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

Thai Elite VisaBronze VisaVisa CostsImmigrationExpat LifestyleDTV VisaThai Visa OptionsLong-term Stay in Thailand
Apr 19, 2025
3 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 conversation discusses the unexpected high cost of the Bronze 5-year Thai Elite Visa, which is around AUD 30,000. Users compare their experiences and costs related to different visa options, including the 20-year Elite Visa and the new DTV Visa. Some express concern over the value of the Elite Visa given the availability of other visa types and the requirement for ongoing governmental fees. The discussion also touches on the benefits and drawbacks of the Elite Visa, with opinions divided on its worth compared to other options.
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Pelle Eriksson
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Dave *****
lol. It’s expensive coz it’s hand crafted 🤣
a day ago
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Ian ********
Do not bother with thailand. Go to philipines. Its easier to stay you can work if you want too and less corrupt
a day ago
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Alison *****************
Not worth it
2 days ago
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Milan ********
Demand and supply. They can be picky.
2 days ago
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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.👍
2 days ago
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Jim *********
Go for DTV but expect that you need to extend your stay after 180 days and exit Thailand every year.
2 days ago
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Михайло ********
You can buy passport 🛂 for
*****
$ and enjoy staying in Laos
2 days ago
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Sujy *********
@Михайло *******
 What do you mean buying passport for 16k? Becoming Laos citizens?
a day ago
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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
a day ago
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Jeremy ********
@Михайло *******
 not sure where you get that price…I can’t find anything online about it
21 hours ago
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Jeremy ********
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Andreas ********
@Михайло *******
 who wants to stay in Laos?
2 days ago
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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
2 days ago
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Михайло ********
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Shane ************
@Михайло *******
 Laos is a toilet
2 days ago
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Shane ************
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Robert *********
But you get a free round of golf and a bus pass to Pattaya thrown in tbf
2 days ago
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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
2 days ago
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Matthew *********
@Jesper ******
 the 90 day is online and only takes seconds. I don't see any value or privilege
2 days ago
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Matthew *********
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Laurent ********
Why doing a thai élite visa now ? U need to pay government taxes same a standard regrets visa moré cheaper 😂
3 days ago
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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.
2 days ago
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Johnny *********
@Laurent *******
 vip at the airport....
2 days ago
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Laurent ********
@Johnny ********
 ltr priority lane too…. And u can buy vip package for max 50 usd too 👍
2 days ago
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Laurent ********
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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.
3 days ago
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Abhishek *******
@Billy ******
 I am gonna tell my mom she would be happy to hear
2 days ago
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Abhishek *******
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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.
3 days ago
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Mark ********
@Alex *******
 You can do 90 day reporting online.
2 days ago
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Damo ***********
@Mark *******
 correct.. and takes
***
of the time of 4 minutes 🤣
a day ago
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Alex ********
@Mark *******
 yea and half and time it doesn't work for the province I live in
2 days ago
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Alex ********
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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.
3 days ago
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Todd *********
Great visa though. It’s the poor man’s LTR, but still great. No difficult qualifications. Just pay up and enjoy 5 years
3 days ago
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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.
2 days ago
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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.
2 days ago
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Todd *********
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Johnny *********
@Todd ********
 yes its good i think
2 days ago
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Jim ********
@Todd ********
 that’s my view on it
3 days ago
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Jim ********
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John ********
Waste of time and money 💰
3 days ago
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Bruce *******
@John *******
 don't agree
2 days ago
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Bruce *******
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Brandon ************
The Elite visa doesn't make sense anymore now that the DTV exists.
3 days ago
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Øyvind *************************
@Brandon ***********
 dont write that.then they surly vil change the dtv visa..they want quality people to come to thailand I read..
2 days ago
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Andrew ********
@Brandon ***********
 it's a DTV for the rich ans gives other perks including priority in immigration issues as well
3 days ago
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Jim ********
@Brandon ***********
 it doesn’t make sense but it also does if money is no object
3 days ago
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Gary ***********
@Brandon ***********
 Elite is too expensive, unfortunately DTV is a mess and just results in people taking the ****, badly thoguht through
3 days ago
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Rob **********
@Gary **********
 the LTR visa looks ok, I have at least 6 of my friends over here on it now.
2 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Rob *********
 Best visa available right now if you can qualify.
2 days ago
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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.
2 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Rob *********
 Don't fix what's not broken, right?
2 days ago
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Rob **********
@Brandon ***********
 100% correct Brandon.
2 days ago
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Rob **********
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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.
3 days ago
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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
2 days ago
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Gary ***********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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