Thailand Privilege is the simplest long-stay route Thailand offers and, per year, one of the more expensive. You pay a one-off membership fee to Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., a company owned by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and receive a Privilege Entry visa for the length of the membership. The programme was called Thailand Elite until October 2023, and older packages sold under that name are closed to new members.
It is a visa by purchase. Buying property does not qualify you, and membership does not help you buy. The two decisions are separate, and buying property alone gives no right to stay.
Tiers and prices
The tiers and fees in November 2026:
| Tier | Fee (THB) | Term | Privilege points a year | Fee per year of term (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 650,000 | 5 years | None | 130,000 |
| Gold | 900,000 | 5 years | 20 | 180,000 |
| Platinum | 1,500,000 | 10 years | 35 | 150,000 |
| Diamond | 2,500,000 | 15 years | 55 | about 166,700 |
| Reserve | 5,000,000 | 20 years | 120 | 250,000 |
The last column is the fee divided by the term.
Reserve is by invitation only. Points are redeemed against the programme's services, and Bronze carries none. The current tiers carry no annual fee.
Two points need checking before you commit. First, Bronze: it was due to close to new applicants at the end of 2025, the date has since moved, and it was still offered in November 2026. Second, the cost of adding family members to Platinum, Diamond and Reserve has been sold at promotional flat rates that change. Ask for both in writing.
What the visa allows
- A multiple-entry Privilege Entry visa for the term of your membership.
- A stay of up to one year from each entry. If you do not leave within the year, you can extend for a further year at your provincial immigration office. The fee is THB 1,900, payable to Immigration.
- Assistance at the airport and with routine immigration paperwork, including a 90-day reporting service for members in the areas Thailand Privilege covers.
Members still have obligations. Anyone who stays in Thailand for more than 90 days without leaving must file a 90-day address report, and a late report carries a THB 2,000 penalty.
What it does not give
- Work. Membership does not carry a work permit. Members may work only through the Flexible Plus programme, which requires a minimum investment of USD 1 million in the Thai economy. Take advice before treating remote work for an overseas employer as permitted.
- Tax advantages. Membership provides none. Spend 180 days or more in Thailand in a calendar year and you are a Thai tax resident. Our guide to rental income and tax explains what that means for a landlord.
- Property rights. A member is subject to the same ownership rules as any other foreigner: freehold condominiums within the 49% foreign quota, and leasehold for villas and land.
- Permanence. When the term ends, so does the visa. This is not permanent residence and does not lead to citizenship.
- A return of capital. The fee is spent. Nothing is repaid at the end of the term.
Who it suits
Thailand Privilege has no age, income or investment test, which is why it fills the gaps left by the other visas:
- Buyers under 50, who cannot use the retirement visa.
- Owners who will spend part of each year in Thailand and do not want to hold THB 800,000 on deposit or repeat an annual extension.
- Buyers whose purchase falls short of the USD 500,000 needed for the Long-Term Resident visa, or who are buying in a structure the BOI does not count.
- Families, where each member needs a visa and schooling is part of the plan. See our page on international schools.
How it compares
| Thailand Privilege Gold | LTR Wealthy Global Citizen | Retirement extension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | 5 years | 10 years | 1 year, renewable |
| Cost | THB 900,000 fee | THB 50,000 fee | THB 1,900 a year |
| Capital required | None | USD 500,000 invested, USD 1 million in assets | THB 800,000 on deposit, or THB 65,000 monthly income |
| Age | Any | Any | 50 or over |
| Work permitted | No | Yes, with a digital work permit | No |
| Overseas income exempt from Thai tax | No | Yes | No |
A buyer spending USD 500,000 or more on a property in their own name should compare the two carefully. The LTR visa costs THB 50,000 and adds tax and work rights, while Platinum membership for the same 10 years costs THB 1.5 million. Privilege wins on speed and simplicity: there is no asset test to document and nothing to keep qualifying for.
How to apply
Applications go to Thailand Privilege directly or through an authorised agent. You submit a passport copy, a photograph and personal details for background screening, receive payment instructions once approved, and are then issued a membership letter. Thailand Privilege arranges for the visa to be affixed on arrival at Suvarnabhumi or Phuket airport, and its contact centre confirms the other options.
Pay the membership fee only to Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. itself, on its own invoice.
