Are you looking for credible information about the Thailand Elite Visa? Check out  the Q&A’s with  an authorized Elite Visa agent who can answer your questions and give you a clearer understanding.

1. When your clients decide to get an Elite Visa, what are the most common reasons?

In many cases, people who are retired, especially those who live in colder countries, come here in order to escape the cold.

In addition, many people who want to come to Thailand often and stay longer than one month will do so because they will be able to take longer holidays, and also because it is cheaper to live in Thailand than to stay for only one month. Instead of spending a year in your own country for example, you could spend three years in Thailand .

In my opinion, one of the appeals of the Elite Visa is that it allows for multiple entries so you don’t need to worry about going in and out every single time.

2. Can you tell us what are the most common demographics of Elite Visa holders, such as their life situation, their age, etc.?

There are two main groups of people who apply for Thailand Elite  Visas: 

First, there are retirees older than 60 who stay longer in Thailand , such as some people who say they will stay in Thailand for six months, then return to their own country for another six months.

There is another very large group of people who are 30-50 years old, these people are young entrepreneurs and investors, as well as those who work online for their companies overseas. 

A benefit of the Elite Visa is that these groups of  people  just want to  live here, but they don’t want to work in Thailand , so they just want a visa that guarantees they can stay here without any problems, and the Elite Visa gives them that guarantee.

3. According to your experience, what are the most common reasons why people hesitate to apply for an Elite Visa?

As for the most recent hesitation, there are two main reasons. One is that it was  quite difficult to enter Thailand during COVID-19,, you had to apply for a Thailand pass, book SHA hotels  and get insurance. Nowadays, it’s much easier for people to come, so now some people still think the membership fees are too high.

But some investors and entrepreneurs want more flexibility, so I think they are happy to pay. I should also mention that the Elite Visa allows you to complete all of the application process online. 

4. So you don’t have to be in Thailand. Is that correct?

Yes, it is very simple. You will be asked for a photo, a passport, and some other documents to fill out the online application. Once you have applied online, you have a few options for affixing the actual visa in your passport. The first option is to affix it at the Thai embassy or consulate in your own country, while the second option is to affix it on arrival at the airport. You can actually book an appointment with the immigration office at the time you plan on coming to Thailand , and we will be happy to help you out.

5. Can the Thailand Elite  Visa assist with 90-day reporting? Does it depend on which province I live in?

In general, yes, depending on the province and the TM-30. The TM-30 is the residency document you use when renting a house or condo. If you live in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, you can simply drop off your passport at the Thailand Elite  Office and pick it up later, but if you live in other provinces, you need to go to your local immigration office and complete the 90 day report by yourself. For the first report, you have to do it on your own, but on the second report onwards, you can do it online.

6. In the event that you forget to complete your 90-day reporting, what should you do?

In the event that you forget to submit your 90-day reports, you will have to go to the immigration office in your area and submit them yourself and pay a fine of 2,000 THB.

7. Does the Elite Visa include fast tracking at airport immigration? Do you get into a special line?

Definitely! As soon as you get off your flight, the Thailand Elite  Visa  staff will greet you and show you the fast track line for immigration proceedings. They will expand and take you through all the immigration processes in the airport, so you do not have to wait in the long queues like other passengers do. 

8. If I apply for an Elite Visa and get approved, does the membership period begin when I get approved or when the visa is affixed?

Thailand Elite  memberships have two parts, the first is a Thailand Elite  membership and the benefits start when you receive the welcome letter and member identification, while the Elite Visa starts when you affix it in your passport .

9. Let’s say that I get the Elite Visa and I live in Thailand , but I work online on my computer for a business that’s overseas. Under the Elite Visa, is it okay for me to do that?

Thai Elite refers to the VIP multiple entry long-stay tourist visa, so if you are on a tourist visa, you cannot actually work in Thailand , but you can work online for your company overseas. Therefore, if you come from overseas and work for the company, your income goes into your overseas bank account and you pay your income tax overseas, it is fine.

It’s okay to work for someone else overseas and have the money go into your foreign bank account as long as you do not work in Thailand for a Thai company or a Thai employee and do not get paid right in Thailand . Because of this, many people who apply for  the Elite Visa are digital nomads who work for a company and want to be here to work on their laptops by the pool or on the beach. 

10. As a digital nomad who has the Elite Visa and is working online –  if change my mind and I would like to start a company in Thailand or to work for a company in Thailand?

As a matter of fact, one person can only have one visa, so if you have the elite member visa and want a work permit on a NON-B visa, you can’t do it. Therefore, if the non-B visa is approved, your Elite Visa will be terminated. 

11. In the case of applying with a family, if I apply for the basic elite package with three family members, will they be able to extend for 15 years to a 20-year visa?

If three family members apply for 1.1 million THB, that means they apply for elite family excursions. This one for elite family excursions is valid for five years without any extensions or upgrades. Only one type of Elite Visa can be upgraded to 20 years. Thai Elite  easy access is valid for five years, but it can be upgraded to elite up ultimate privileges or elite superiority extensions. Hence, if this family wants to upgrade to 20 years they will need to apply for an easy access visa, which costs 600,000 THB per person, so 1.8 million THB for three people.

12. Can I travel to and from Thailand an unlimited number of times per year and can I stay there for a short period of time, like a week?

There is no minimum stay for elite members. So you can stay for a few days or up to a year without doing anything else except to fill out 90 day reports. In the case that you wish to stay longer than one year, you simply extend your stay at the immigration office. 

13. What happens after the Elite Visa expires. The Elite Visa has a maximum period of 20 years, so can it be renewed after that?

It can be renewed, but all the documents have to be submitted again. In theory, someone can apply when they are 30 years old, 20 years later when they’re 50, and 20 years later when they’re 70 years old, and so on. In light of the current laws, you may do that if you want.

14. What is the typical processing time for an application?

In most cases, it takes two to four months from the moment we submit all your documents and applications into Thailand Elite  System to the time you get the member ID and welcome letter. In some cases it can take as little as one month.

15. Now, let’s say someone is interested in applying for the Elite Visa?

 The process is very simple, you will send us some details so we can check your eligibility. Here is the form you can use to check your eligibility: