Thai privilege (Elite) visa

[A free man]

Hello, can we expect them to drop the increased price on the elite since they have problems with tourism and the new DTV? Or should we forget about that? Just curious about your opinions, please share..

[Gaccha]

5 minutes ago, A free man said:

problems with tourism and the new DTV

 

What problems with tourism and what issues with the DTV?

 

I think there will be a huge price drop of the Privilege Visa as they have certainly overestimated its desirability. The only issue is how they will do this while trying to save face.

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Gaccha said:

What problems with tourism and what issues with the DTV?

You make a good point..

Even agents are advertising DTV for a price..

Granted it requires trip outside of Thailand.

My thinking PE visa dead in the water unless huge price reduction.

Trim off the fringe benefits would help eg golf

[freedomnow]

28 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Even agents are advertising DTV for a price..

Which I guess would be some workaround method for people who don't qualify.

 

I see you are the new 'Ubonjoe' on AN now....

RIP Joe.

[A free man]

57 minutes ago, Gaccha said:

 

What problems with tourism and what issues with the DTV?

 

I meant the decreased tourism in Thailand and the release of the new DTV visa which automatically reduces the desire of the Elite for certain group of people. My bad for phrasing it incorrectly. Anyways, thanks for your insight, I hope they do reduce the price. If it currently had an old price I would snatch that visa at this moment. 

[A free man]

47 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Even agents are advertising DTV for a price..

 

Would you be kind enough to PM me the advertisements you've seen? I would be interested to see the actual AD. 

[Liquorice]

38 minutes ago, A free man said:

I meant the decreased tourism in Thailand

Tourism is booming since the VE was changed to 60 days on arrival.

Thai baht has strengthened against other currencies for that reason, just look at current exchange rates.

[goldenbrwn1]

6 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Tourism is booming since the VE was changed to 60 days on arrival.

Thai baht has strengthened against other currencies for that reason, just look at current exchange rates.

The US dollar has weakened and will prob continue to weaken at this stage of the cycle now with Interest rates coming down. This is why the Thai baht is stronger , absolutely nothing to do with the Thai tourism sector.

[Presnock]

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You make a good point..

Even agents are advertising DTV for a price..

Granted it requires trip outside of Thailand.

My thinking PE visa dead in the water unless huge price reduction.

Trim off the fringe benefits would help eg golf

The free golf is one of the tangible benefits in my opinion.   If one is an avid golfer it could even save money over the length of the visa.  My opinion anyway though I believe this visa if over priced - and they could drop the price just like they did with the LTR by 50% as they were not getting the numbers of people wanting such visa.

[Presnock]

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You make a good point..

Even agents are advertising DTV for a price..

Granted it requires trip outside of Thailand.

My thinking PE visa dead in the water unless huge price reduction.

Trim off the fringe benefits would help eg golf

Yes, possibly like the LTR as they dropped the price 50% to attract more people.

[mstevens]

9 hours ago, A free man said:

 

I meant the decreased tourism in Thailand and the release of the new DTV visa which automatically reduces the desire of the Elite for certain group of people. My bad for phrasing it incorrectly. Anyways, thanks for your insight, I hope they do reduce the price. If it currently had an old price I would snatch that visa at this moment. 

 

Decreased tourism? Where did you get that idea from?

[Sheist]

9 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Which I guess would be some workaround method for people who don't qualify.

 

I see you are the new 'Ubonjoe' on AN now....

RIP Joe.

 

Joe died?  When did this happen?

[Upnotover]

9 minutes ago, Sheist said:

 

Joe died?  When did this happen?

 

[ujayujay]

Because this Privilege Visa is not worth the Money?!

[renaissanc]

The 5-Year 900,000 Baht fee is horrendous, in my opinion. I've had a Marriage Visa for 37 of my 40 years here. 1,900 Baht per year now.  2,500,000 Baht for 10 years! Wow! But if the foreigner is very rich, then why not? There must be more desirable and cheaper countries to move to though.

[JamesPhuket10]

5 hours ago, mstevens said:

 

Decreased tourism? Where did you get that idea from?

 

It was in a Thai news article a few days ago, that the number of Chinese tourists who would normally have booked by now for the Chinese National Day have not booked, the numbers are down 30%.

 

Also, there was an article stating the strength of the Baht against many major countries is putting off tourists due to increased costs, I have notice the £ has gone down from 45 to 42.5 baht, small but it makes a difference. 

[Rob Browder]

14 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Which I guess would be some workaround method for people who don't qualify.

Never underestimate how lazy people can be.  It is not hard to "qualify" for the DTV by booking some dental appointments or similar, then follow the proven process documented in the DTV thread on this site and elsewhere.  Go to the agent, and they will "figure it all out" for you (for a fee). 

 

I don't know why anyone under 50 + not working in Thailand would not use the DTV.  If I was still under 50, I'd be dumping my old PITA marriage-based extensions or ME-Non-O Visa to go with the DTV.  But, retirement-based is simple, inexpensive, and reliable, so sticking with that.

[black tabby12345]

Thai Elite Visa.

Is it rapidly becoming the unsellable Dead Stock to Thai govt?

Because of their recent introduction of DTV(destination Thailand visa).

Valid for 5 yrs with 180 days yearly stay permit(extendable further 6 months after initial entry?).

And it costs  only  THB50000, far below the Elite Visa.

And no need for  the  large amount fund transfer into Thai bank account.

As it is issue by the Thai embassies abroad, the applicants only have to prove their account balance at home.

[Rob Browder]

10 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

Thai Elite Visa.

Is it rapidly becoming the unsellable Dead Stock to Thai govt?

The Elite visa is not a "Thai Govt" visa, issued by the MFA - is run by a separate organization, who "contribute" part of the money they take-in to Immigration, etc, to allow it to operate. 

 

Some have speculated that increasing problems under-50s had staying in Thailand in the past were, at least in-part, related to these "contributions" - also, online-trolls bashing those who were trying to find other ways to stay in Thailand under-50.  But we all know people never do things "for money" - is just crazy-talk, amirite? /s.

 

Evidently, the pros of having thousands of people spending foreign-earned money here (ideally, taxed, from their POV) have outweighed such considerations - hence the DTV.

[mokwit]

Just now, Rob Browder said:

Some have speculated that increasing problems under-50s had staying in Thailand in the past were, at least in-part, related to these "contributions"

Shortly after The Elite visa was introduced after Thaksin claimed it would raise billions and they sold just 6, things started to tighten up on the visa front.

[black tabby12345]

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Even agents are advertising DTV for a price..

----------------------------------------------------------------

Fast selling brand than the pricy dead stock.

 

[Ben Zioner]

19 hours ago, A free man said:

Hello, can we expect them to drop the increased price on the elite since they have problems with tourism and the new DTV? Or should we forget about that? Just curious about your opinions, please share..

No.

[A free man]

Really nice to see people discussing, I see this forum has a lot of older expats who must have gone through a lot of <deleted> with this crappy visa system. I myself am just a young newbie trying to grasp some valuable information. 

[Presnock]

On 9/23/2024 at 9:04 PM, Gaccha said:

 

What problems with tourism and what issues with the DTV?

 

I think there will be a huge price drop of the Privilege Visa as they have certainly overestimated its desirability. The only issue is how they will do this while trying to save face.

Actually, they cut the LTR visa cost in half as they couldn't get the numbers of buyers that they wanted.  They don't lose face as long as they are getting money,.

[john donson]

money wasted...  what problems... one plane landing every minute now at suvi

[popabear]

On 9/24/2024 at 11:15 AM, renaissanc said:

There must be more desirable and cheaper countries to move to though.

Yes I fully agree , more more more money , I really don't understand why any of you bother with this. Regards Popa

 

 

[municipalstroller]

Hi forum,

 

I've been approved for a Privilege visa, and am making plans at the moment for the move.

 

Not sure this is the perfect thread, but rather than start a new one I thought I'd try a post here to look for feedback on the below:

 

- Book a three week trip to get started:

    - Spend some time in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Phuket. Look at a few rental options in each, sign a contract and secure somewhere to live. Considering offering one month deposit + three upfront, rather than the usual 2+1.

    - Open a bank account - I have some doubts as to whether this will be possible initially, as my understanding is the bank account depends on having a Certificate of Residence, which in turn depends on having a successful 90-day report. I'd like to do it asap.

 

- Return to my current base for a week or two, close things down and return to Thailand and the new rental

 

- Driving Licence: as the Thai process doesn't look to arduous, I thought I may just sit the tests required. Perhaps there are a few differences in the Highway Code-type rules I should know about too.

  - Motorcycle Licence: I don't currently have one, but I would get one if living in Hua Hin or Phuket, and do that at the same time as the driving licence.

 

- Tax registration: although non-working, I understand I'd need to register and declare divestments into THB.

 

- Personal goods: I have some boxes in storage which I'd eventually ship over. I assume that would require registering with Customs and paying the import duties.  

 

- Plugs & cables: I currently have EU and UK plugs for my devices, I don't expect any issues and I'm not currently aware of any better options.

 

- Working out: I keep things simple with two dumbbells, which I'd replace on arrival. No issues to buy them in any of the places I mentioned above, I assume.

 

- Hot weather clothes: visit a tailor in Bangkok towards the end of the prep trip, pick up on the second, more permanent trip out.

 

That's probably enough to get started, very grateful for any advice or warnings.

[DrJack54]

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Considering offering one month deposit + three upfront, rather than the usual 2+1.

The place you rent will set terms. 

 

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Open a bank account - I have some doubts as to whether this will be possible initially, as my understanding is the bank account depends on having a Certificate of Residence, which in turn depends on having a successful 90-day report. I'd like to do it asap.

Previously a 90 day report was required at eg CW to obtain a COR. 

That is no longer the case. 

Your lease and TM30 should be sufficient to obtain COR for Bank account. 

Some advice in this thread. One post has link to PE services. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1317289-is-it-possible-to-open-a-bank-account-based-on-thailand-elite-visa/ 

 

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Driving Licence: as the Thai process doesn't look to arduous, I thought I may just sit the tests required.

Yes you can do both car and bike at the same time. 

You will need another COR for TDL. 

A photocopy sufficient for the other (bike) license. 

There is a Motor forum on AseanNow and TDL threads there. 

You first TDL is valid for 2 years. 

For those with Non O etc the renewal is valid for 5 years. 

Some debate about renewal for folk with a PE visa.

Discussed here. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1214055-5-year-driving-licence-renewal-with-5-year-thai-elite-pe-visa/

Note DTV in this thread + elite. 

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Tax registration: although non-working, I understand I'd need to register and declare divestments into THB.

Worry about that later. IMO

 

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Plugs & cables: I currently have EU and UK plugs for my devices, I don't expect any issues and I'm not currently aware of any better options.

You can easily replace with suitable cables here. Or use adaptors. 

 

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Working out: I keep things simple with two dumbbells, which I'd replace on arrival. No issues to buy them in any of the places I mentioned above, I assume.

Of course not. Have you been to Thailand previously? 

8 hours ago, municipalstroller said:

Hot weather clothes: visit a tailor in Bangkok towards the end of the prep trip, pick up on the second, more permanent trip out.

Tailor for what. They have extensive clothing shops here. Even shopping malls. 

Very large sizes can be difficult. Obviously bring suitable wardrobe with you. 

[municipalstroller]

Thanks @DrJack54, seems like a reasonable plan then. I'm having a good look at the banking thread you linked now.

[municipalstroller]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Of course not. Have you been to Thailand previously? 

Not for long. I'm keen to leave Europe, and I have spent a long time in neighbouring countries. Thailand is interesting to me in terms of overall lifestyle and tax, hence the application for the Privilege scheme. I'd be learning the language from scratch.

 

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Tailor for what.

I know t-shirts won't be hard to find, but I don't have anything more formal that isn't wool with lining. Assuming I'll find a tailor, I was really asking if that or anything else would need to be done in Bangkok.

 

Ideally, I'd like to rent a small villa over a condo. That implies not living in the capital, but my sense is that the number on the market at any given moment in Phuket or Hua Hin isn't that high, so I'm not ruling out spending a year in Bangkok first.

 

I'd heard some mixed reviews about the level of assistance from the Privilege staff, so I thought asking on a forum with experience would be a good start.