The old Thailand Elite Visa was discontinued in 2023 and replaced with a new program, but existing memberships will remain valid up to their duration. If you are currently holding an old Thailand Elite Visa, you can upgrade to the current Thailand Privilege membership program for more benefits and luxury privileges and the ability to renew your Elite Visa. To make it more affordable, Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. (TPC) has announced that they have waived the upgrade fees for anyone looking to transfer to the Thailand Privilege memberships.
This is a limited-time deal from January 1, 2025, until June 30, 2025. Within this time frame, you are no longer required to pay a 100,000 baht upgrade fee to move from Thailand Elite to Thailand Privilege.
With the waived upgrade fees, the process is more cost-effective than ever and all you have to worry about is paying a small annual fee that is much cheaper than the full fee.
Continue reading to learn more about what steps you need to take to upgrade to a Thailand Privilege membership and how to qualify.
Legacy Thailand Elite vs. New Thailand Privilege: What’s the Difference?
On October 1, 2023, the Thailand Elite memberships were discontinued and replaced by four new membership packages, each valid from 5 to 20 years depending on the option. The newly-added Bronze membership has brought the total to five:
- 5-year Thailand Privilege Bronze membership
- 5-year Thailand Privilege Gold membership
- 10-year Thailand Privilege Platinum membership
- 15-year Thailand Privilege Diamond membership
- 20-year Thailand Privilege Reserve membership (only available via formal invitation from TPC)
These Thailand Privilege memberships stood out from the old membership packages thanks to their simplified processes and new VIP privileges. The most notable feature is the Privilege Points system, enabling you to customize the rewards you get by redeeming points. There are also other additions and improvements, which include:
- New perks not available with the old memberships such as free domestic flights, hotel memberships, personal accident insurance, and more.
- Free wealth advisory sessions, regardless of your membership.
- Special deals and discounts at restaurants, shopping venues, and other locations.
- New luxury perks added each month exclusively for Thailand Privilege members.
Who is Eligible to Upgrade Their Thailand Elite Card?
Most of the discontinued Thailand Elite memberships are eligible to be converted to the new Thailand Privilege Card. You can apply for an upgrade if you hold any of the following Thailand Elite cards:
- Elite Easy Access
- Elite Family Excursion
- Elite Family Alternative
- Elite Privilege Access
- Elite Superiority Extension
- Elite Ultimate Privilege
- Elite Family Premium
- Lifetime
You can switch over to any of the Thailand Privilege membership tiers of your choice (except the Bronze membership). While you don’t have to pay an upgrade fee, you will need to pay a small annual fee for each of the years remaining on your membership, which is much more cost-effective than paying the full membership fee.
To upgrade, you must collect the same documents required for new applicants, which include:
- Valid foreign passport (in color, with no less than 6 months remaining)
- Passport-sized photograph of yourself (in color, taken in the past 6 months)
- Completed and signed application form for the membership of your choice
- Completed and signed PDPA form
- Proof of your current Thailand Elite membership (it must have no less than 3 months of validity remaining)
- Any additional documents which may be required by your circumstances (documents for family memberships, etc)
To be eligible for the limited-time promotion, you must submit your application to the Member Liaison Department of TPC. Upgrades processed through a government-partnered General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) will not be accepted.
How to Upgrade Thailand Elite to Thailand Privilege
To upgrade your Thailand Elite Card to a Thailand Privilege Card, you will need to progress through the following steps below:
- Access the main Thailand Privilege website: www.thailandprivilege.co.th
- Send a request to the Member Liaison Department at: crm@thailandprivilege.co.th
You then need to go through the following steps to successfully upgrade your Thailand Elite Card to a Thailand Privilege one:
- First, you need to gather the required documents for your membership package.
- Submit your upgrade request to the Member Liaison Department and provide them with all your required documents.
- Complete the background check, which should last between 4 to 6 weeks on average.
- After completing your background assessment, you have 30 days to pay your initial fee.
- You will receive a confirmation email with your membership ID and a welcome letter from TPC. You can then book an appointment with the Member Contact Center (MCC) to affix your new visa to your passport.
Join Siam Legal’s Referral Program
With a new Thailand Privilege membership, you gain access to unmatched benefits for the most convenient and rewarding lifestyle in Thailand. But what if you could get these privileges for your friends and family AND make some extra money for yourself while you do it?
If you want to acquire Thailand Privilege Visas for your friends and family members, join Siam Legal’s referral program and become an affiliate. As a GSSA partnered with TPC, Siam Legal is able offer competitive commission rates for each successful Thailand Privilege applicant you refer to us. The more people you get to sign up, the higher commission we pay!
To secure the premier immigration solution for the people in your life and get rewarded for it, simply complete the Thailand Elite Affiliate sign-up form on our website. If you have any further questions about our referral program or the Thailand Privilege program in general, contact Siam Legal today.