This article focuses on long-term residency in Thailand. It can be through the Thailand Elite programme or as a lawful permanent resident. These two methods can remove the constraints of non-immigrant visas need frequent renewals. Be it Elite Visa or Permanent Residence in Thailand, the validity is more in comparison to the conventional benefits of non-immigrant visas.
The Thailand Elite Visa
For individuals planning to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time, the Thailand Elite programme offers a VIP experience. Subscribers of Thailand Elite can do so in five, ten, fifteen, or twenty-year increments. Concierge services, expedited immigration processing at airports, and limousine transportation are just a few of the benefits of the Thailand Elite membership.
There’s also the Thailand Elite Visa to consider. However, such luxuries come at a cost. It is a 5-year increment in the programme that costs 500,000 baht on average. There are several programmes, each with its own set of fees and benefits. Furthermore, because the Elite Visa is on an individual basis, family members are not eligible for derivative status.
Nonetheless, the programme offers family packages, and the entire cost of such packages may offset the cost of each individual’s membership. The Elite Visa is integrally related to the length of one’s membership in the Thailand Elite programme. For example, if one purchases a membership for ten years, that person will be eligible for Elite Visa status for ten years.
Demerits of Thailand Elite Visa
Additionally, the Thailand Elite Visa sticker has a 5-year validity period. However, after the initial sticker has expired, a new sticker can be obtained to represent the member’s complete length of membership benefits. Although the Thai Elite visa has many advantages, it may not be the best option for everyone.
The Elite visa is similar to a long-term tourist visa. It allows you to stay in the country for an extended period of time. An Elite visa holder will be stamped into Thailand for a period of one year each time he or she visits the country. The visa holder is free to visit and leave Thailand as per the need. Also, as long as the visa sticker is valid, Thai immigration authorities will issue a one-year visa stamp at the port of entry.
An Elite visa holder can prolong their stay in the nation after the expiry of the first year of lawful status. They can do so with the help of the Elite programme concierge. To be clear, a Thailand Elite visa does not grant you the right to work in Thailand. Unlike a Thai business visa, it cannot be used to apply for a Thai work permit.
The Thailand Elite visa is the ultimate tourist visa and can operate as less burdensome than a Thai retirement visa. People can stay in Thailand for a lengthy period of time in retirement or leisure. The Elite visa, however, does not provide a permanent status. It is a non-immigrant visa for the Elite visa.
As a result, persons on such visas must follow the same requirements as other non-immigrants in Thailand when it comes to 90-day reporting and the TM30. Only the granting of a residency application can provide a foreign national with unconditional legal permanent residence in Thailand.
Advantages of Permanent Residence in Thailand
The benefits to an ex-pat awarded permanent residence in Thailand might be significant, both practically and intangibly. Those with Thai PR, for example, are exempt from the same immigration rules as those with non-immigrant status. For example, a foreigner who holds permanent residency in Thailand is exempt from the TM30 address reporting requirements. Those having resident status are likewise exempt from filing a 90-day report of address in Thailand. Those with permanent residency are recorded in a Thai House registration book (aka Tabien Baan).
This can make routine operations like banking, applying for a driver’s licence or renewing one, and applying for a work permit, to name a few, more efficient.
After obtaining permanent residency, the nature of an expat’s legal status changes. In contrast to a non-immigrant visa, those having permanent residence receive an immigrant visa. Furthermore, persons having PR are exempt from the same obligations as non-immigrants.
However, just because an ex-pat lives in Thailand does not imply they will never have to deal with Immigration or the Thai government in general. Travellers who wish to remain in lawful status while abroad must retain an immigrant visa. They must return to Thailand within 365 days or their residency status will be revoked. Every five years, the police book must be updated.
In comparison to residency in other countries, one advantage of Thai Permanent Residence is that work authorization is not mandatory. This means that even if a person is legally residing in Thailand, he or she may not have work authorization. To engage in employment activities, you must have a valid work permit.
Permanent Residence in Thailand Application
After a period of work authorization in Thailand, applicants may be eligible to apply for Thai permanent residence. A candidate for permanent residency can apply under a variety of categories. The vast majority of granted applications, however, include an applicant who has been in Thailand for an extended period of time in business or marriage visa status, as well as an uninterrupted work permit status during that time.
In order to complete an application, there are additional income thresholds that must be met. Depending on the realities of the applicant’s situation, the particular financial needs will differ. It’s worth noting that PR candidates must apply individually. As a result, couples must file a separate application rather than proceeding as derivative applicants.
One cannot apply for permanent residence in Thailand on a year-round basis. In actuality, the so-called “window” for submitting applications is only open for a limited time each year. In the past, the time limit for filing an application was rather short. The “window” may only be “open” for a few weeks or months in other situations.
In 2019, Immigration accepted applications from the middle of the summer through the end of the calendar year. Some commentators saw this as an extension of the Thai Immigration Bureau’s “Good Guys In, Bad Guys Out” policy. It has an extension in the period of time granted to applicants was a ploy to bring more “Good Guys” into permanent lawful status. Additionally, Thai immigration officials have a traditional nationality-based quota for PR applications. The limit is now set at 100 spaces per nationality, with an additional 100 spots in reserve for stateless people.
Approval Process
Following the submission of an application, the Royal Thai Immigration Police Bureau and the Ministry of Interior handles the case. A successful application follows many interviews. Because each application is unique, providing a “one size fits all” analysis would be futile. Obtaining PR can take a long time and require a lot of resources. A successful application requires a large amount of documentation from a foreign national. Some of this documentation needs validation not only from foreign government agencies but also by Thai government bodies.
The initial application will set you back at 7,600 baht. However, depending on the category of the grant of the application, a subsequent cost of 100,000 to 200,000 baht is necessary. After the payment of all costs and entry of one’s name into all appropriate papers (home book, police book, etc.), one becomes a legal resident of Thailand.
Your Take!
A Permanent Residence in Thailand is always more beneficial to an ex-pat than an Elite Visa. However, it depends on the purpose of an ex-pat to reside in Thailand. Be it the Elite Visa or the Permanent Residence in Thailand, we can help you in the processing of both. Feel free to mail us at [email protected] to avail a round of free consultation sessions.
