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Is the Thai Elite Visa worth the cost given recent price increases?

Thai Elite Visa Visa Costs Long-Term Residency DTV Visa Expats in Thailand Visa Options Comparison Life in Thailand

Apr 19, 2025

24 days ago

Jason *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Well I must say, for a Bronze 5yr Thai Elite Visa I wasn't expecting over $30,000 AUD...🤔

Back to the drawing board...🤔

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The cost of the 5-Year Thai Elite Visa has increased to over $30,000 AUD, leading to comparisons with the 20-Year option which costs between $20,000 and $25,000. Some expats express satisfaction with their VIP services and perks like expedited processing, while others criticize the value for money amidst new alternatives like the DTV visa. Many participants debate the merits of the Elite Visa versus alternatives, with views on its convenience versus expense.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

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Sel *****

Here’s an overview. Glad I got the 20 years for 1M THB 2 years ago.

22 days ago

Jeff *******

@Sel ****

Yet the LTR is just 50k for 10 years with far better benefits (tax free status etc) . I would be regretting getting the Elite.

22 days ago

Robert ********

@Jeff ******

Which variant is that for 50k?

21 days ago

Reply to

Robert ********

Dave *****

lol. It’s expensive coz it’s hand crafted 🤣

22 days ago

Ian ********

@Dave ****

lol

22 days ago

Reply to

Ian ********

Do not bother with thailand. Go to philipines. Its easier to stay you can work if you want too and less corrupt

23 days ago

Jeff ********

@Ian *******

Unfortunately I prefer decent food.

22 days ago

Ian ********

@Jeff *******

thai foods crap

22 days ago

Reply to

Ian ********

Alison *****************

Not worth it

23 days ago

Milan ********

Demand and supply. They can be picky.

23 days ago

David **********

A service for those who want an easy trouble free lifestyle have the means and are prepared to pay for it. The other 99% muddle through best we can.👍

23 days ago

Jim *********

Go for DTV but expect that you need to extend your stay after 180 days and exit Thailand every year.

24 days ago

Михайло ********

You can buy passport 🛂 for

*****

$ and enjoy staying in Laos

24 days ago

Sujy *********

@Михайло *******

What do you mean buying passport for 16k? Becoming Laos citizens?

23 days ago

Михайло ********

@Sujy ********

it means you pay

*****

$ and instead of any "golden" visas just fir 5 years in Thailand, you can get Laos PDR citizenship officially after 6 months

22 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Михайло *******

not sure where you get that price…I can’t find anything online about it

22 days ago

Михайло ********

@Jeremy *******

Laos PDR has a bit strange policy, so most valuable information is available only between certain people close to the government

22 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Михайло *******

ok I’ll take your word on that

22 days ago

Михайло ********

@Jeremy *******

it's better not to take a word but Laos citizenship, at least you can open business, with 10% tax asca citizen of Laos PDR instead 25% as a foreigner or buy the land in your 100% ownership

22 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Михайло *******

sounds interesting I’ll have to research this more

21 days ago

Михайло ********

@Jeremy *******

wish you the best of luck in researching

21 days ago

Михайло ********

@Jeremy *******

because online all information has been deleted

22 days ago

Reply to

Михайло ********

Andreas ********

@Михайло *******

who wants to stay in Laos?

23 days ago

Михайло ********

@Andreas *******

many expats met in Laos who relocated from France, and sone of the refugees who can't get passports from own country according to the new law

23 days ago

Reply to

Михайло ********

Shane ************

@Михайло *******

Laos is a toilet

23 days ago

Reply to

Shane ************

Robert *********

But you get a free round of golf and a bus pass to Pattaya thrown in tbf

24 days ago

Jesper *******

30k for a 5yr Elite visa and what happens after 5yrs? The 30k is gone.....I have that 30k siting in a thai bank acct evey year I paid 1900baht for a extension after 5yrs my 30k is still in the acct...seriously I don't really need that fast track service or I can do the 90days reporting myself

24 days ago

Matthew *********

@Jesper ******

the 90 day is online and only takes seconds. I don't see any value or privilege

23 days ago

Reply to

Matthew *********

Laurent ********

Why doing a thai élite visa now ? U need to pay government taxes same a standard regrets visa moré cheaper 😂

24 days ago

Sue **********

@Laurent *******

I believe anybody who pays for elite visa, had that money as savings from earlier income, which was already taxed in the home country, so NO tax anymore in Thailand.

23 days ago

Johnny *********

@Laurent *******

vip at the airport....

24 days ago

Laurent ********

@Johnny ********

ltr priority lane too…. And u can buy vip package for max 50 usd too 👍

23 days ago

Reply to

Laurent ********

Billy *******

How much is the basic 20yr option now? I initially got the 5yr visa for about $20k-$25k and then upgraded to the 20yr option for another $20k-$25k. Very happy so far.

24 days ago

Jon *****

@Billy ******

5 million bahts (via invitation only)

22 days ago

Billy *******

@Jon ****

damn, 5x more expensive than I paid about 7years ago.

22 days ago

Reply to

Billy *******

Abhishek *******

@Billy ******

I am gonna tell my mom she would be happy to hear

24 days ago

Reply to

Abhishek *******

Alex ********

Got the 5 Yr with option for 20 before price increases. Past 90 day report was 4 minutes and skipped the queue to @ immigration. These little perks make it worth while.

24 days ago

Mark ********

@Alex *******

You can do 90 day reporting online.

24 days ago

Damo ***********

@Mark *******

correct.. and takes

***

of the time of 4 minutes 🤣

22 days ago

Alex ********

@Mark *******

yea and half and time it doesn't work for the province I live in

23 days ago

Reply to

Alex ********

Steven ******

I read somewhere, don't remember where so it could be bollocks, that the benefits of bronze were going to be changed and increased as the DTV has all but stopped people from going for Bronze Privilege.

24 days ago

Todd *********

Great visa though. It’s the poor man’s LTR, but still great. No difficult qualifications. Just pay up and enjoy 5 years

24 days ago

Jeff *******

@Todd ********

Speaking of which the LTR is insanely annoying to pin down if you're retired and without a salary showing on a tax return.

23 days ago

Todd *********

@Jeff ******

Yes, totally depends on those sources of income and their long term viability. Some are able to solve the application process with a few screen shots of accounts. For others with widely diverse income streams, it can be more complex to pin down for sure.

23 days ago

Jeff *******

@Todd ********

Yep but not so sure, if you can show you have, for example, £5m, in a bank account, it means nothing to them, but show them you earn just £80k a year, (because you need to work) and thats a green light. I'm assuming that's why their initial target of 1 million LTR take ups, is currently floundering at, I was told, a paltry 5000.

22 days ago

Todd *********

@Jeff ******

you are misinterpreting their rules a bit here. Yes - the £5M in a bank account is meaningless to them (but puts you well on your way to wealthy global citizen LTR) but if structured to provide regular passive income in the form of dividends or interest, it counts as passive income for LTR-WP.

So if earning £80k from work, it’s also doesn’t count. The $80k income must be passive and not earned. Overall, the BOI is there to assist. They can advise in what they can accept or not and help facilitate the process. Very helpful.

And yes, with an original target of 1 million, I’m surprised the criteria hasn’t been adjusted a bit more by now

22 days ago

Reply to

Todd *********

Johnny *********

yes its good i think

Jim ********

that’s my view on it

Reply to

Jim ********

John ********

Waste of time and money 💰

24 days ago

Bruce *******

@John *******

don't agree

23 days ago

Reply to

Bruce *******

Brandon ************

The Elite visa doesn't make sense anymore now that the DTV exists.

24 days ago

Øyvind *************************

@Brandon ***********

dont write that.then they surly vil change the dtv visa..they want quality people to come to thailand I read..

23 days ago

Andrew ********

@Brandon ***********

it's a DTV for the rich ans gives other perks including priority in immigration issues as well

24 days ago

Jim ********

@Brandon ***********

it doesn’t make sense but it also does if money is no object

24 days ago

Gary ***********

@Brandon ***********

Elite is too expensive, unfortunately DTV is a mess and just results in people taking the ****, badly thoguht through

24 days ago

Rob **********

@Gary **********

the LTR visa looks ok, I have at least 6 of my friends over here on it now.

23 days ago

Brandon ************

@Rob *********

Best visa available right now if you can qualify.

23 days ago

Rob **********

@Brandon ***********

in my opinion also, but I am happy with my Non O based on marriage to a Thai National, have been on it for years, and this year we clock up 37 years of marriage.

23 days ago

Brandon ************

@Rob *********

Don't fix what's not broken, right?

23 days ago

Rob **********

@Brandon ***********

100% correct Brandon.

23 days ago

Reply to

Rob **********

Pui *****

@Gary **********

your reasons are exactly why the Elite visa still makes perfect sense to those who can afford it. To me, if you would have considered the elite visa before the DTV existed, then it means you can afford it, and there is still a valid reason to choose the sure thing vs. the mess that the DTV can be.

24 days ago

Gary ***********

@Pui ****

At the old price I may have gone for the Elite for an easy life but, as i'm over 50, the retirement makes more sense now, I can see the DTV getting really tightened up on if not even abolished in the future

24 days ago

Reply to

Gary ***********

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Is the Thailand Elite Visa a scam for expatriates looking to retire in Thailand?

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