Answered5 years ago
Does the 5-year Elite Visa allow tax-free import of personal belongings in Thailand?
Hi, does the 5 year Elite visa allow you to bring in your container of personal effects and furniture import tax free ?? If not, why would anyone buy an elite visa ?
We concluded if we go on a retirenent visa, we cannot bring a 20 ft container of our stuff because its now v likely to trigger a large import and vat bill....they talking 30 pc to 200 pc of CIF value, crazy, so that is pretty pointless...
We concluded if we go on a retirenent visa, we cannot bring a 20 ft container of our stuff because its now v likely to trigger a large import and vat bill....they talking 30 pc to 200 pc of CIF value, crazy, so that is pretty pointless...
Answer summary
The 5-year Elite Visa does not exempt holders from import tax on personal belongings. Although used household items like furniture and clothes can be imported tax-free if shipped within 6 months, other items may incur taxes. The Elite Visa serves as a viable option for those under 50 who cannot apply for retirement visas. While some users question the value of the Elite Visa given its price and restrictions, others appreciate its benefits, especially for long-term residency.
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Mark ******
If you are ready for a move like this, re-think keeping all your past possessions. Give away, sell, or trash everything and start life over again with a couple large suitcases. Clothes, a little tech, important documents, and personal items. Very liberating. Rent what you need or slowly build up your possessions over time.
Brook ********
I want to go to a country where I don’t have to report to the government 6 times every year.
Ken ******
elite visa probably only viable option if one is too old to buy expensive compulsory health insurance at senior age in order to renew his OA retire.visa(or no.longer able to get mandatory health insurance )
Dennis *********
Visas are not normal to have perks for duty free imports, although there are some countries with similar for citizenship conversions I recall.
They'd be concerned with some billionaire, or similar, importing a huge estate for basically nothing; then the following outcry from media and citizens.
Thai import taxes are rather steep and VAT is crazy high.
If you are under 50, don't think there is other "good" want to stay long-term however. 50 and over has the retirement visa "also not that great with 800K rotting in a Thai bank", but is still better than 1M paid to the Thai goverment. You avoid all the boarder runs, etc but are still subject to 90 day reports. I'm over 50 so would never consider this option, but also doubt I'd go for the 800K retirement either.
They'd be concerned with some billionaire, or similar, importing a huge estate for basically nothing; then the following outcry from media and citizens.
Thai import taxes are rather steep and VAT is crazy high.
If you are under 50, don't think there is other "good" want to stay long-term however. 50 and over has the retirement visa "also not that great with 800K rotting in a Thai bank", but is still better than 1M paid to the Thai goverment. You avoid all the boarder runs, etc but are still subject to 90 day reports. I'm over 50 so would never consider this option, but also doubt I'd go for the 800K retirement either.
Stan ********
Elite visa for five years sounds senseless to me.
Dan ********
@Stan *******
perfect sense for me, just about to turn 44, 5 yr Elite will give me upto 6 years visa. If I still want to remain, I can consider retirement visa, and maybe others not currently available to me.
Gianni **********
Consider please that on thailand you need only summer clothe and if you leave at the sea you cam carry on with shorts and T shirt. So I want to say if you fly with airline that allow you 40 kg you've got enough things to bring.
Dan ********
@Gianni *********
yes I'd be looking into reducing your possessions down to two large suit cases. Cut loose everything else, it's liberating. What on earth are you thinking of bringing ? Everything is very fairly priced here , just not imported goods. Furniture/decor, clothes, electricals.start again with nothing, buy only what you need,
Charles ********
I just applied for elite.. Too young for retirement visa (which seems a bit of hassle anyways).. And don't want to deal illegal visa or other requirements. If you do the 20 years, the cost isn't much as a per year fee... Just have to pay lump sum.
Alan *******
@Charles *******
If you’re actually going to stay 20+ years and can learn some Thai, def consider going the work permit/visa route and applying for citizenship.It’s not as bad as it used to be with 5+ year processing times.
But you will have to have lived and “worked” and filed tax returns for 3 years and will have to learn to speak Thai, possibly read and write it or have a Thai wife to get enough points to qualify.
The savings on buying a condo in the thai quota without a thai company or buying a house and actually owning it can alone be worth it, not to mention not having to deal with immigration again, being able to much more easily do business and work if that’s something you might want to do.
A lot will change in 20 years so don’t think in terms of just what your situation is now.
And learning to speak Thai when you’re going to be here for 20+ years can only help.
Also, it’s cheaper, excluding the value of your time to learn thai and meet the other needed requirements.
Something to consider.
John *********
If your wife is thai put her name down and her thai address
Daniel **********
@John ********
she would have had to lived overseas for five years to get that exemption.John *********
@Daniel *********
still tryDavid *******
Elite does not exempt you from this and even if it was same as for Non O you would be taxed on same items. There is no VAT bill only customs. Who told you it would be large tax bill? For used household items such as furniture, clothes etc it would be tax free if shipped within 6 months. Items such as antiques, sports equipment and music instruments taxable.
Mars ************
OP@David ******
ok many thanksDavid *******
@Mars ***********
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Wayne ********
Thai Elite is a good option if you are not old enough to apply for the Retirement Visa and you want to live here otherwise you maybe offered some scam visas or study visas but authorities are getting tougher on this now.
Mars ************
OP@Wayne *******
thanks for that, OK I get it now. Its odd when you realise you can't bring your stuff with you, unless you have a work permit, or marry a Thai, due to pretty big import duties.Alan *******
@Mars ***********
Can always get a work permit and visa through a BOI company.Yearly costs will range depending on who you use. I’ve seen prices from 65k to 300k.
The actual visa/permit fees and income/SS tax on the min monthly income of 50k is like 40k (forget the exact amount) so some of these companies are charging some big markups.
The company that quoted me 300k was a fairly big one in Bkk.
They were all professional and polite till I politely asked them what they offered that justified such a high rate.
Their response was literally: “No time”.
Basically they were just ripping off people/companies that didn’t know better.
But you also want to make sure you’re not dealing with some sketchy company that’s too cheap.
They have to be a legit BOI company. If they’re doing the whole thing where they claim 4 Thai staff on the books for you who don’t exist then things can get bad for you if immigration decides to take a close look at what they’re doing.
Mars ************
OPOk noted with thanks
David *******
@Mars ***********
non o based on retirement is same with respect to taxes
Bim *******
@Mars ***********
even Thais fave restrictions. I know when we moved here had to prove my wife had lived in another country for over ten years and it was a one off repatriation. A stamp in her Thai passport to say she had done it the once.
Brandon ************
Believe it or not, some people that want to live in Thailand are not old enough to get a retirement visa.
There are not a lot of effort free long term visa options when you're under 50, and the elite visa fills a role for some.
There are not a lot of effort free long term visa options when you're under 50, and the elite visa fills a role for some.
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