Visa Elite best option ? (vs retirement or marriage)

[Sambotte]

I was actually only now starting to calculate that, even if you are married or retired :

 

- Elite Visa : 500K for 5 years, money gone.

But no hassle with immigration (airport included), on the contrary : fast track, no question, no risk of detention and deportation for "any" reason. No need for re-entry or whatsoever.

No real need of reporting every 90 days, or to go to immigration if you change address : arguably ?

Some limo services witch can represent some money for some people (using that many times).

 

- Retirement or marriage visa : 800K or 400K in bank FOREVER if you want to keep this option. Money not gone but stuck !

Plus a lot of paperwork with the risk every year to have problem to extend...

And possibly health insurrance.

 

One point is if you plan to retire or to stay in Thailand, your deposit in bank is forever somehow. With no garantee your visa will be ok to extend.

Elite visa is garantee 5 years, if i understand correctly.

 

And last but not least : it looks like Thailand does not want anymore "permanent tourists", but neither "retiree or married guys with low money".

Actually i would not juge about that, many countries are way more restrictive, expensive for long term visa, and difficult for the paperwork. Not to mention less confortable to leave in.

 

So, imo, Elite visa is better, both for the effective cost (again, considering you will not want to withdraw your money from bank since it would make any further extension very difficult or not possible), for the Immigration paperwork and uncertainty, including IO at airport, and well... for the future :

Looks pretty obvious to me Thailand prefer those farangs (able to pay half or a million bahts for 5 or 20 years visa secure), for long stay, since they have millions of Chineese and soon Indians as short-term tourists (i mean money from of course).

 

Am i wrong to think so ? Elite visa is actually the best option ? And not really more costly. And a pretty sure thing :

It's just business as usual in Thailand then : you pay, you get quality. 

 

[ukrules]

The Elite membership is a good option, especially if you're under 50, not married and don't need or want to work in Thailand.

 

Of course you probably want to be pretty confident that you're going to make use of it and not move country after a year or two.

[BritTim]

If confident that you will want to stay in Thailand for many years, I think there is much to be said for the Elite visa. In fact, for someone under about 60, the 20-year option for a million baht might be a good investment. That assumes that, whatever else happens, the Elite visa will be honoured with no sudden changed requirements for existing members. Currently, the retirement option only requires you to deposit 800,000 baht (as opposed to a million) and is definitely a better idea if you have doubts about wanting to stay long term. However, it is impossible to predict what the requirements might be for a retirement extension even five years from now, let alone 10 or 20 years.

[UbonThani]

Fly in and out better. No visa. Not stuck in a country that changes rules every year.

[Kelsall]

The 20 year Elite for 1M Baht is the best option if you have the money. You get hassle free living in, or traveling to, Thailand.  Plus for US citizens you can keep foreign bank account balances low, or have no foreign bank accounts at all, thus eliminating the need to file the FBAR every year.

Edited February 22, 2020 by Kelsall

[Sambotte]

9 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

You get hassle free living in, or traveling to, Thailand. 

That's the main point imo.

I am a traveller, but find Thailand the best place, and want to be able to live in maybe 6-8 months a year, variable, free (no planning).

 

And the Elite visa is not necesarely more costly in fact.

 

Could some "Elite members" confirm there is absolutely no known problem with this Visa ? 

[ukrules]

13 minutes ago, Sambotte said:

Could some "Elite members" confirm there is absolutely no known problem with this Visa ? 

I've never had a problem with mine so I renewed it for a second one.

[Neeranam]

Am I missing something here?

I thought for marriage you must only show the money in the bank for 2/3 months then can withdraw it all if you want.

 

If you are not working, what is the problem going to immigration once a year?

You certainly can't be too busy. It is a chance to practice you Thai skills, meet other foreigners.

 

A total waste of money IMHO. 500,000 baht just because it's an inconvenience to get that letter from the bank or make an extra photocopy once a year.

 

If you really hate immigration much, just pay an agent to do it for 15,000 a year.

 

 

[roaming2019]

 I dont see this  elite visa  in  royal thai embassy consulate website .   which thai government site do this  shows. 

[ubonjoe]

22 minutes ago, roaming2019 said:

 I dont see this  elite visa  in  royal thai embassy consulate website .   which thai government site do this  shows. 

Embassy and consulates have nothing to do with them. See: https://www.thailandelite.com/?locate=en

[jackdd]

Elite visa: You pay 500k for 5 years, the money is gone. If for whatever reason you decide to leave Thailand in 3 years, the money is also gone.

Retirement / marriage visa: You deposit the money in the bank, if at any point you decide to leave Thailand you take the money with you. If you die in Thailand somebody else can still inherit the money.

With the elite visa you pay 50k-100k for many years upfront to save a day at immigration per year, imho that's not worth it.

 

[darrendsd]

You still need to do 90 day reports on a Elite Visa

[roaming2019]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Embassy and consulates have nothing to do with them. See: https://www.thailandelite.com/?locate=en

then who does it ?  I mean  it could be a scam or it can be  someday suddenly dropped 

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, roaming2019 said:

then who does it ?

Thai Elite is owned by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Immigration does the visa stickers after the application is approved by Thai Elite and the fee is paid.

[roaming2019]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Thai Elite is owned by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Immigration does the visa stickers after the application is approved by Thai Elite and the fee is paid.

what is the minimum amount /duration    .  

[BritTim]

14 minutes ago, roaming2019 said:

what is the minimum amount /duration    .  

The main options are 500,000 baht for five years or 1,000,000 baht for 20 years.

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, roaming2019 said:

what is the minimum amount /duration    .  

Five years for 500k baht. https://www.thailandelite.com/at-your-service/card/elite-easy-access-membership?locate=en&popup=false

[Sambotte]

It's obviously not about a day at immigration a year ????

 

- Airport : i would like to know how frequent this is, but i was on retirement visa extension, re-entry, and have been interrogated by a IO about anything, if i did the visa myself, if i had my bankbook, why i was changing address... Kind of not confortable.

 

- When you renew your retirement or marriage, you never know, <deleted> happens ????

Last minute change like having to go outside to sort things could cost you a lot.

 

- 90 days : now you are not sure it will be ok, could be a problem for the next extension (if you miss it).

 

- You go under 400K or 800K just one time : your extension is dead. 

 

- Those could make a lot of time and stress at immigration.

 

- And now the health insurrance. 

 

- You need a fix address (and a lease of 1 year at least i have been told last time) for retirement extension.

 

- Etc.

 

NOTHING OF THAT with the Elite visa, right ?

Maybe the 90 days but you don't care if you don't, no retirement extension to do again with all papers.

 

All the "cheap" (i say with kind of humour) visas have been dramatically changed the last years. Overstays (yep i know it's not a visa), tourist, exemption (frequency), student, retirement (for marriage i don't know but there are some posts).

 

WHAT NEXT ? Because to me it's obviously not mistakes, as i said, Thailand does not need long-stay-farangs anymore, actually they don't want, unless you have money ! It's just business, easy to understand, Thailand is very business. And not a cheap country anymore.

 

No offense but those saying "hu, what, for 1 day at immig per year ?..." may have missed a few changes, or are in denial.

 

So... Looks much, much, better, if one can pay.

Will the Elite visa stay the same ? Probably, and pretty surely for the duration of what you largely PAID for (makes a big difference).

 

Cost : yes, Elite is gone money, but for quality (and certainty).

Retirement 800K for example is : you can get your money back BUT THEN GOODBYE EXTENSIONS (possibly re-doable but that's not SO sure...). Not really certainty.

 

Last : Retirement with 800K well is more than 500K Elite anyway too.

 

But i'm not here to argue. Just thinking.

So no report of problem with Elite Visa ? 

 

[MJKT2014]

Elite Visa is just an expensive version of the visa agent. Is it worth it depends how much money you want to throw away to known as an elite!? I will always go the Non Imm O route myself for 1900THB/yr.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Sambotte said:

 

But i'm not here to argue. Just thinking.

So no report of problem with Elite Visa ? 

 

 

What type of problems do you mean / or think may exist?

 

Elite Visa is pretty much 100% hassle free.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, MJKT2014 said:

Elite Visa is just an expensive version of the visa agent. Is it worth it depends how much money you want to throw away to known as an elite!? I will always go the Non Imm O route myself for 1900THB/yr.

 

And what to do for those unmarried and younger than 50 years old?

 

The EliteVisa becomes a very viable option and once the costs vs benefits are calculated one which is not actually that costly. 

 

20 year membership is 1MB: that’s 137 baht per day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sambotte]

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

What type of problems do you mean / or think may exist?

 

Elite Visa is pretty much 100% hassle free.

A tourist visa for example if very official hmm... But people can get deported at airport ?! 

Not the way i like to travel ????

So i try to check if this can never happen with the Elite visa.

 

That would be the main benefit imo (airport relax everytime like in the old times), but the other are good too (no paperwork and stress/necessity to get approval somewhere every few months).

 

And the costs are to think about. If you need to keep 400-800K in bank, that's a cost anyway. And health assurance. And a lease. And maybe a agent or whatever (never done). 

All that with no garantee you will get your visa, and the extensions. Hmm ????

[spinner2020]

[To those commenting on having to have large amounts in bank for a marriage visa, that's only if you go the extension route.]

 

If I had half a million baht to throw around, I am sure I could find a better cause than TAT.

 

Come to think of it, if I had that money to spare, I could find better countries to spend it in.

[ThomasThBKK]

12 minutes ago, spinner2020 said:

[To those commenting on having to have large amounts in bank for a marriage visa, that's only if you go the extension route.]

 

If I had half a million baht to throw around, I am sure I could find a better cause than TAT.

 

Come to think of it, if I had that money to spare, I could find better countries to spend it in.

That's only your personal opionion, for many people 1 mio THB isn't much to worry about. 

You can say the same about retirement extensions, if u had 800 000 THB to lockup u could go somewhere else...

 

What's the better cause? Buying a car? Which countries are better and don't want you to lockup money for a longterm visa? 

 

It's the price of a Honda Civic 1.8 EL, not a big deal in the grand sheme of things....

[Sambotte]

Well... 5 years 500K It's 100K a year, 8.000 a month... I am not rich but i can afford that.

Or less if 20 years visa.

Or that's the price of a good car, dead money too including maybe you ????

 

Marriage well it cost in itself if i may say so ????. I don't know for the changes or not.

But retirement : problems with pensions, or a not cheap semi-permanent deposit in bank... And lease. And health assurance. And what next ?

Student : are checked.

Exemption or tourist : problem if often, and schedules to make.

 

IMO Thailand does not want Cheap Charlies anymore, sorry guys ????

Just kidding... Somehow...

[Bob12345]

44 minutes ago, Sambotte said:

It's obviously not about a day at immigration a year ????

 

- Airport : i would like to know how frequent this is, but i was on retirement visa extension, re-entry, and have been interrogated by a IO about anything, if i did the visa myself, if i had my bankbook, why i was changing address... Kind of not confortable.

 

- When you renew your retirement or marriage, you never know, <deleted> happens ????

Last minute change like having to go outside to sort things could cost you a lot.

 

- 90 days : now you are not sure it will be ok, could be a problem for the next extension (if you miss it).

 

- You go under 400K or 800K just one time : your extension is dead. 

 

- Those could make a lot of time and stress at immigration.

 

- And now the health insurrance. 

 

- You need a fix address (and a lease of 1 year at least i have been told last time) for retirement extension.

 

- Etc.

- airport: since my arrival 8 years ago and having had different visas, i have never been asked 1 question. If they would ask a question, i would just answer it, as i am not doing anything illegal

 

- extension: sure sometimes i need to go out to arrange something last minute, like make an extra copy. That costs me about 3 baht per copy compared to 400k for a visa.

 

- 90 days: just report on time or pay the fine. They wont refuse your visa over that

 

- go under 400k: just put it in a bank account (plus a few k extra) and dont use that account. Bank book + atm card in a drawer and no internet banking for that account. Surprise: a year later your money is still there minus a few hundred baht of cost deductions

 

- time & stress at immigration: plan a whole day for it and after your first extension you know how to do it all. No stress, just time.

 

- health insurance: got it, btw it also handy when you get ill...

 

- fixed address: no problem for most as many buy a house here

 

 

500k is a lot of money to avoid the non-problems of other visas. But if it is worth it for you, go ahead. I rather spend the money on something else, almost anything else.

[Sambotte]

Well i will certainly not argue here. Or ?... Nop. Well...

 

If everything is fine and easy FOR YOU (you read the reports here yes ?) hmmm... Good for you.

What can i say ? Did i read any point here ? I mean except assurance is good when you get ill, or most retiree buy a house ????

 

And nop you will not spend the money for something else, since it's STUCK IN BANK AS LONG AS YOU NEED EXTENSION.

Do-you-follow !? ????

Edited February 23, 2020 by Sambotte
Irony

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

 

500k is a lot of money to avoid the non-problems of other visas. But if it is worth it for you, go ahead. I rather spend the money on something else, almost anything else.

 

You can’t spend the money on something else... You have it locked away in a Bank Account awaiting your next renewal. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

48 minutes ago, Sambotte said:

A tourist visa for example if very official hmm... But people can get deported at airport ?! 

Not the way i like to travel ????

So i try to check if this can never happen with the Elite visa.

 

That would be the main benefit imo (airport relax everytime like in the old times), but the other are good too (no paperwork and stress/necessity to get approval somewhere every few months).

 

And the costs are to think about. If you need to keep 400-800K in bank, that's a cost anyway. And health assurance. And a lease. And maybe a agent or whatever (never done). 

All that with no garantee you will get your visa, and the extensions. Hmm ????

 

There is pretty much zero potential for any Immigration issue upon arrival at the Airport when holding a Visa issued though Thai Elite. Members are fast tracked through immigration without a concern in the world.

 

I imagine if you are caught working on a Thai Elite visa etc then you could face issues, the same issues your would face working on a Tourist Visa etc, so the Thai Elite visa is not a solution for illegal working etc, but its an ideal solution for someone who wants to stay in Thailand long term (and not work), or for someone who makes extremely frequent visits. 

 

 

[mfd101]

The issues are actually complex for someone like me (70, healthy, planning to be here till the end, OA retirement visa originally, now on annual extension with monthly 65K+ income stream, no health insurance but do have Thai accident insurance, not poor but not wealthy).

 

It's the health insurance threat that is potentially the killer (though I recognize that I should have some). Renewal coming up in October. At this stage I'm thinking of trying out the approved Thai health insurance for 1 year, or even 2 to see if it works for me. Alternative is elite 5 years. (20-year elite strikes me as silly unless you're filthy rich - too many risks associated with old age & living in Thailand!)