As expected they increased the prices and it's now called Privilege and not Elite anymore...
the 5 year package from 600'000 THB to 900'000 and the 20 years package from 1 Mio THB to a mighty 5 (!) Mio....they claim that now more benefits are included....
if you want to benefit from the old prices, you still have until the 15. September to apply....
Elite Card price to be increased by 50% (bangkokpost.com)
the 5 year package from 600'000 THB to 900'000 and the 20 years package from 1 Mio THB to a mighty 5 (!) Mio....they claim that now more benefits are included....
if you want to benefit from the old prices, you still have until the 15. September to apply....
Elite Card price to be increased by 50% (bangkokpost.com)
That is a hefty increase - but then again, it was very cheap before if spreading the cost across 20 years. Am I right in saying that the Thailand Elite card did not allow for getting a work permit, and presumably still does not?
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no work permit at allOriginally Posted by SKT-DK
That is a hefty increase - but then again, it was very cheap before if spreading the cost across 20 years. Am I right in saying that the Thailand Elite card did not allow for getting a work permit, and presumably still does not?
That breaks down to a monthly cost of between around US$425 and $600, over the lifetime of the membership.
Contrast that with the LTR visa, which is about $13 per month, rising to a mighty $26 if one can't re-qualify at the 5 year mark. LTR also provides the possibility of a work permit with highly favorable terms (no 4:1 Thai:foreigner ratio, plus certain tax benefits).
There would seem to be a lot of potential overlap between the target audience for the two programs... But I guess $400-$600 more per month is worth it for the lifestyle benefits vs. the employment ones, for some folks?
Contrast that with the LTR visa, which is about $13 per month, rising to a mighty $26 if one can't re-qualify at the 5 year mark. LTR also provides the possibility of a work permit with highly favorable terms (no 4:1 Thai:foreigner ratio, plus certain tax benefits).
There would seem to be a lot of potential overlap between the target audience for the two programs... But I guess $400-$600 more per month is worth it for the lifestyle benefits vs. the employment ones, for some folks?
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There would seem to be a lot of potential overlap between the target audience for the two programs... But I guess $400-$600 more per month is worth it for the lifestyle benefits vs. the employment ones, for some folks?
lifestyle benefits like what?Originally Posted by tai4de2
....There would seem to be a lot of potential overlap between the target audience for the two programs... But I guess $400-$600 more per month is worth it for the lifestyle benefits vs. the employment ones, for some folks?
fast track and lounge at the airport?
People signing up for such a card usually also can afford to fly business class and get this free
limousine to the airport is limited to Bangkok and you need to make many roundtrips to get to a reasonalble amount for transfers
vouchers for hotel, spa, restaurants, shopping sound usually better than they are....on moon prices offered, discountes create no real benefit...
what else?
monthly 400-600 USD if you stay 12 months in Thailand...if you stay less the amounts per month increase....
I got the LTR visa as one of the first ones to receive it. It does indeed have its benefits, most notably on income tax. It did take five months to process though, and was quite cumbersome. Gone are the annual visa and WP renewals, 90 day reporting etc 
LTR does actually also qualify for fast track at the airport.
I agree that there are overlaps in the target audience between the Elite and LTR visas, but the main difference is in qualification criteria. The former can be bought plain and simple, but does not allow for work. The latter has specific qualification requirements which must be met (and varies by LTR type).
LTR does actually also qualify for fast track at the airport.
I agree that there are overlaps in the target audience between the Elite and LTR visas, but the main difference is in qualification criteria. The former can be bought plain and simple, but does not allow for work. The latter has specific qualification requirements which must be met (and varies by LTR type).
I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about the lifestyle benefits. I also struggle to see the value there for the same reasons BinSabai mentioned.
My LTR took about a month from start to finish, so clearly the early adopters helped them work out the kinks -- which I greatly appreciate.
Getting stamped in for a FIVE YEAR stay is truly awesome.
My LTR took about a month from start to finish, so clearly the early adopters helped them work out the kinks -- which I greatly appreciate.
Getting stamped in for a FIVE YEAR stay is truly awesome.
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My LTR took about a month from start to finish, so clearly the early adopters helped them work out the kinks -- which I greatly appreciate.
Getting stamped in for a FIVE YEAR stay is truly awesome.
Oh wow, that is quick! Mine too five as mentioned, with many asks for the same documents to be submitted several times to. But glad to hear things have improved! Originally Posted by tai4de2
I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about the lifestyle benefits. I also struggle to see the value there for the same reasons BinSabai mentioned.My LTR took about a month from start to finish, so clearly the early adopters helped them work out the kinks -- which I greatly appreciate.
Getting stamped in for a FIVE YEAR stay is truly awesome.
I wonder if there is different processing times for the different types of LTRs (I can imagine some requiring more documentation than others)
But yes indeed, five year stamp is nice
I do find that immigration officials take longer time to process now though, presumably because they are not used to it yet. Do you experience the same?
for any visa or EOS, the immigration officer has to adjust manually the date to stamp the correct date "admitted until" or write it manually into the passport. And the Thais think in buddhist years, but the date is written in AC format.
So any other than the usual 30 days visa exemption (some countries also get 60 or 90 days) take some more time...
So any other than the usual 30 days visa exemption (some countries also get 60 or 90 days) take some more time...
The only benefit I see on the new Elite programs that I would take advantage of are "free domestic flights". But it's one some kind of point system, and I wonder how many actual flights per year it would translate to.
I am glad I never went for Elite.
I am glad I never went for Elite.
Isn't it basically that LTR is for millionaires and Elite is for non millionaires?
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Not really... And given that the Elite visa used to cost 1mn and now prices out at 5mn, then I would dare say your logic is a bit upside down.Originally Posted by CrazyInteg
Isn't it basically that LTR is for millionaires and Elite is for non millionaires?
Granted, the LTR visa is applicable to wealthy retirees and "global citizens", but more importantly to highly skilled professionals who will work and contribute to the local skill-base and society.
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Granted, the LTR visa is applicable to wealthy retirees and "global citizens", but more importantly to highly skilled professionals who will work and contribute to the local skill-base and society.
actually the LTR for retirees (I guess this is identical with the Non O-X visa) is not really a reasonable solution as it requires 5 year health insurance in advance and several millions as a deposit (governmental guarantee for deposits is limited to 1 million)Originally Posted by SKT-DK
Not really... And given that the Elite visa used to cost 1mn and now prices out at 5mn, then I would dare say your logic is a bit upside down.Granted, the LTR visa is applicable to wealthy retirees and "global citizens", but more importantly to highly skilled professionals who will work and contribute to the local skill-base and society.
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That is interesting, I did not know those specifics - anyway, still a while to go until I have to exchange my LTR-H for something else Originally Posted by BinSabai
actually the LTR for retirees (I guess this is identical with the Non O-X visa) is not really a reasonable solution as it requires 5 year health insurance in advance and several millions as a deposit (governmental guarantee for deposits is limited to 1 million)
I guess the main difference to the traditional retirement visa is the ability to own property?
What is also interesting is, that according to the BOI's statistics, so far the retiree visa is the one which has the highest issuance (until April):
