TingTawng Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 The Thailand Elite Visa for 5 years. You pay 500,000 baht, and it entitles you to 5 years in Thailand. No visa runs necessary, but you have to report every 90 days to your nearest immigration office. It seems a bit strange that this isn't mentioned enough - is it a scam or for real? (their website is thailandelite.com) Anyone actually using this visa? Given the way Thailand is going with visas (no more "friends and family" visa), it's looking quite good for me to go for it. I hope it's not a scam.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rwdrwdrwd Posted February 3, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2016 Completely real and mentioned quite often 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhodie Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Search and you will find a lot of information. Quite a few TV members have bought in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviajero Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 No scam and a good option for many. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneyboy Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Yes this has been discussed at depth and a wealth of information is available in the visa section. Have a search around using the search function. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharp Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Been using it for years no probs!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Can you finance a business on it...? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviajero Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Can you finance a business on it...? Do you mean invest in a Thai business? If so you can do that with any permit to stay (visa). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Can you finance a business on it...? Do you mean invest in a Thai business? If so you can do that with any permit to stay (visa). So if one has an Elite card you can finance a business with no probs from immigration...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviajero Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Can you finance a business on it...? Do you mean invest in a Thai business? If so you can do that with any permit to stay (visa). So if one has an Elite card you can finance a business with no probs from immigration...? Yes you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) WOW, so no proof of mega dosh in LOS and a number of employees and WP to open a business........? Edited February 3, 2016 by transam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post elviajero Posted February 3, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2016 WOW, so no proof of mega dosh in LOS and a number of employees to open a business........? You can invest in a business but you cannot work for the business, and the TE visa gives no advantage as far as investing in a business goes. The number of employees rule/amount of capital etc is relevant for obtaining a work permit if the business is employing a foreigner. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ukrules Posted February 3, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2016 I got one of these in the summer of 2014 and it works as advertised. I haven't left Thailand for nearly two years. I had already been here for nearly 90 days without leaving when I got the 5 year visa at Chaeng Wattana. Before that I'd been doing a combination of visa runs and an Ed visa for a few years. As far as investing goes, this visa makes no difference whatsoever, you can't work on this visa. You never required a visa to make an investment. If you want to buy a company or form one they will help you ease your way through the process but that's about it - if you want to work then you will still need to get a separate visa which allows work and a work permit. So I would suggest that this is not the visa to get if you're going to work in Thailand, unless you simply want one for whatever reason, I'm sure they will sell you one regardless of whatever else you're doing. From that I've heard this visa is popular with people who come and go on a regular basis and work offshore. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMA_FARANG Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Yes you cab start a business on such a visa...... but there are no advantages financially in doing that. You still need to come up with the money to start a business, hire the same required number of Thai employees, pay their Thai social security taxes, etc. And you still can only own 49 percent of the business.....with a Thai partner or partners holding the 51 percent....the same as any other foreigner starting any business in Thailand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TingTawng Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) Thanks for the info guys, and sorry it's been asked before - at least this thread might introduce some people to this not-so-talked-about visa as an option in these days of very strict Thai immigration (loss of the non-immigrant O 'visiting friends and family' visa!). Edited February 3, 2016 by TingTawng 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ardokano Posted February 3, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2016 Thanks for the info guys, and sorry it's been asked before - at least this thread might introduce some people to this not-so-talked-about visa as an option in these days of very strict Thai immigration (loss of the non-immigrant O 'visiting friends and family' visa!). strict Thai immigration Sorry but you compare with what place? Thai in my opinion its easy access and cheapest place with developed infrastructure and services.. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mngmn Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Thanks for the info guys, and sorry it's been asked before - at least this thread might introduce some people to this not-so-talked-about visa as an option in these days of very strict Thai immigration (loss of the non-immigrant O 'visiting friends and family' visa!). The non-immigrant o visas for visiting spouse or children (family) still exists. Not sure if it was ever issued for visiting friends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stoneyboy Posted February 3, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2016 Thanks for the info guys, and sorry it's been asked before - at least this thread might introduce some people to this not-so-talked-about visa as an option in these days of very strict Thai immigration (loss of the non-immigrant O 'visiting friends and family' visa!). The non-immigrant o visas for visiting spouse or children (family) still exists. Not sure if it was ever issued for visiting friends? Yes there was a time when you could obtain a non o visa for visiting friends. If I wished to stay in Pattaya for 3 months I would always state I was visiting my good friend,tick and Pla and Gung and Gai and Poo and Tum and Toon. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mngmn Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Thanks for the info guys, and sorry it's been asked before - at least this thread might introduce some people to this not-so-talked-about visa as an option in these days of very strict Thai immigration (loss of the non-immigrant O 'visiting friends and family' visa!). The non-immigrant o visas for visiting spouse or children (family) still exists. Not sure if it was ever issued for visiting friends?Yes there was a time when you could obtain a non o visa for visiting friends.If I wished to stay in Pattaya for 3 months I would always state I was visiting my good friend,tick and Pla and Gung and Gai and Poo and Tum and Toon. Oh well. Guess you could still visit them on a multiple entry visa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gk10002000 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 And it was mentioned that by luck or coincidence or by design, I think when you get the last 1 year extension you can actually have 6 years total in country time. But I defer to the experts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolley Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 It still seems an expensive option especially given you still have to report every three months to immigration. I don't think I could part with that sort of money for a visa. Fortunately I am over 50 ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritTim Posted February 4, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted February 4, 2016 To summarize, there are plenty of people who have gone for the TE visa to stay hassle free in Thailand without working, and cannot remember a single example of anyone who regretted their decision. You should note, however, that there are also plenty of people who have not used it who will point out why those who acquired the TE visa were stupid. It is cheaper to sit in cramped minivans for long trips to Vientiane, stay in cheap guesthouses, get tourist visas and spend time in immigration offices to get 30 day extensions. Why would anyone want to spend an extra 100-200 baht a day just to avoid that! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seancbk Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) It still seems an expensive option especially given you still have to report every three months to immigration. I don't think I could part with that sort of money for a visa. Fortunately I am over 50 ..... Depends how you are staying in Thailand and how you are obtaining the visas you are on. If you factor in the savings made in time and money versus flying in and out every month to neighbouring countries to get visas, which are only single entry now which increases the number of trips you need to do. Then the 5 year Thailand Elite visa might be a good deal. For me it wouldn't really be a great deal as I have family living in the region and I like to fly out every 1, 2 or 3 months to visit them. I suppose having the Thai Elite visa would save me from having to bother getting a visa during those trips, so it would save some hassle. For me by far the better option is a multi Non B visa, so my girlfriend and I are forming a company. That will allow me to get a WP and the visa. Edited February 4, 2016 by seancbk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotpoom Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 WOW, so no proof of mega dosh in LOS and a number of employees and WP to open a business........? From some of the complaints I'v read on here... like having to pay an extra 5 Bt. on a Iced Coffee or a bunch of bananas.....some might call 500,000Bt. "mega dosh". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolley Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 It still seems an expensive option especially given you still have to report every three months to immigration. I don't think I could part with that sort of money for a visa. Fortunately I am over 50 ..... Depends how you are staying in Thailand and how you are obtaining the visas you are on. If you factor in the savings made in time and money versus flying in and out every month to neighbouring countries to get visas, which are only single entry now which increases the number of trips you need to do. Then the 5 year Thailand Elite visa might be a good deal. For me it wouldn't really be a great deal as I have family living in the region and I like to fly out every 1, 2 or 3 months to visit them. I suppose having the Thai Elite visa would save me from having to bother getting a visa during those trips, so it would save some hassle. For me by far the better option is a multi Non B visa, so my girlfriend and I are forming a company. That will allow me to get a WP and the visa. Well I guess if money is no object and you are young and you really want to stay in Thailand all the time it might be an option. I come in and out of Thailand many times a year and probably spend about half the year all up and I just use a mixture of tourist visas and entry visas. Never had a problem with it. I did have a retirement visa at one stage but I get bored of Thailand and like to go back home so I maintain a house in Oz and in Thailand. That way I get the best of both worlds. I have many Oz friends who do exactly the same thing. I really reckon it is the better option that way you don't get so jaded and Thailand somewhat maintains its allure. I guess living in Oz makes it easy because it is also pretty close only 6 hours from Perth for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviajero Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 And it was mentioned that by luck or coincidence or by design, I think when you get the last 1 year extension you can actually have 6 years total in country time. But I defer to the experts If you buy the TE visa and don't renew at the end of 5 years the membership benefits end. However, if you re-enter the country or apply for an extension of stay, just before the visa expires, at the end of 5 years, you will receive a new 1 year permit to stay giving you a total of nearly 6 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon43 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 If I wished to stay in Pattaya for 3 months I would always state I was visiting my good friend,tick and Pla and Gung and Gai and Poo and Tum and Toon Hey! I was visiting them first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerry1011 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 I miss the heated conversations of the past between Thailand Elite haters and Thailand Elite members... It seems that by now (after years of discussions) everybody agrees that Thailand Elite is the easiest way to spend time in Thailand (at a fee). It is indeed For those who still are undecided about enrolling into this program or not, I would advise not to wait too long. 500,000 for the Easy Access card (5 years) is quite a bargain. I would not be surprised to see the fee go up soon. Or maybe an annual fee will be added... Just my opinion, of course... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlowe Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 I guess if you want to spend the money, it makes sense -- but the 90 day reporting requirement seems to take the fun out of it. so you either leave the country every 90 days or do the immigration office thing. lots of other kinds of visas that can get you the same advantage or disadvantage without the 500k large investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallybigken Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 I maybe missing something but I thought it said, on their site, they do the 90day reporting for you. Can someone with a Thia elite visa confirm this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
.thumb.jpeg.cf6ce0b59d8f8b53e201487c6cf7b1db.jpeg)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now