Staying Beyond Thailand Privilege Visa Expiry

[ettcuk]

My 5-year Thailand Privilege visa (formally Thailand Elite visa) expires on 03/01/2025, but because my last arrival in Thailand was 3rd September, my permission-of-stay stamp is until 2/09/2025.

Based on this and on my research before I originally paid for this visa, I'd understood I could stay in Thailand without issue until 2/09/2025. That's exactly 8 months after my visa expires. But I thought I'd double check with the Thailand Privilege Member Contact Centre first. This is the response I received:

Quote

Thank you for your email, as we checked. You will only permitted to stay in Thailand under the Privilege visa until January 3rd, 2025.

 

To be honest, I don't trust anything I'm told by the staff in the office as I've been told so many conflicting and wrong things over the years. It's not always their fault, as there's so much confusion and wrong information put out by immigration departments and officials.

So, can anyone else with similar circumstances confirm whether I can stay in Thailand until 2/09/2025? 

 

I've also read of some people getting reentry permits in their "6th year". is this still possible? If so, how and where?

Many thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[richard_smith237]

I’ve been a Thai Elite member for 17 years - throughout that time I have lost any faith in the accuracy of information they provided me which nearly compromised my status here on a couple of occasions.

 

Recommend advice - don’t believe what Thai Elite tell you - find an alternative more reliable source. 
(i.e.  check directly with immigration) 

[BMW Overlander]

If you leave and re-enter the country before January 3rd, 2025 you will automatically get 1 year stamp which will effectively allow you to stay in Thailand until January 2026. I did it twice in the past, before reapplying for My 5-year Thailand Privilege visa.

[Liquorice]

14 hours ago, ettcuk said:

My 5-year Thailand Privilege visa (formally Thailand Elite visa) expires on 03/01/2025, but because my last arrival in Thailand was 3rd September, my permission-of-stay stamp is until 2/09/2025.

The validity of a visa is the period during which you can use it to enter Thailand.

The period of stay is different and granted on entry by an Immigration officer, subject to the type of visa.

 

You were granted permission of stay until 3/9/2025 - Thai Elite are wrong.

The above post by @BMW Overlander is perfectly correct.

[ettcuk]

@richard_smith237 @BMW Overlander @Liquorice - thank you all for your help. This is as I'd thought. I knew when I paid for the visa I was just paying for peace of mind and, at that point, there were no other options available for me to stay in Thailand. But, given the cost of the visa, it'd be nice if the staff could give correct and clear responses.

This is the latest response from Thailand Elite when I questioned their first response to my query:

 

Quote

Regarding the previous email, following the Thai Immigration Laws. You have the right to stay in Thailand until September 2nd, 2025, according to your arrival stamp.

 

However, your Thailand Privilege membership is expired on January 3rd, 2025. Therefore, you will not be eligible for the service from us after that. 

 

Also, you will not be able to do the 90 day report after January 3rd, 2025 because the Thailand Privilege membership is expired.

 

However, we would still suggest you leave Thailand before January 3rd, 2025.

What? I can't do a 90-day report. This is wrong. I can't do a 90-day report using THEIR service is presumably what this person means? But that's definitely not what they've said - probably due to language issues.

Also, why do they suggest I leave Thailand? Because they want me to extend my visa now?!

 

 

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, ettcuk said:

Also, why do they suggest I leave Thailand? Because they want me to extend my visa now?!

I agree with the 3 posters you mentioned.

Think it's more a lost in translation thing.

You will need to do your own 90 reporting after the PE expires. 

No big deal.

The "exit Thailand" thinking meaning exit and reenter prior to visa expiry.

 

[ettcuk]

Thanks, @DrJack54. I've always done my own 90-day reporting, as I live in Chiang Mai, so it's no big issue. The biggest issue is whether I can obtain a re-entry permit.

There's definitely a lot lost in translation. But I think the "leave Thailand" part is literal. Based on other threads I've read, I doubt they'd be giving me advice on how to maximise my time in Thailand.

[Liquorice]

42 minutes ago, ettcuk said:

I can't do a 90-day report using THEIR service is presumably what this person means? But that's definitely not what they've said - probably due to language issues.

Correct, they only offer their services if you live in Bangkok.

You can of course file your own 90 day reports as you already have.

 

44 minutes ago, ettcuk said:

Also, why do they suggest I leave Thailand? Because they want me to extend my visa now?!

Probably.

 

27 minutes ago, ettcuk said:

The biggest issue is whether I can obtain a re-entry permit.

No problem, either from CM Immigration or from the airport on departure.

Any re-entry permit will be valid until your current permission of stay.
If you do a border bounce before 3rd Jan 2025, on re-entry you'd be granted permission of stay for a further 12 months.

[bigt3116]

55 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Correct, they only offer their services if you live in Bangkok.

 

Not according to their website?

 

"Thailand Elite staff can assist you for the reporting in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai."

[Liquorice]

22 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

 

Not according to their website?

 

"Thailand Elite staff can assist you for the reporting in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai."

Oh FFS, give it up and go play golf.
Thai Elite are as useless as a chocolate fireguard.

[ettcuk]

4 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

Not according to their website?

 

"Thailand Elite staff can assist you for the reporting in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai."

 
This is true - at least in Chiang Mai. But that assistance is telling you to contact Star Visa, there 'partner' in Chiang Mai. And, for me, that help would be me driving further than I'd need to to get to immigration, then having to return the following day to pick up my passport. If I do it myself early one morning, it's all done there in minutes. Then, the next one, if required, can be done online.

They also assist you with other things, like obtaining a Certificate of Residence, and only charge a mere 3000 THB for this service... Maybe some people on a Thailand Privilege visa have more money than sense and are happy to throw money around. But I only bought mine out of necessity. 

 

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Thai Elite are as useless as a chocolate fireguard.

It certainly feels that way - to the point I'd rather ask anyone but them for advice.
 

[DrJack54]

Trolling post removed. 

[lamyai3]

Pretty sure TPC has sent you the correct answer here. The 5 year membership expires 3rd January, and immigration made an error stamping you beyond that date. Until a few years ago getting a 6th year out of the 5 year elite was common practice, but more recently immigration had a problem with it - I remember comments on the forum where people were warned they'd be on overstay if they stayed beyond the expiry of their membership. How much this is enforced is anyone's guess, given that immigration officers are clearly still stamping people beyond the 5 year mark. 

 

Edit. Just saw your second email response from TPC. A few years ago they were writing to members toward the end of their membership expiry warning of overstay consequences of staying beyond the 5 years. It seems like their muddled response in their second message to you shows they've since backed down from this position. 

[Mavideol]

On 10/17/2024 at 7:08 AM, BMW Overlander said:

If you leave and re-enter the country before January 3rd, 2025 you will automatically get 1 year stamp which will effectively allow you to stay in Thailand until January 2026. I did it twice in the past, before reapplying for My 5-year Thailand Privilege visa.

how much does it cost for 5 years, does it include any family member or each family has to have one