Thailand Privilege Visa vs Retirement Visa
Retire in Paradise with the Right Visa for Your Needs
Both the Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement) and Thailand Privilege visas allow foreigners who meet certain criteria to stay uninterrupted in Thailand. However, there are several key differences between these two popular long-term visa options in Thailand that you should understand before committing to either one.
The following is a comparison of long-term visas in Thailand focusing on the Retirement and Thailand Elite visas. If you want to see a comparison of Thailand’s Long-Term Resident Visa and the Thailand Privilege Visa, click here.
Thailand Privilege Visa vs. Retirement Visa: The Rundown
Thailand’s Retirement Visa
The Retirement Visa in Thailand is officially known as the Non-Immigrant Visa O-A, an extension of the Non-Immigrant O Visa. As the name suggests, it is meant for retirees/pensioners who want to spend their post-work years relaxing in the Land of Smiles and have no intention of working here. It’s an affordable and relatively easy visa to acquire, but only if you meet the prerequisites.
To qualify for the Retirement Visa, you must:
- Be at least 50 years of age on the day you submit your application
- Have no criminal record or outstanding record of overstay in Thailand
- Pass a medical screening
- Prove you have sufficient income and assets to support yourself
For the financial requirements, you must prove that you have a monthly income of not less than 65,000 THB.
You must also show a bank statement that proves you have not less than 800,000 THB in a bank account, and this sum must have been present in the account for not less than 2 months at the time of application. These requirements are in place to ensure that you will not be a burden on Thai society and can support yourself in the event of an emergency.
With a Thailand Retirement Visa, you are able to stay in Thailand for up to 1 year, at which time you can renew your visa by presenting the same application materials you provided the first time. You must do your report to immigration every 90 days as with other visas, and you must also apply for a re-entry permit if you wish to leave Thailand and return during your visa’s period of validity.
There is also a Non-Immigrant O-X visa, which is a kind of Retirement Visa with a duration of 5 years. It can be renewed just once for a maximum duration of 10 years. This visa is more rare, however, as it is only open to certain nationalities and requires you to hold more money and maintain a higher income.
Thailand Elite Visa
The Thailand Privilege program, replacing the old Elite Visa program, has a much simpler application process and still grants the convenient Thai Elite Visa. It also requires a clean criminal background check and no history of overstay, but the only other major requirement is a substantial upfront cost. For further details regarding Thailand Privilege's eligibility conditions and application procedure,
click here.
The Thailand Privilege Visa's cost, duration, and additional benefits vary depending on the membership tier you choose to apply to, of which there are three: Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. There’s also an exclusive fourth tier called Reserve, but you can only join this tier through a government invitation.
Click on a tier below for more detailed information.
Cost | Visa Validity | Able to add family members? | Transferable? | |
 Gold Membership | 900,000 THB | 5 years | ||
 Platinum Membership | 1,500,000 THB | 10 years | ||
 Diamond Membership | 2,500,000 THB | 15 years | ||
 Reserve Membership | 5,000,000 THB | 20 years |
Thailand Privilege Visa vs. Retirement Visa: A Comparison
Ease of Application
The Thailand Privilege program has fewer eligibility requirements and demands fewer documents than the Retirement Visa, translating to an easier and likely faster application process. Also, the Thailand Elite Visa duration is 5 years, as opposed to the O-A visa’s 1 year, meaning the latter will require you to reapply much more often. You would have to meet more stringent requirements to hold the rarer O-X visa to match the duration of the Thailand Privilege Visa.
Despite the relative ease of a Thailand Privilege application, you would still have to deal extensively with the government bureaucracy, so it is recommended that you work with an authorized General Sales and Services Agent for the fastest and smoothest possible experience.
Price
In the Thailand Privilege Visa vs. Retirement Visa cost comparison, there is a clear winner. As mentioned above, the Thailand Privilege Elite Visa costs hundreds of thousands of baht, paid in full at the time of issuance. And that’s at the lowest tier, with the higher ones costing millions. In contrast, the Retirement Visa costs a mere 2,000 THB to acquire, with the multiple-entry version and 5-year O-X version costing 5,000 THB and 10,000 THB respectively.
Ability to Work
Neither of these visas allow you to gain employment at a Thai company, as they are both technically tourist visas. This means that in either case, you would be living off of your foreign income or local investments. Fortunately, regardless of which visa you hold, your foreign income is tax-exempt if it meets certain requirements.
Benefits Provided
Beyond the right to stay in Thailand legally, the Retirement Visa doesn’t provide any unique perks. But with a Thailand Privilege Membership, your visa comes with an enormous list of benefits and rewards, even at the lowest tier. These benefits include but are not limited to:
- Discounts on hotel stays, retail purchases, leisure activities, and much more
- Access to VIP lounges and exclusive networking events
- Concierge services and a dedicated assistance hotline
- Free passes to country clubs and other leisure destinations
- An annual allotment of points that can be spent on hundreds of available rewards and complimentary services
Finding the Right Long-Term Thailand Visa Option for You
By and large, the Thai Elite Visa granted by Thailand Privilege membership and the Retirement Visa allow you to do the same things in Thailand, just in different ways. The Retirement Visa is a good option if you just want the bare minimum ability to stay in Thailand and don’t mind a bit of extra work and patience to keep it. On the other hand, if you want the easiest, most relaxing, and most rewarding experience Thailand has to offer (and can afford it) then Thailand Privilege membership is for you. This decision is not one to be made lightly, however, so you should consult with a government-authorized visa agent like Siam Legal to get all the facts and make an informed decision.
Call, email, or message us today and take the first step to a rewarding and convenient Thailand Privilege Membership.
