IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE THAI ELITE

  • New elite membership packages for Thailand introduced!
  • New applications for Elite Family Alternative membership are now being accepted!
  • The latest information and changes regarding the Thailand Elite Visa Program can be found at the following links:
  • https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thailand-elite-visa-2023-program-changes
  • https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thailand-elite-visa-news-and-updates

    • Families love Thailand. The low cost of living, rich culture, world-class education system, and excellent medical care make the country an ideal destination for families looking to spend an extended holiday or settle permanently. For longer stays, all foreigners need a visa, which can be particularly complicated for families with children. The Thai Elite Family Alternative Visa is the perfect solution for couples and families with children or elderly relatives who want to build a happy life for the next ten years.

    Thailand offers many long-term visa options. However, only a few are suitable for families with diverse needs. Often, an individual long-term visa with its own requirements and restrictions must be applied for for each person. These visas must be renewed annually, resulting in significant bureaucratic effort and a considerable loss of time.

    The Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. It issues tourist visas to foreigners who no longer require short-term visas but wish to travel to Thailand regularly on a long-term basis or settle there permanently.

    The Thailand Elite Visa makes Thailand attractive to affluent families planning an extended stay. It bypasses many restrictions and offers its holders longevity, ease of application, and additional benefits. Families with a Thailand Elite Visa enjoy an exclusive lifestyle in Thailand, and there are various visa options to suit every personal and financial lifestyle.

    The pandemic has shown many people that travel and cultural experiences can be impossible at any time. Strict travel restrictions made it impossible for parents to show their children the world. For some children, Covid-19 was their only known experience. They lived in a world of lockdowns and rules that denied them a carefree childhood. While the restrictions have been lifted and travel is possible again, Covid has changed attitudes toward travel. No one wants to feel trapped anymore. Instead of organizing short breaks, many are looking for long-term solutions to provide their families with diverse cultural experiences. The Elite Family Alternative makes this easy for couples and parents who love the Land of Smiles and want to share it with their families.

    Overview of the elite family alternative

    The Thai Elite Family Alternative is a 10-year tourist visa for wealthy and high-earning foreign couples and families. It allows regular holiday trips to Thailand and offers unlimited entries for up to one year at a time over a 10-year period.

    If you wish to build a new life in Thailand, the Elite Family Program allows you to live there for up to one year before you need to leave and re-enter the country. Children can attend school year-round without parents having to worry about interruptions due to visa visits or annual renewals. With a 10-year visa, a child could attend primary school in Thailand and even be admitted to university before the family visa expires.

    The Elite Family Visa is a tourist visa. Families must therefore leave and re-enter the country. However, there is no minimum stay requirement outside the country before returning. There is also no minimum stay requirement within the country. It's a great opportunity to introduce your children to other parts of Asia while ensuring a hassle-free return. Should you be unable to leave at the end of the year for any reason, please contact Thailand Elite Privilege. They will assist you in extending your stay for another year, allowing you to enjoy two years of uninterrupted stay.

    The Elite Family Alternative Visa has very few requirements. Members do not need to prove income or have money in a Thai bank account. They are not required to attend an educational institution or do volunteer work. There are no age restrictions, and members do not need to renew their visa annually or undergo immigration interviews.

    The family visa is available to all immediate family members. Some visit or live with their spouse, others with their children. Still others wish to live in Thailand with their retired parents or grandparents. There is no limit to the number of people who can apply for a family visa, and additional applicants receive their visa at a reduced fee.

    The fee for a 10-year family visa is 800,000 baht for the first applicant. Each additional family member can be added for 700,000 baht. The minimum number of applicants for this visa is two, so a couple can live in Thailand for over 10 years for just 1,500,000 baht. Additional family members receive all the benefits of the visa at a reduced price.

    Visas are issued for a period of 5 years. A single fee covering the entire 10-year validity period is due upon approval; there are no annual fees. Since payment is only required after visa approval, there is no financial risk to you when applying.

    When applying for an Elite Family Visa, the Immigration Department conducts a due diligence background check on all applicants. Provided the potential family members have no criminal record or outstanding overstays in Thailand, the application is approved. After approval, the family member pays the visa fee, and the first visa, valid for five years, is issued.

    Members of Elite Family Alternative are treated like VIPs upon arrival in Thailand. Entry formalities and passport processing are expedited, and a concierge service is available, ensuring travelers are met at the airport and transferred to their accommodation by a private driver. Members contact Thai Elite Privilege, provide their arrival date, and everything else is taken care of.

    Thailand Elite Privilege wants its visa holders to feel special. The visas are designed to simplify life. Foreigners staying in Thailand for more than three months must report to the local Thai immigration office every 90 days. All family members must be present, which can be a significant burden for families with young children or elderly relatives. Elite family members do not need to report to the immigration office themselves. A Thai Elite representative organizes and represents the family during this formality. For Thai Elite visa holders, there are no long queues or waiting times, especially with children and elderly relatives.

    Members of Elite Family Alternative receive numerous discounts and benefits at partner businesses, restaurants, and leisure facilities in Thailand. Although Thailand is known for its low cost of living, leisure activities with children can still be expensive. To take advantage of these benefits, members simply present their Thai Elite Privilege Card at a partner location and immediately receive the corresponding discounts. These benefits can also be shared with friends and family visiting Thailand.

    The Elite Family Alternative is a simple visa solution for families who love Thailand and want to spend the next decade in a beautiful country.

    Alternative for elite families

  • 10-year family tourist visa with unlimited entry (2 x 5-year visas)
  • Available to all immediate family members
  • Up to 1 year stay per arrival
  • 1,500,000 Thai Baht for 2 people with no annual fee
  • 700,000 Thai Baht for additional family members
  • Assistance with bank account, driver's license and 90-day reporting obligation
  • Expedited arrival processing and private transport
  • Shopping and leisure benefits

    • Apply for your Elite Family Alternative Visa.

    There are several ways to apply for your family visa (alternatively). The easiest way is through a registered agent. With their help, you can submit the application either within Thailand or from your home country. Processing time is one to three months, depending on your nationality. Therefore, plan ahead and prepare everything for your arrival. The agent will advise you on the information required for all family members and submit the application on your behalf. They will monitor the processing status and keep you informed until approval.

    The advantage of a registered family agent is that they handle all the formalities and offer additional services to facilitate your move and stay in Thailand. They can provide notary services and liaise with potential schools. Since organizing documents for multiple people is often very time-consuming, your agent will provide you with personalized support from start to finish, keeping you informed about the status of your application and any outstanding documents.

    1. Submission of the application

    The first step is to contact your advisor. They will advise you on which visa best suits your family situation and how to initiate the application process. The advisor will send you a questionnaire for each family member with the necessary initial information. This includes:

  • Passport number and validity dates
  • Current visas or information about previous visa overstays in Thailand

    • Important: Every applicant, including children, needs a valid passport. All family members must submit the application at the same time, as additional family members cannot be added to an existing visa.

    Once you have returned the completed questionnaire, your agent will pre-fill the application form for Elite Family Alternative and send it to you by email for signature. They will inform you about all the required documents, such as marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, birth certificate, etc. Your agent will ensure that you don't have to worry about the necessary documents.

    Your application should include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • Color copy of your passport profile page
  • A high-quality passport photo
  • Additional documents for family members

    • Your agent will submit the application on your behalf and will liaise with Thailand Elite Privilege and the immigration authorities. They will be notified if any further information is required for approval during the process.

    When applying for your new passport, it must be valid for at least five more years. If your passport expires before these five years are up, you will be issued a visa valid until the expiry date of your current passport. Once you have received your new passport, your agent will arrange an appointment with the Thai embassy. Bring both your old and new passports to this appointment. There, a visa sticker will be affixed to your passport for the remaining five years of validity.

    2. Background check

    As part of its due diligence, the Thai Immigration Bureau conducts a background check on all applicants. This check includes the following:

  • Criminal convictions within Thailand or any other country
  • All outstanding overstays of the stay in Thailand (where the overstay fee has not been paid)
  • If an applicant currently holds valid visas for Thailand (e.g., education, pension, or work visas), these must be cancelled before the final approval of the Thai Elite Visa.

    • 3. Payment of the membership fee (credit card or bank transfer)

    The cost of an elite family visa is at least 1,500,000 Thai Baht. This visa grants two people unlimited access to Thailand for ten years. Each additional family member can be added for an extra 700,000 Thai Baht.

    Payment is only required after your visa has been approved. Once your visa is approved, you will receive a welcome letter from Thailand Elite Privilege. Your agent will also receive a copy. The letter contains information about the next steps, payment options, and the benefits available to you.

    The visa fee can be paid by credit card, international bank transfer, or, if you already have a Thai bank account, by domestic bank transfer. The fee is due as a single payment upon approval. If you have a daily transfer limit, please discuss this with your agent.

    Upon receiving approval and a welcome letter, a member of the Elite Family Alternative Programme has 3 months to pay the visa fee and begin their first 5-year term.

    4. Visa issuance (embassy, ​​airport or Thai immigration office)

    There are several ways to get your visa printed in your passport.

  • A member may visit the Thai embassy in their country.
  • A member can be picked up upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, Thailand, and the visa can be issued before passport control.
  • An appointment can be arranged for a visit to the Thai embassy in Bangkok.

    • Working with a real estate agent simplifies your process and provides you with a single point of contact. A good agent will not charge additional fees for their services.

    Further considerations and limitations

    Background check

    When conducting a background check, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

  • He has not been sentenced to imprisonment in any country except for a negligently committed offense.
  • because it had not been declared insolvent
  • not to have been declared mentally ill, legally incapacitated, or quasi-legally incapacitated

    • Working in Thailand

    Thai Elite Visas are considered tourist visas. To work or earn an income in Thailand, a valid work permit is required. This is not issued with a Thai Elite Visa. Anyone seeking employment or wishing to start a business in Thailand can contact their Thai Elite agent to discuss options for obtaining a work permit.

    Excluded countries

    Some countries have restrictions on the application process. Nationals of these countries are not eligible to receive a Thailand Elite Visa:

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

    • Why choose Thailand as your new home?

    There are many reasons why people vacation in Thailand or move there.

    Thailand has a low cost of living

  • Living outside the city is possible at very low cost.
  • It is true that Bangkok and Phuket can be expensive for luxury living.
  • Adequate transport system and infrastructure

    • Thailand offers first-class medical care

  • Thailand has some of the best medical facilities in Asia.
  • It costs only a fraction of the healthcare costs in Western countries.

    • Thailand offers first-class educational institutions

  • Thailand has numerous world-class international primary, secondary and higher education institutions that offer children and young adults a high-quality education at a fraction of the cost they would pay at home.

    • Thailand is the most important travel destination for Southeast Asia.

  • Thai airports offer easy access to many destinations in Southeast Asia through low-cost airlines.
  • Thailand is the perfect starting point to expand and explore the Southeast Asian region.

    • The Thai Elite Family Alternative Visa is designed for families who already have clear ideas about their future plans for the next decade. Whether it's an annual holiday destination or a new home, the Family Alternative Visa allows children to discover Thailand's unique culture. This visa is ideal for those who appreciate Thailand's attractions and are planning their future. As travel habits change, people don't want to find themselves in a situation where they can't travel. They're moving away from short trips and looking for long-term perspectives. Thai Elite is perfect for those who want to start a family or spend an extended period of time with their children and parents in a beautiful location.

    If you have any questions about the Thai Elite Visa Application, please use this form to contact us.

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