Does applicant require a trip to Thai Embassy/Consulate in their home country to get a stamp in passport based on Elite approval documents, or do they arrive in Thailand with the approval forms and get all required stamps upon arrival.

 

Thanks for any clarification!

You can apply for a Thailand Elite on their website (https://www.thailandelite.com/#/) and when approved and paid for you can get the visa sticker done on arrival or at immigration in Bangkok and a couple of other offices.

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can apply for a Thailand Elite on their website (https://www.thailandelite.com/#/) and when approved and paid for you can get the visa sticker done on arrival or at immigration in Bangkok and a couple of other offices.

Thank you for quick response.  Do the airlines accept this proof of payment as evidence of having a visa when boarding, and is onward travel ticket required?  Alternatively, could you enter on a tourist visa, then  apply for the Elite from within country, or does it have to be done before entering?

 

Thanks again

6 minutes ago, hapark said:

Thank you for quick response.  Do the airlines accept this proof of payment as evidence of having a visa when boarding, and is onward travel ticket required?  Alternatively, could you enter on a tourist visa apply from within country, or does it have to be done before entering?

You could enter visa exempt if you qualify for it and get the Elite Visa on arrival. You might need a onward ticket to board your flight to here but they might accept proof you of your Thai Elite visa approval instead of a flight out.

You can also enter on a tourist visa and apply for the Elite visa here or visa exempt with the 30 day extension of it. 

You can get the visa affixed after payment at your country's Thai embassy (15-30 days), upon arrival at the airport (you need to book the EPL (Elite Personal Liason) for this at least 5 days in advance I believe for this) or Bangkok immigration (Chaeng Wittana) but you must wait at least 14 days after entering the country to do so for some reason.

 

I'm getting mine affixed later this month at Chaeng Wittana. They booked my appointment on literally the day my current permission to stay expires so hopefully no hiccups. It will be a nice relief to know I'm guaranteed at least 5 years here without hassle after all this ED VIsa and Covid extensions nonsense I chose to go through instead and I'll probably pay the extra 400k to extend to the 20 year one. 

 

I don't see why they would treat proof of payment of an Elite Visa (PE) any different than the purchase of an E-visa so I'm sure proof of an onward flight would not matter if you've already been approved and paid for it. If the airline does hassle you, easy to just book a throwaway ticket to Cambodia or something.

I applied using my Antigua & Barbuda passport (I have four) and came on a Tourist visa from Singapore (I have four passports). Got it affixed in CW while I was in Thailand on Tourist visa in 2018. 

I applied from Oz in 2019 for my Elite via the Eklite website. Was called the next day during Oz EST and guided through what doc's were required and needed.

Selected option of being met by TE concierge at the plane door upon arrival.

Was met there, escorted by an elegant, almost perfect English speaking Thai Elite staff member in her stylish uniform via golf cart to Business/First class IO stream.

Simple and had been usual for me a quick, uneventful IO experience there, all stamps placed in passport checked by TE concierge and then handed to me. Escorted to baggage then Customs (nothing to declare exit) and all the way to my awaiting car. 

If you get the 20 year EV do you need to leave to renew it/keep it active or can you just stay for 20 years? Website info isn't clear.

4 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

If you get the 20 year EV do you need to leave to renew it/keep it active or can you just stay for 20 years? Website info isn't clear.

The Thai Elite visas are issued with a 5 year validity and it allows unlimited 1 year entries until it expires.

When the visa is near to expiring you have to go to immigration to get a new visa sticker.

If you want to stay more than one year without leaving the country you have to apply for a one year extension at immigration.

Thanks to all for helpful advice.

19 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The Thai Elite visas are issued with a 5 year validity and it allows unlimited 1 year entries until it expires.

When the visa is near to expiring you have to go to immigration to get a new visa sticker.

If you want to stay more than one year without leaving the country you have to apply for a one year extension at immigration.

hardly worth it then unless you're single, under 50 and rich.