Should I choose a 5-year or a 20-year Thailand Elite visa when planning to stay long term?

if u can afford the TE 5 yrs or even the 1mill thb for longer go for it i had now and makes life so much easier and don’t need bank account with minimum deposits etc it’s not for all as they will consider too expensive good luck

I love the throwing around amounts like 500k 800k ...1 million.... to get a Visa to stay in Thailand. I am amazed at people who think spending money on that Thai government tea money factory... The Elite Visa... is somehow going to make their lives here easier. With it you cannot work you have the same restrictions albeit with longer stays and someone else does your 90 day and renewal.... however... tell me why one does not find a good agent (Thai Elite is one by the way) save money and put your thousands to far better use overseas where it will actually grow. Oh... I forgot... guess the golfing discount is a good thing if you play....great reason to feed the government authorities stamping the paperwork.

There is another visa option, if you can initially afford it, and in the long run is actually cheaper, and that is an investment visa. The big requirement is investing at least bt10million into government approved financial instruments, certain stocks, government bonds, and with approval, into your own corporation's stock. What is nice about this visa is you basically do not loose any money, and in the long run can actually make a profit from the investment requirement, in dividends, and when you might leave, and simply cash it all out. The basic requirements, other than the background check, it the initial investment amount it takes. If you can meet this requirement, and leave the money alone, this is the best visa, and extensions to have. Most major corporate owners/CEOs/regional directors/board members, and other high level managers hold this type of visa, but, it is not limited to just them. Anyone with the money can apply.

I lived in Thailand for 10 years most on retirement visa ..but also befor that a one year visa but they stopped that for over 50s .,...I can not get back as yet because of flights etc ....but guess are not that bad to get ...even going through s agent is ok but I've never done that .....

Dont move to Thailand!

I love Thailand in fact my favorite in SEA and I’ve been thinking about to retire there when the time comes but I think is extremely hard for us Americans to stay there and own a business or get job even to by a property. I have been thinking about Malaysia as a second option.

elite visa for 500k lol

Wait for border restrictions to lift and come in on a tourist visa... then get a 20 yr visa. I wouldn’t overthink things.

10yr visa is a waste at 800k when you can get the 20yr at 1m.... Who knows what the world will be like in another 10 years. It could be much harder to get a retirement visa by then and stuff like insurance and bank deposit requirements will only likely to get stricter. TE holders don’t have those restrictions.

Expect a new investment visa to appear very soon... (Like the one in 2008)... Will be cheap and effective

The economic data are awful and will be worse soon... Expect a swift reopening, everything is flashing red and they do not want to borrow (seriously) to attenuate the impact!

Spend the money on a doctor

If you can afford it get the 20.

Check, in the past they were transferable. So there is that.

When it comes to investment Only gamble what you can afford to lose...anything could happen in Thailand in the next years ... most of all your tastes and requirements will most likely not be the same as they are now.

Keep your money in your bank account and keep your options open..there are plenty of options!

Considering teachers are being let in ahead of so called Elite visa holders and you still need to jump through the same hoops, it does not feel very special. If you are over 50 and liquid, I do not see the point.

I don't know if it has been said but the only way to use the elite visa to get entry with the covid regulations is to already have the visa in your passport.

You can buy right now. But as the visa will not be put into your passport until your arrival you can't claim you have it to gain access for the early entry access they have just started.

Aussies are desperate to come to Thailand, can't be that good

Obviously, not a happy camper

Why not try different countries when borders become normal again ?

Rent a condo wherever you are .

Use short term visas in Thailand , Vietnam and Philippines..

Philippines you can actually get long term RSSV visa (permanent resident ) for 10.000 dollars = ( money you can use for renting condo etc .. so it is just money that are in a special account ) .

When you tried living short periods in each of these countries - several options :

1 . You are sure where it suits you to live.

2 . You can’t decide between them - continue as before .

Important to see where the future will take you.

Keep your options open !

I thought of doing elite visa but will wait and do retirement visa. That way I can still get my 800k out the bank rather than loose it as a once off fee that may change rules on a whim.

If you're going to Elite Visa route, get the 5 year and give yourself a chance to change your mind if you end up wanting to move elsewhere.

But my honest opinion is that you should move somewhere else. Thailand has become increasingly more complicated for foreigners and the way this government is treating their people we might see a civil war or uprising within a year that changes everything, including how foreigners are treated..it might change for the better or worse.

Vietnam or Cambodia are excellent options that both welcome foreigners, let them work in the country without having to bribe your way to permits and have an overall better value for a medium to high quality lifestyle.

Thai gov't is doing everything they can to keep farang out of the country

Thailand will open up for tourist in February. Just wait.

I'm 46.5 years. I have been here for 1 year and 10 months. I have done border runs, check ins, then went on a years education visa. A year may cost you 50k including 90 day extensions X 1900, 3 of them. Are you guaranteed rules of elite visa won't change? My forecast is they will. Get to 44 and buy a 5 year elite visa. Then at 50 go do the retirement application??!!

Having said that I have 30 Thai stamps and feel like. On probation here. But I'm not parting with 500 k if I can avoid it!

Free retirement visa at 50 ?

You gain almost no advantage over regular immigration. Save your money.

Is there a Discount on the 20 year visa currently? I thought they were 2 million baht not 1 million

I just turned 42, been coming to Thailand 7 consecutive winters, 4-5 months a year. I can afford the Elite 5-10-20 year visa. I’m conservative with money, hence I can afford the elite. I wanted to stay longer in Thailand. So I thought to get a one year Education Visa, learn at little Thai, and see how I feel after year one. I could then get a second year language Education Visa, or the ‘Muay Thai’ Education Visa. Again I have in an interest in Muay Thai, fitness, nutrition etc, so money/time well spent. I would then bridge the gap to 45years old with a few tourist and METV’s if there was even any gap to bridge. (Only 6 months now thx to COVID) And if I still wanted to be in Thailand, and didn’t already have an ‘in’ (business set up, work permit, or even marriage if it happened) I could get the Elite. Last year my my intention was to push the window of my stay, but my father passed away while I’m here and after only 8 weeks, I had to go home for his funeral and sort his affairs, I ended up staying in UK the whole year. I was sad I wasn’t there for him and my family. This year I came in December on a three month visa, I was gonna chill and decide on a location for an Ed Visa / Study. But then COVID. I benefited from the visa amnesty, it couldn’t have timed better for me. I had just met a girl, and stayed on Samui until now and just got my Ed Visa here yesterday, (but 20k more than before, but the benefit of not leaving the country for it) and Travel restrictions would’ve almost forced me to choose Samui anyway. I got a amazing villa at COVID pricing since March, that seems to be stretching until at least Xmas now, I am grateful for that. I was super happy/excited and I was never going home. Suddenly my relationship broke down, and I had shunned my friends/contacts for this girl. Now I’m here, an amazing one million euro, four bed, sea view villa, I just bought a jetski (used, of course), I just drive an old scooter, but could afford any bike/car combo. But I’m alone, and suddenly I’m wondering. I could go ANYWHERE in the world, alone. But then yesterday I stumbled into three business opportunities. My main point being, you don’t know what life will throw at you, and you don’t know what thailand will throw at you. Today I’m glad I did not spend the 1m baht on Elite 10yr, but would still consider the 5yr at 500k in 2.5 years. But that’s a long time away, and what is happening here is peculiar to say the least.

Buy the 5 years to give yourself the best chance of coming to Thailand anytime soon. During that period one of the natives will probably brainwash you into marriage, maybe also fatherhood, so you can extend on that basis thereafter. If not, you could buy another 5 years or study Thai part-time and obtain an education visa.

Wait. There is no need to rush the idea of getting an elite visa. That’s the approach I’m taking. To bridge the 2 to 2 years between a 5 year elite visa and retirement visa, you’re considering a number of different options. So let’s say in September the government says an elite visa are may help you get in. If you get it for only a five year visa, and you’re counting on doing visa runs, then you are banking that they’ll be no virus at that time that could prevent your reentry. Getting a work visa is unlikely. Educational visa if you’re up to it would be one way to bridge that gap. Or go for the 20 year visa. When and if I return I’ll be getting my retirement visa, I’m not going to count on Visa runs anymore.

Aaron Le Boutillier

Are you sure you want to stay in Thailand for 20+ years? some people get bored or crash and burn. The 20 year 1m Elite avoids a lot of pain, I'd go for that at 41, if nearer 50 I wouldn't bother

Check out Integrity Legal on YouTube.

Meh. Go to the Philippines.

Another option is the 10 year for 800,000. You will get the same benefits as the 5 year

Can someone confirm my understanding that you are not permitted to work on an Elite visa?

But you will meet a Thai woman here and then you can go for marriage visa then you would waste those other 18 years.

At this point in time the elite is probably the most attractive, but I'd suggest what

@Tommy *******

is saying, as we don't know what visas will be available and under what conditions in the "new normal" world. There is still no guarantee from Thai Elite that it will be open-slather entry for elite holders. You might pay the big bucks now to get the extra time, and still find yourself unable to enter 6-12 months from now. Unless Thai Elite can give you a money back guarantee that you'll definitely get in within a certain timeframe, I'd be waiting

20 yr Elite, only way to go.

TE have now said TE members can come to Thailand but you must have Covid insurance, i have TE it is not for everyone due the cost but if you really want to stop all the hassles visiting immigration and being made to jump through hoops opening bank accounts and maintaining 800k in account then TE is perfect, gives you alot of other benefits so even though you pay say 500k for a 5 yr visa for me there are savings of approximately 200k so it really is only costing me say 300k over 5 yrs. yes you still must do 90 reporting but this can be done on line or in phuket we have a drive through which takes max 5 mins and you stay in the comfort of your vehicle in aircon. you need to leave the country every 12 months and return this can be just for 1 day as then at immigration it resets your stay for another 1 yr. if you do this at immigration there is a small cost thb2,000 but a bit of paperwork to complete but TE organises an appointment time for you with a copy of letter of appointment i just had to do this as we cannot leave the country. i would recommend just taking the 5 yrs and then you can decide after this period if you want longer or just do 5 yrs again, the 20 yr visa i think is more like 2 million. if you are husband and wife they do a 5 yr for 800k. good luck.

Do a shakedown stay once things open for 6 months before you spend the money

Honestly, if you can afford it, I'd to for the 20 year. Retirement visa is fine but it comes with all sorts of phaff like 90 day reporting, re-entry permissions and extending it. Elite visa just allows you to come and go as you want, plus you won't have to worry about bridging the 2 years. I don't think Thailand is going to be open for 'regular tourism' for a long time (I'm here now). People are really underestimating how cautious the Thai authorities are being.

If you aren't interested in the benefits then the 1 million baht 20 year (bare bones) elite is a good option

5 year elite is 500,000 baht. The 20 year version comes in at either 1m or 2m(plus 20k baht per year) with the 2m offering more benefits.