With the termination of covid controls it is not just the numbers of Chinese tourists which is exploding. More and more Chinese are seeking long term residency in Thailand. Around 60,000 Chinese are now resident in Thailand, with an even increasing number of Chinese nationals who are already with Thailand Elite Visa membership. What is Driving This Development?
There are several factors driving this. First is a level of comfort with Thai culture and vice versa. Almost constant Chinese immigration to Thailand for a thousand years, due to their common land border, has resulted in an estimated 10 to 14% of the population being of Chinese descent and many aspects of Chinese culture permeate Thai thinking.
Second, Chinese business people can see Thailand’s potential – as an investment, a manufacturing hub and as a consumer market. The dramatic rise in Chinese purchases of condominiums, in particular, has partly underpinned the recent real estate boom in Bangkok.
Next large Chinese corporations and government organizations send a significant number of staff to Thailand. As well, individual business people and entrepreneurs move to Thailand, finding better business opportunities than in China’s increasingly competitive environment.
Additionally, there are young Chinese – digital nomads, students and workers in call centres, as well as employees of Chinese commercial offshoots or Thai companies with Chinese interests. Plus, as always investors, both in Thailand and across Indo-China, who choose to make Thailand their base.
When talking of all these groups, we must take into account several other key factors that are less apparent.
Firstly, Thailand’s low cost of living could bring a better lifestyle despite often a lesser salary than they could earn in China. Apartment rental, in particular, reveals that they can get a much more luxurious apartment in Bangkok than what is obtainable on their budget in a Chinese city.
Many appreciate Thailand’s weather, its relaxed environment, ease of regional travel, and plethora of activities and sightseeing.
The result has been a huge uptick in numbers of people applying for the Thailand Elite visa with Chinese nationals being a very large group.
The visa grants residency in the country for a period of 5 up to 20 years, depending on the application, for a membership fee starting at THB 600,000 (USD 17,000 at time of writing). The visa allows multiple entries. The stipulated period is always 5 years. However, you can renew it when you require it.
For Chinese condo buyers there is now a special version of this visa, called Elite Flexible One. Purchasers of one or more units totalling THB 10 million in value receive a five-year residency visa at no charge or at a discounted rate. The usual cost is THB 600,000.
All Thai Elite visa holders receive exclusive VIP treatment when entering and leaving Thailand – access to Personal Assistants on arrival and departure; fast Track immigration and passport control; complimentary round-trip limousine transfer (for selected programs); use of the Miracle arrival and departure lounge.
The card also provides discounts at shopping malls, duty free, spas, shopping and at many entertainment venues like golf courses. There is no requirement for health insurance with the Thai Elite Visa.
Chinese-speaking customer service staff man the support center, providing a huge perceived advantage. They can act as interpreters or as a concierge service, helping with things like opening Thai bank accounts and foreign currency transfers, drivers licenses and even immigration requirements, as well as business networking & immigration services. The service operates in Mandarin.
Thaielite Express has been an authorized General Sales and Services Agent since 2013. We hope that with our guide, you can better comprehend Thai Elite Visa costs and benefits and find a suitable option. Should you have any questions, however, please do not hesitate to visit our website for more details on Thailand Elite Visa and Membership, or send your questions directly to us via email: bastien@thaielite-express.com. We support English, French, German, Japanese, Turkish, and Chinese languages. We reply within 24 hours.
Walk-in consultancy is welcome at our Bangkok office at 1 Empire Tower, River Wing East, 29th fl., Tower 2, Unit 2904 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Thailand, Tel: +66 2 670 1848.
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