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What are the visa options for expats under 50 who are financially independent and wish to stay in Thailand without getting married?

Thai Elite Visa Education Visa (ED Visa)Multiple Entry Tourist Visa Visa Runs Health Insurance for Expats Long-term Stay Options in Thailand

May 14, 2018

7 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for the ad guys!

What are the options for someone who doesn't want to get married (yet) is under 50, financially independent, and wants to stay in Thailand?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

For financially independent expats under 50 who do not wish to marry, several visa options are available for staying in Thailand. The Thai Elite Visa is recommended, costing 500,000 Baht for a five-year multi-entry visa, which requires no significant documentation. Alternatively, expats can utilize the Education Visa (ED Visa) by enrolling in language or other educational programs, allowing for varying durations based on school attendance. Expats may also choose to make regular visa runs with a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa for extended stays. It is important to note that with the ED Visa, one must attend classes regularly as immigration checks compliance.

Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Does anyone know of a Thai health insurance company that will accept a client that is not yet a resident or "long term" visa holder?

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Toby ********

check out

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Adrian ***********

yes please, I would like to take a look.

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Adrian ************

you can get insurance from Recency if you have a home address in your own country it's cheaper I have just done for my boy if you need a number my mate works for them

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Robert ********

Not possible Mike without a Thai bank account and a minimum 1 year condo rental agreement.

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Dario **********

None. However if you live in the EU, USA or South Africa, there are many "portable" options..

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Dario **********

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Jason ******

go to a bordering country every 3 months, get a tourist visa and come back. costs around 2000฿ to do it until you cant do it anymore then enroll in school and get an ED visa if you still want to stay in thailand.

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William *******

If you're financially independent the elite visa is best for you. It's only Baht 500 k for a five year multi entry visa which is a good deal. That's less then €3k a year !

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Graham *******

Go to school

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Graham *******

Ah, makes sense.

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Shane *********

it’s not a scam but is a loophole. Some people sign up to an Ed Visa and don’t go to school. So they stay in the country longer without following the rules, a loophole. But immigration are getting stricter and making sure people go to school if they have an ed visa.

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Graham *******

Scam loophole?

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Henri ******

They r closing the ED visa scam loophole now....

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Shane *********

Please keep in mind if you choose the Ed Visa option you are expected to go to school about 4 days a week for about 2 hours a day in most cases. Immigration will check to ensure people go to school regularly. I suggest that you do not choose the Ed option unless you plan to actually go to school.

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Graham *******

Depending on the school you go to, you can get different length visas, the one I’m on now is for 6 months, and if I keep my gpa passing the next one will be a year.

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yeah that's the other option I'm considering. I can't make a 5 year commitment to living here quite yet.

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Mike *********

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Is the elite visa transferable?

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Ivan ************

The medical checkup stuff isn't available on the 5 year visa anyway, you need at least the 10 year (1m THB) to get that. Also the cheaper versions are not transferrable.

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Ivan ************

Mike bear in mind that stuff like annual health checks are absolutely dirt cheap here. A complete blood count is something like $10, if that, and you can get comprehensive checkup packages including many more tests, x-rays, ultrasound, ECG, doctor consultation etc. starting from $100 or so.

If you do go for Elite consider that a "visa only" package is as much as 1 million THB ($32,000) cheaper than the one with the medical checkups, golf etc. $32,000 is a lot of extra money for this stuff in Thailand, everything really is dirt cheap here.

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Robert ********

Your welcome, good luck.

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

ok, good info. ty

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Robert ********

NOTE: After you apply and are approved, you are expected to "Pay In FULL" straight away. Thai Elite will allow you up to one week, in case there are spending / withdraw limits in your bank account. Under special circumstances they might grant you up to one month. BUT if you do not pay in full within 1 month, your application is cancelled and any money paid thus far is forfeited.

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Robert ********

IF you need to go to Immigration for your 90 day report, Elite members do not wait in queue, simply identify yourself as an Elite member and you are processed straight away, no waiting in line. It takes me roughly 15 / 20 minutes every time.

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Robert ********

You are advised to fast for at least 12 hours prior to the check-up....as per usual procedures.

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Robert ********

Yes, you are given a verbal assesment by a physician at the hospital, plus you receive a full report by email and a hard copy via registered post, within several days of your check-up.

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm curious about the benefit offered by elite visa. Have you had their check up?

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Robert ********

Hi Mark, yes I have been receiving a full annual check-up for the past decade and have tried BNH Hospital, Bumrungrad and BKK Hospital...Full Blood works, X-Rays, Ultrasound, etc....

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Very cool. How is the annual check up at BKK Hospital? Do they do a full blood panel?

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Robert ********

This is the only visa which does not require any documents to qualify. Simply complete the application form (provide 2 photos) and pass the police background check. Once confirmed, you are invited to Immigration Dept to receive a sticker and stamp in your passport. You are required to report once per year for your annual extension.

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

It looks quite good. No service at DMK though?

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Robert ********

"Elite Ultimate Privilege" and "Elite Family Premium", you can contact the Call Center and ask for the Sales Dept, 02 352 3000. Some of us are current members and are very happy with the program and perks.

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Robert ********

Only certain categories are transferable...

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Robert ********

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Robert ********

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Joe ***********

Terary Apellido - I'm not sure what number system you are using but the Elite Visa Card is 500,000 Baht for 5 years of stay

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Dario **********

Tod... Voice of reason. Yes. I do not say can or can not. Or even repeating hearsay. Only what I see. And yes, the website bounces you back here. It IS Thailand. Quite possibly, one day you can... and a week later... can NOT.

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Tod *********

I'm only stating what I found when I went to the thai consulate in Washington DC's website about the thai elite card. I'm not arguing about the currency. .. .

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

yeah! Great info! I'm just saying it's funny how the argument is still going over USD THB etc.

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Joe ***********

- but you now know much more than you started with.

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Mike *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

You guys are hillarious

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Tod *********

, on the website of the thai consulate in Washington DC they have a tab for the Thai Elite Visa but it jumps you straight to the elite website here

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Tod *********

news to me too. :O

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Joe ***********

- Another poster says his friend bought one at the DC Embassy with USD, news to me -

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Tod *********

Hmm, I don't believe you can by the thai elite visa from a thai consulate, in fact you have to transfer the money into the thai elite company's account here in thailand.

I think it's ONLY available inside of thailand and they put the visa in your passport when you enter the country.

It's NOT run by anything to do with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs <- which is who runs all the thai consulates and embassies. It's run by the Tourism Authority of Thailand

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Joe ***********

@Dario *********

- I stand corrected

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Dario **********

Uh, John, sorry, but that is incorrect. Neighbor purchased his elite last year in America,at the Thai Embassy in DC, and yes, IN USD.

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Joe ***********

Well of course Michael -- but if the OP goes to a Thai web site talking about the Elite Visa Card -- the price will be expressed in Baht. You can't buy this Visa in America and pay Equivalent.

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Michael ********

Lol, If something is priced in US dollars you pay US dollars or the equivalent

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Terary **********

Americans are not the only to use U.S. currency.. If a person uses US currency doesn't make them American. But US currency is the most widely used international currency.

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Joe ***********

The OP is not an American

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Joe ***********

Relevance is the factor.

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Joe ***********

@Terary *********

- not when paying for the Elite Visa

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Terary **********

Using the standard base 10 number system.. Similar to fingers and toes - surely you're familiar? Maybe you are getting confused by the dollar sign vs. thb? Its quite common to quote things in US currency (hence the dollar sign)

I hope I have been a help

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Terary **********

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Terary **********

Elite visa is $15,000 per five years or $3,000 per year purchased in 5 year increments. Not a bad option depending on if you want to stay that long and your situation will not be changing (taking a job or wife).

I just do the visa run option. I like to see different places. I go for 2-3 weeks, every 10-12 weeks.

Wife, Job, Retirement, school, Elite - I think those are your long-term options. Each with a down-side.

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Dario **********

CAN. As the Thai say.

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Terary **********

You can buy in 5 year increments.

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James *********

The increment option states 'within 7 days'

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Ivan ************

You can't purchase it in increments, you have to put all the money down at the start.

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Ivan ************

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Alan *******

Thai Elite visa

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Bent ******

If you want to learn the language, you can get the ED visa. I think the schools that provide the visas, charge about 20-25 k THB per year.

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Haldis **********

I'm on education visa.

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Robert *******

For long term the Thai Elite Visa, the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa which gives you about 270 days of stay.

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Robert *******

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