation Only)

5 years

10 years

15 years

20+ years

Membership Fee

900,000 THB

1,500,000 THB

2,500,000 THB

5,000,000 THB

Additional Membershipfor Family Members

Not available

1,000,000 THB

1,500,000 THB

2,000,000 THB

None

None

None

None

20 points per year

35 points per year

55 points per year

120 points per year

Membership Transfer

Not Allowed

Not Allowed

Not Allowed

AllowedUpgrade to Platinum

600,000 THB(VAT included)

X

X

X

Upgrade to Diamond(additional 10 years)

1,600,000 THB

1,000,000 THB(VAT included)

X

X

Upgrade to Reserve

4,100,000 THB

3,500,000 THB

2,500,000 THB

X

Membership Validity

Annual Fee

Privilege Points(additional 5 years)(additional 15 years, invitation only)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)(VAT included)

NOTE: A 100,000 THB ﬁxed upgrade fee is required in order to upgrade your membership.

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REX BAAYTHAILAND ELITE MANAGER

MAXIME BE

FRENCH THAILAND ELITE AMBASSADORLIVE YOUR BESTTHAILAND LIFE
LIZA ZADVORNAIA

Two Paciﬁc Place Building,
18th Floor, Unit 1806, 142 Sukhumvit road,
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110+66 80 005 9642
thailandelite@siam-legal.com
www.siam-legal.com

RUSSIAN THAILAND ELITE AMBASSADORDAVID PORNSAGUNPAISARNCHINESE THAILAND ELITE AMBASSADOR