Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited (TPC) made an announcement in August 2024 regarding the suspension of the application fee for the Thailand Privilege Visa, which is expected to last temporarily from September 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The fee was waived in response to the current economic conditions in Thailand and recent changes to the Thai visa policy.
What’s Changed for the Thailand Privilege Program
Prior to September 1, applicants were required to pay an application fee of 50,000 baht before submitting their application. This was less of a fee and more of a deposit, as it would be deducted from the total membership fee and refunded if the applicants failed their background assessment.
Until the end of 2024, applicants won’t need to pay this fee to start their background check. Applicants who have applied before the update will not be affected by the new changes. They can continue with their application as they normally would and pay the remaining membership fees. As the application fee will be deducted, they will not lose any money.
Apply Immediately to Get A Thailand Privilege Visa
Foreigners seeking a Thailand Privilege Visa should opt to apply as soon as possible to take advantage of the recent changes. Without the application fee requirement, they can save time by having one less payment to worry about, which helps streamline the process. They will also experience fewer delays and complete their application faster than usual.
To begin, applicants should consult their nearest General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA), which are government-partnered visa consultants able to provide assistance with their application, free of charge. GSSAs are entrusted by the Thai government to guide applicants through their application and help them obtain their visa, swiftly and efficiently.
Upon submitting their application, applicants can progress to the background check without any payments needed. Because the list of eligible nationalities has expanded, TPC has tightened up security surrounding the application process. As of now, to complete a background check, the application must be approved by the following 4 organizations:
- The Thai Immigration Office
- The Department of Consular Affairs
- The Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police
- The Central Investigation Bureau
The background assessment will last around a month and the additional checks are not expected to extend this timeline. Upon completing their background check, applicants will receive an approval letter and payment instructions that they can follow to pay their membership fee. After paying this fee, applicants will eventually receive a welcome letter and Membership ID, which they can use to obtain their visa.
Contact Siam Legal for Assistance with Your Application
If you want to apply for a Thailand Privilege Visa, then now’s the best time to do it. To begin, consult Siam Legal’s Thailand Privilege team to obtain your visa in the fastest and most rewarding way. As a government-partnered GSSA entrusted by TPC, we provide professional guidance in obtaining a Thailand Privilege Visa without the hassle of immigration issues and delays. We also provide extra perks such as free or discounted legal services for applying through Siam Legal.
Partner with us, and we will issue in-depth document checklists, provide consultation sessions to address any concerns, and review your application to check for errors. Once everything is ready, we will submit your application to TPC on your behalf. As Siam Legal is a registered GSSA, all of our Thailand Privilege Visa services are free.
Contact Siam Legal today to begin your application for the Thailand Privilege Visa so you can enjoy the easiest and most rewarding long-term stays the Kingdom has to offer.