Over 8,000 foreigners have a Thailand Elite Card, surge in applicants in 2019

More than 8,000 foreigners have bought a Thailand Elite Card, with the company which operates the program reporting a surge in new applicants.

Somchai Soongswang president of Thailand Privilege Card Co, which operates Thailand Elite Card, told Thai media on Friday the company had reported revenue totaling 1.3 billion baht, a 27% year on year increase.

Elite Card holders can benefit from between 5 and 20 year multiple entry visas and other perks including the use of limousine services, golf and spa access, free medical check ups and help with banking and legal matters and 90 day reporting.

Mr Somchai said that there are now a total of 8,602 Elite Card holders, up from 7,135 in 2018.

Chinese nationals accounted for the biggest surge in new applicants, up 88% percent compared to last year. 

The top 5 nationalities with the most Elite Card holders are:

China (1,747)
UK (479)
Japan (443)
USA (387)
France (348)

The Elite Easy Access, which offers a five year stay in Thailand for a fee of 500,000 baht is the most popular card, followed by the Elite Superior Extension, which offers a 20 year stay in Thailand for a fee of 1 million baht. Third most popular is Elite Family Excursion card which offers a 5 year stay for 800,000 baht. 

Mr Somchai said Thailand Privilege Card Co will now focus on the Asia-Pacific in a bid to increase the number of Elite Card holders to 10,000 over the next year.

The company said it will target high earners in Bangladesh, India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the UK.

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