Thailand Elite Visa Waiving of Application Fee
Due to recent feedback from applicants of the Thailand Elite Visa and increased demand, the Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited (TPC) announced the suspension of the 50,000 THB membership application fee. This suspension has taken effect since September 1, 2024, and will continue until the end of the year on December 31, 2024.
The waiving of this fee is hoped to increase the number of Thailand Privilege applicants through the end of the year to shore up tourism numbers.
How the Waiving of the Suspension Will Affect The Thailand Elite Visa Application Process
Before this suspension took effect, the Thailand Elite Visa application required an application fee of 50,000 THB, which would then be deducted from the total membership fee of the Thailand Elite Visa or refunded if the background check that followed was unsuccessful. Therefore, the 50,000 THB application fee acted as a deposit more than a fee. But since it’s been waived for the time being, the application process for the Thailand Elite Visa has also changed for all applicants moving forward.
There is now one less step and one less payment to manage when applying for a Thailand Elite Visa. This makes the application process, which is already among the fastest of all long-term Thai visas, even more streamlined.
If you are hoping to take advantage of this development, it is still highly recommended to first get in contact with a government-partnered General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA), as they will maximize your chances of a Thailand Elite Visa approval and will simplify the entire application process for you by doing everything on your behalf free of charge. They are specifically entrusted by the government to help you with your Thailand Elite Visa application, which includes:
- Gathering all the correct documents,
- Reviewing your Thailand Elite Visa application for any errors, and
- Submitting the Thailand Elite Visa application
Previously, when submitting the application, you would need to pay the 50,000 THB application fee through an approved channel, but because of the suspension, you will be able to skip this step altogether and move to the background check. Any steps that follow the background check will continue as it was previously done before to obtain the Thailand Elite Visa.
What if You’ve Already Paid The Thailand Elite Visa Application Fee?
However, if you’ve already submitted your Thailand Elite Visa application and paid the application fee before this announcement, the application process will continue as done before – the 50,000 THB will be deducted from the remaining membership fee. No further action is required.
Why the TPC Implemented the Suspension
Other than to adapt to the current economic climate and recent changes in Thai visa policies, the reasoning behind the TPC’s decision to suspend the 50,000 THB application fee stems from their desire to make the Thailand Elite Visa more accessible to applicants and to encourage more foreigners to apply for the visa.
To take it a step further, the TPC has also removed the restriction that was once placed on certain nationalities that prevented them from applying for the Thailand Elite Visa. These nationalities include:
- Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Africa: Central Africa, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan
- Middle East: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, Yemen
Start You Thailand Elite Visa Application with Siam Legal International
If you’re looking to take advantage of the application fee suspension and get your hands on the Thailand Elite Visa now, get in touch with Siam Legal International. We are a full-service law firm that is recognized as one of the best-performing GSSAs in Thailand.
Our bilingual Thai Elite Visa team is more than equipped with the necessary skills and experience to ensure that your chances of obtaining the Thailand Elite Visa is maximized and that the process is as swift and hassle-free as possible.
If you’re ready to settle right into the best Thailand has to offer with the Thailand Elite Visa, contact Siam Legal now to start your consultation.
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