The key facts
- Membership costs from €17,300 to €133,350, with terms from 5 to over 20 years
- The card replaces visa formalities and includes VIP airport services
- Most holders live in Bangkok; Chiang Mai and Phuket are also popular
Paid membership instead of visa formalities
The Thailand Privilege Card programme allows foreigners to live in Thailand for five years or more, with membership packages offering options for 10, 15 and over 20 years. The cost starts at around €17,300 and reaches about €133,350, and those wishing to relocate do not need to obtain any other visas. Manatase Annavat, president of Thailand Privilege Card Co., told Euronews Travel at the World Travel Market exhibition in London. Holders are not required to stay in the country for the entire duration of their membership, but the card itself makes entry and exit considerably easier.
What is included in the package
The card's benefits include VIP airport services — fast-track passport control, lounge access, meet-and-greet services and limousine transfers — as well as access to golf courses, table reservations at leading restaurants, and visits to spas and wellness centres. The company also offers practical support: assistance with opening bank accounts, obtaining a driving licence and fulfilling mandatory reporting to immigration authorities. 'You know that whenever you come to Thailand and you need help or support, we have someone who will help you,' Annavat explained.
Who lives with the card and where
Most card holders live in Bangkok, but some choose Chiang Mai in the north, close to the mountains, or Phuket in the south with its world-class beaches. According to Annavat, Thailand is particularly suitable for retirees, since money in the country goes 'much further'. He also cited arguments for Europeans: some of the best medical services in the world ('some hospitals are almost like hotels'), renowned hospitality and, in his estimate, around 20,000 restaurants, which would take 10 years to visit. 'We have 365 days of warm climate, as well as mountains, sea, sand and sun,' he added, noting that the country can serve as a base for travelling around Asia, from which any point in the region is a two-to-four-hour flight away.
