@Lisa *******

visa runs are getting easier now. Almost all neighboring countries are open by land and air borders (except myanmar). So if you enter on exempt visa and decide you want more time you can visit another country for a couple days and return to Thailand for a fresh stamp. One of the best exit and entry points for this is LANGKAWI/KO LIPE (this is where I live) it’s a direct boat between 2 beautiful islands/countries! They are reopening this route in Mid October 🙂

You can’t skip any of the requirements. If you want an easier entry you can both enter on the visa exempt. Maybe you can change your flight to October because on Oct 1st until March the visa exempt has increased (from the original 30 day stamp) and gives you 45 days upon arrival (no prior application) and you can extend this by 30 days for 1900 baht at an immigration office inside Thailand. Total 75 days. The single entry TR visa which you are applying for is only 60 days upon entry + 30 days extension = 90 days. There is only 15 days difference between the 2 types of entry. And the visa exempt requires no application or application fee.

But they may still ask you at the airport in Thailand for 3 “proofs”

1) 20k baht in cash or equivalent in another currency

2) ticket for departure

3) booked accommodation receipt

The application process can take 1-2 months. So your current visa has to be valid long enough to have time to process the elite visa. I don’t think you can do it from a Covid extension. But not sure on that.

Contact thai elite directly by phone.

@Marc *******

what BIM says is correct. It very much depends on what your current visa is if they will allow you to affix it within country.

General information and requirements

Elite Visa is categorized as a Tourist Visa, which does not allow the holder to legally apply for a work permit to work or enroll in school for studying in Thailand.

Any applicant who has more than one overstay record will not be eligible to apply for the Elite Visa, despite having received the Approval Letter in the initial stage of the application procedure. Members who have more than one overstay of any type will be rejected at the immigration office when affixing the Elite Visa stamp.

You should have at least 3 blank passport pages to affix the Elite Visa.

Terms of the visa shall be granted in accordance with the validity of the membership.

Elite Visa validity length will be subject to the membership validity.

Reporting obligations

Thailand Elite Members are required to complete a 90-day report at the Immigration Office in the case of continuously staying in the country without leaving for over 90 days.

If Thailand Elite members stay less than 90 days per entry, they are not required to do a report. If members intend to stay up to, or over 90 days, then the 90-day report is required. For members who live in Bangkok, the submission may be done through the Thailand Privilege Card Head office on Sathorn, Bangkok. The report will be done within 3 working days and does not include any fee. There are also contracted agents to serve members in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket, which may also do the 90-day report on behalf of members without any fee.

If staying for a continuous year in Thailand, Thailand Elite members are required to personally report to immigration to get a stay extension. Members will be charged THB 1,900 at the immigration office when applying for this extension. The extension is not required should the member leave Thailand at any point during the 365-day period.

*** TM 30 form (for the Residence Notification as the responsibility from the house/building owner where you stayed with) is required for 90 days report & stay extension.

Refund policy and information about the validity of the visa issued

According to immigration regulations, if the length of your current passport is not up to a 5-year period, we will issue the Elite Visa in accordance with the expiration date stated on the passport.

If your current passport or passport pages have nearly run out and you need to renew your passport, please kindly send the Customer Contact Center (CCC) the 1st page of your new passport in order for them to update your information and affix the new Elite Visa for the remaining period.

Non-refundable in any case.

Conditions for getting your visa affixed

Only members holding a Tourist Visa, Visa on Arrival, or are on a 30-Day Exempted Tourist Visa are eligible to validate their Elite Visa.

Tourist visa is required for some nationality who would like to obtain Elite Visa at Suvarnabhumi, Phuket Chaingmai Airport.

Non-Immigrant Visas must be cancelled before Elite Visa may be validated. Members have to take responsibility for the cancellation of their Non-Immigrant Visa depends on condition as below;

For members who are currently staying in Bangkok and holding Non ED, B or O visa - Members who are currently staying in Bangkok on a Non-Immigrant Visa, is to visit the Chaengwattana office to complete the cancellation procedure and request to get the Thailand Elite Visa affixed in the same day (cancel in the morning period and get Thailand Elite Visa in the afternoon).

For members who are staying in provinces outside of Bangkok and holding Non ED, B or O visa, the person must first cancel their Non-immigrant visa at the issued location/province. In the case, members are holding any type of Non-Immigrant Visa and has been registered as a ‘Thailand Elite Member’, it is crucial that an appointment for the visa affix service is made before cancelling their Non-Immigrant Visa or during the 7-day Stay Extension period (THB 1,900 fee must be paid to the immigration office for this extension). Members may only request to obtain the Elite Visa at the Chaengwattana immigration office in Bangkok.

It is necessary to have TM 30 for members who would like to obtain Elite Visa at immigration Chaengwattana. (TM 30 form for the Residence Notification as the responsibility from the house/building owner where you stayed with).

There are 3 options for you to obtain Elite Visa:

And yes it depends on what Visa you currently hold… (I will post that information following this)

• (Recommended) Upon Arrival at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airport (Direct International Arrival Flight Only) * availability (Tourist visa is required for some nationality)

• Upon Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport (Direct International Arrival Flight Only) * availability without Elite Personal Assistant (EPA) (Tourist visa is required for some nationality)

• While staying in Thailand: you can request to obtain Elite Visa at Chaengwattana Immigration Office in Bangkok *Business days only. Depend on availability of Elite Personal Liaison (EPL)

this option necessary to have the TM.30 Form (for the Residence Notification as the responsibility from the house/building owner where you stayed with).

* For all options, please kindly inform Customer Contact Center (CCC) 5 working days in advance at +66 2 352 3000 or after receiving a welcome letter including ID number.

Con for Elite - it is expensive and the application is an annoying process and takes over a month.

Pro for Elite - after it’s done you basically never have to worry about your visa.

If you want peace of mind that is what you are buying.

@Ellie ******

thank you. We are Satun. I’ll check their policy. I wasn’t aware it was different per province

@Tod ********

one more question.

How soon after entering can one apply for a year long extension on the original 90 day non O visa? (Yes will get multiple reentry for everyone)

@Tod ********

thank you so much for taking the time to reply to all questions.

I’ll see if we can process the non B for Spanish passport from Canada 🤞. If not, will have to apply for baby Spanish passport and get this done in Spain. Much appreciated