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Thailand Opens Elite Visa Program to All Nationalities but One · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: On September 4, 2024, Thailand Privilege Card Corporation Limited announced that the Thailand Elite Visa Program will now accept applications from all nationalities except North Korea.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: According to Bastian Trelcat, managing partner at Harvey Law Group, this decision reflects, quote, Thai elite's long-term plan to broaden its reach to a more diverse market, end quote, while responding to the program's increasing popularity.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: The policy shift ends restrictions on 28 countries across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: Previously ineligible nationalities included in Asia, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: In the Middle East are Algeria, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: In Africa are Central African Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: Trelcat notes that recent data from the Thai Immigration Office indicated a steady influx of visitors from these restricted countries to Thailand, with no adverse effect.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: This realization, he explains, coupled with the efficient due diligence process involving the consular services of the country of citizenship of the applicant, led to the conclusion that restrictions were no longer justified.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thailand's elite residence program offers renewable visas valid for 5 to 20 years, allowing extended stays without a path to permanent residency or citizenship.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: One-time fees range from about$27,000 to$150,000.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Membership tiers are as follows.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: Gold membership for$900,000 Thai baht for a 5-year visa.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: The Platinum membership costs$1.5 million baht for a 10-year visa.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: The diamond membership costs$2.5 million baht for a 15-year visa.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: Lastly, by invitation only, the reserve membership costs 5 million baht for a 20-year visa.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Trellcat notes that the program enables visa holders to quickly settle in in Southeast Asia's capital, integrated in a 350 million people economic zone.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Trellcat says the expansion, quote, opens up large markets like Pakistan and Nepal, which have always been savvy on Thailand, thanks to its proximity, but also Egypt and Nigeria, end quote.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: The processing times for the Thai elite visa typically take one to two months, and the program imposes no physical presence requirements.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: This episode first appeared as an article by Ahmed Abbas on IMIDAily.com.
• 3:02
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• 3:09
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