There’s good news for foreigners who wanted a Thailand Elite Visa but did not have citizenship from an eligible country. Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited (TPC), which issues the visa, has updated its regulations regarding its restricted nationalities. Foreign citizens from any nation, with the exception of North Korea, will now be able to apply for and obtain a Thailand Privilege Visa.
What’s changed with the Thailand Privilege Program?
Previously, citizens from nations on the UN sanction list were restricted from obtaining a Thailand Privilege Visa. The restricted nations include:
- Asia: Afghanistan, North Korea, 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
This rule has now been changed, and only North Korea remains on the list of nationalities that are ineligible to apply for membership with the Thailand Privilege Program and the accompanying Elite Visa.
Applicants from the above countries who are now eligible may face extra scrutiny and slightly longer processing times for the Elite Visa, which requires a background check. But they are still eligible and will enjoy the same benefits as all other Thailand Privilege Members.
Why did the Thailand Privilege Card change the rules?
TPC has taken strides to revoke these restrictions in response to the feedback received from their General Sales and Services Agents (GSSAs), which are government-partnered visa consultants that provide free application assistance.
They reported high numbers of inquiries by nationals from restricted countries and suggested that if the vetting process was improved, they could accept this influx of applicants. The decision to expand the range of eligible nationalities was made to further stimulate Thailand’s tourism economy and increase the appeal of the Thailand Privilege Visa.
Removing these restrictions is expected to attract more long-term visitors to the country which would lead to higher tourism numbers. This is part of a broad range of efforts by the Thai government to meet and exceed pre-pandemic tourism revenues.
How to apply for a Thailand Privilege Visa?
Applicants from these countries will follow the same application protocol as other nationalities. To get started, they simply have to contact a government-partnered GSSA such as Siam Legal for free assistance with their application. GSSAs are entrusted by the Thai government to guide applicants step-by-step through their application and help them acquire their visas quickly and efficiently.
Upon submitting their application, a background assessment will begin. Because more nationalities qualify for the Thailand Privilege Visa, TPC has made changes to enhance the background check procedures. It announced that a total of 4 organizations will be processing each applicant’s background check:
- Thai Immigration Office
- The Department of Consular Affairs
- The Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police
- Central Investigation Bureau
All four organizations will investigate the applicant’s records, and all four must approve their application. The background check will last about a month on average and applicants will receive an approval letter and payment instructions upon completion. Upon successful payment of their membership fee, they will receive a welcome letter and membership ID.
Reach Out to Siam Legal for Application Assistance
If your nationality was formerly on the restricted list and now you want to apply for a Thailand Elite Visa, partner with Siam Legal. We are a government-partner GSSA with the qualifications and experience to ensure you get your visa swiftly and stress-free.
To assist you, we issue detailed document checklists, host consultation sessions to address your concerns and review your application carefully to identify any mistakes before we submit them to the immigration authorities. Most importantly, all our Thailand Privilege Visa offerings are completely free of charge.
Additionally, we are a full-service law firm having operated in Thailand and assisted foreigners with their visa applications for over 20 years. Because of this, our professional lawyers have the skills and knowledge to assist you with any of your legal needs on top of your Thai Privilege Visa application. We also provide free and discounted services if you choose to apply through us.
Contact Siam Legal today to acquire a Thailand Privilege Visa with greater ease, so you can fulfill your dreams of staying in Thailand long-term without worrying about immigration issues.