Which is Better, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) or the Thailand Elite Visa?

The Thailand Elite Visa and the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) are two tourist visas to keep in mind if you plan on an extended stay in the country. However, both these two visas are used for different purposes and provide distinct advantages. To gauge which option is best for your needs, let’s compare and contrast these two long-term immigration solutions. 

What is the Thailand Elite Visa?

This is an elite tourist visa offering 5-20 years of stay in the country. Available through the Thailand Privilege Program’s 4 membership packages (Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Reserve), the Thailand Elite Visa allows more flexibility and comes packed with a diverse array of benefits. 

What is the Destination Thailand Visa?

The DTV is a long-stay digital nomad visa enabling you to reside in Thailand for up to 180 days per entry over a period of 5 years. Additionally, you can renew the visa for another 180 days for each entry.

Targeted primarily at digital nomads, this visa is designed for remote workers and online freelancers.

You can also apply for a DTV to partake in “Thai Soft Power” activities. These include activities revolving around creativity, education, entertainment, and culture such as:  

• Muay Thai classes
• Thai cooking lessons
• Sport training sessions
• Medical treatment at Thai hospitals or medical centers
• Seminars
• Art and music festivals
• Short-term educational courses

Similarities Between Both Visas

These visas share just a few similarities, which include:

• They both provide multiple-entry visas that can be extended (in the case of the Thailand Elite Visa, it depends on the membership package you applied for).
• There are no health insurance requirements to apply for each visa, so while recommended, insurance is completely optional.
• Both are tourist visas that restrict you from working for a Thai company, setting up a local business, or acquiring a Thai work permit.
• Being on either visa allows you to work remotely for a foreign company while in Thailand.
• Neither visa offers any tax exemptions or perks, meaning you will need to pay taxes if you stay 180 days or longer and earn any foreign income.

Where they differ most is how you get one of these visas, and what it gives you once you have it.

Differences Between the Thai Elite Visa and DTV

The differences between these two visas are stark, especially when it comes to the price. But, this difference can be made up for by the benefits you receive.

VIP Services

Unfortunately, the DTV does not offer any VIP services or perks. All it does is get you in the door, and provides no additional amenities, special privileges, or helpful services.

The Thailand Elite Visa on the other hand rewards its members with a plethora of perks:

• Fast-tracked VIP services via the premium lane at airports
• Health checkups once per membership validity
• Personal accident insurance during your first membership year (how many days you can use it for depends on your package)
• Access to an Elite Personal Assistant on arrival
• The Thailand privilege points feature, which grants you an allotment of points to spend on a huge array of free perks, such as free hotel stays or domestic flights
• Access the Member Contact Center for 24/7 assistance
• Access to exclusive seminars and networking events for professionals in Thailand 

Visa Fees

Elite Visa and DTV have wildly different costs, with the Elite Visa ranging from 900,000 baht for the 5-year package to 5,000,000 baht for the 20-year package, and the DTV having a fixed fee of 10,000 baht. One of the main reasons that the Thai Elite Visa is so much more expensive is the wide array of benefits detailed above.

The DTV requires a modest visa fee, though each embassy is different and often charges more. However, you must prove that you have 500,000 baht (or more for some embassies) in liquid assets, so you still must be in decent financial condition to apply. You also have to pay a fee for each extension of the DTV, whereas you only pay once for the Elite Visa with no further financial requirements.

Bringing Family Members With you to Thailand

While both visas allow you to bring family members to Thailand, the individuals you can take with you and how they can apply for each differ. 

With the DTV, only your spouse and dependent children are eligible. To acquire a DTV, they will each need to submit a separate application for the visa, and pay a separate visa fee. 

The Thailand Elite Visa allows Platinum, Diamond, and Reserve members to include family members as part of the primary application. You are allowed to add more family members beyond the immediate dependents that the DTV allows. You include these family members in your primary application at the time that you apply for the Thailand Elite Visa.

Changing Visas

You are able to convert either of these visas to a different visa while in Thailand, say if you want to gain employment for a Thai company and need a work permit. This will void both the Thai Elite Visa and the DTV and remove your remaining stay duration. 

However, when you cancel the Thai Elite Visa, you still retain all of the rights and privileges afforded by your Thailand Privilege membership, including the Privilege Points, discounts, access to VIP airport lounges and immigration, and the rest.

Eligibility Requirements

Both visas differ in terms of eligibility requirements, but fortunately, neither the DTV nor Thai Elite Visa have particularly stringent criteria. 

Both require a standard array of identifying documents, but because the DTV is approved only for a particular purpose, it does have a couple more requirements to fulfill:

• You need to provide proof of your purpose for visiting Thailand*
• You must provide proof of finances (such as a bank statement, sponsorship letter, or recent pay slips) showing you have at least 500,000 baht in your bank account.

*The proof you need depends on your purpose:

• Employment contract or freelance work portfolio for digital nomad, freelancing, or remote working purposes

• Proof that you are enrolled in a Thai Soft-Power activity or you have an appointment from a Thai hospital
• Proof of relationship documents for dependents (marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate for children)

The Thailand Elite Visa eligibility requirements are far simpler. Unlike the DTV, the Thailand Elite Visa is available to anyone. While there is a background check involved, applying for the visa does not require any age, financial, or employment requirements to be met. You also can seek the services of an agent for free help with assessing your eligibility for the visa.

Applying for a Thailand Elite Visa and a DTV

With the Thailand Elite Visa, the easiest way to acquire it is to consult the services of a government-partnered General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA). A GSSA will work by your side to complete the application forms, gather the correct documents, review your application, and submit it to the Thai government entirely on your behalf. Most importantly, the GSSA will perform all these tasks for free. 

You can also complete your application either abroad or in Thailand. The process lasts around 1 to 3 months with most of the time spent on your background check. You can then get your visa affixed in person either at an embassy, airport, or Thai immigration office. 

You can apply for the DTV either in person or online, however you must apply from outside Thailand. If you want to apply for it in person, you will need to submit your documents and application to a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate. If you want to apply for it online, you can do so by submitting your application through the Thai e-visa website of a foreign country, but you will still need to be in that country.

Which Visa is Better: The Thailand Elite Visa or the Destination Thailand Visa?

Which visa is best suited to you depends on your priorities and intentions for visiting Thailand in the first place. 

The Thailand Elite Visa can be an ideal option if you are looking for maximum comfort in Thailand, and have the funds to pay the significant membership fee. If you want to eliminate the hassle of renewals and dealing with Thai immigration, the Thai Elite Visa allows you to pay it all upfront and forget your visa worries.

You can maximize your Thailand experience through access to VIP services and a wealth of top-tier perks with the Thailand Elite Visa, and applying for it is more convenient thanks to reduced requirements and free assistance from GSSAs. You also aren’t limited to just being able to bring your spouse and children with you to Thailand, you can also include other members of the family. 

However, due to its affordability, the DTV can also be a more suitable and cost-effective option for you, especially if you don't want to commit to a long-term stay in the country. This can be an ideal alternative if you are a remote working professional with plans on leaving and returning frequently to Thailand.

Contact Siam Legal

If you have decided on which visa to get or need additional advice, reach out to Siam Legal International for assistance. Having been in operation for over 20 years in Thailand, our Thai visa consultants have the expertise to guide you through your Thailand Elite Visa or DTV application, or whichever visa best fits your needs. 

We will review your required documents for accuracy and carefully take you through the process, ensuring you receive your visa as quickly and with as little risk as possible. And, as a government-partnered GSSA, we are able to host free consultation sessions for the Thailand Elite Visa and directly help you with your application in person and submit it on your behalf. 

Contact Siam Legal today to get started on your visa journey immediately.