The Thailand Elite Visa, now called the Thailand Privilege Card, is a multiple-entry long-stay visa sold as a 5- to 20-year membership. As of October 2026, fees range from ฿650,000 (Bronze, 5 years) to ฿5 million (Reserve, 20 years, invitation only), according to Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd.. It lets you live in Thailand, but it does not give you the right to work.
Thailand Privilege Card tiers and fees (2026)
| Tier | Membership fee | Validity | Privilege points per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | ฿650,000 | 5 years | 0 |
| Gold | ฿900,000 | 5 years | 20 |
| Platinum | ฿1,500,000 | 10 years | 35 |
| Diamond | ฿2,500,000 | 15 years | 55 |
| Reserve (by invitation only) | ฿5,000,000 | 20 years | 120 |
Source: thailandprivilege.co.th, checked 22 October 2026. Packages sold before October 2023 are discontinued for new members. Fees and the availability of each tier can change, so check the official site before you apply.
What is the Thailand Elite Visa?
The programme is now called the Thailand Privilege Card. It is run by Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Members get a Privilege Entry (PE) visa, which allows a stay of up to 1 year per entry, with as many entries as you like while your membership lasts (official FAQs).
A few practical points from the official FAQs:
- Staying longer than a year: you can extend your stay at your local immigration office, 1 year at a time. You need to go in person, and the fee is ฿1,900.
- 90-day reporting still applies. In Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai and Phuket you can hand your passport to Thailand Privilege's offices and they file it for you (Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Reserve members use privilege points for this). Elsewhere you report yourself, in person or online.
- Other help: airport assistance at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket, help opening an account with Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn Bank, and help applying for a Thai driving licence.
Who can apply?
According to Thailand Privilege's visa comparison, you need no proof of income, no employment contract and no health insurance, and there is no age limit. You apply with your passport, a photo and the application form. Thai authorities run a background check before you are approved, and you pay the membership fee after approval. Siam Legal puts the check at about 4 to 6 weeks (Siam Legal).
The application process
- Choose your tier and apply through an authorised agent or the official website.
- Background check: Thai authorities review your application.
- Payment: you pay the membership fee once you are approved.
- Card and visa: your membership is issued and the visa is placed in your passport.
- First entry: check your entry stamp at immigration. It should show 1 year for a PE visa.
How much does the Thailand Elite Visa cost in 2026?
From ฿650,000 for Bronze (5 years) to ฿5 million for Reserve (20 years, invitation only). Gold is ฿900,000 for 5 years, Platinum ฿1.5 million for 10 years and Diamond ฿2.5 million for 15 years (thailandprivilege.co.th, checked 22 October 2026). Stay extensions at immigration cost ฿1,900 each.
Is the Thailand Privilege visa a "golden visa"?
Not officially. Thailand does not sell a visa called a golden visa, but people often use the term for the Privilege Card because you pay a fee for a long-term stay. It needs no investment and no proof of income. The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, which is also sometimes called a golden visa, has income or investment criteria, allows work with a digital work permit, and has a ฿50,000 government fee (Thailand Privilege's visa comparison).
Does the Thailand Elite Visa give permanent residence?
No. It is a long-stay visa that lasts as long as your membership, from 5 to 20 years depending on the tier. Permanent residence is a separate immigration process with its own rules.
Can I work in Thailand on a Thailand Privilege visa?
No. Thailand Privilege says members are not permitted to work or study in Thailand under this visa (Thailand Privilege). To work for a Thai employer you need a different visa and a work permit.
Do I need to buy property to get the Thailand Elite Visa?
No. Membership is not linked to property, and buying a condo does not give you a visa on its own. Many buyers simply use the two together: the condo is the home, and the membership is the right to stay in it long term.
Combining the visa with a condo purchase
For buyers who plan to spend a lot of time in Bangkok, the two fit together well:
- A condo unit registered in your name at the Land Department, within the building's 49% foreign quota
- The right to live in Thailand for the length of your membership (5 to 20 years, depending on the tier)
- No visa runs, and freedom to spend as much or as little time in Thailand as you like
If you are planning a purchase too, start with Can foreigners buy property in Thailand?, our step-by-step buying process and our guide to the best areas to buy a condo in Bangkok. Projects we currently list in central areas include Scope Langsuan, Noble Emmerse Phrom Phong and Noble Around Ari.
Contact us to talk about your plans, or browse our new condos for sale in Bangkok.