Based on a real-life case.
A family of four: husband, wife, and two children, aged 2 and 7.
The husband has just purchased a condominium from a developer for THB 10 million.
Which visa would be suitable for the family? Let’s consider three options.
Option 1: Investment Visa
Based on the eligibility criteria, the situation qualifies: the condominium is worth more than THB 3 million, and the registration date is after October 1, 2025.
Application process for the whole family
September 1 — we start preparing the documents.
September 30 — the husband goes to the Immigration Office to submit the documents.
October 14 — the husband receives a 90-day visa at the Immigration Office, valid until December 30, 2026.
November 30 — the visa is extended for 12 months, from December 30, 2026, to December 29, 2027, and the documents for the family members are prepared.
January 2, 2027 — the family submits their documents to the Immigration Office.
January 17, 2027 — the family receives visas valid until December 29, 2027.
Cost
Per person:
THB 45,000 — including government fees, government agent services, and our services.
- THB 6,000 — participation in the Longstay program.
Total — THB 51,000 per person.
For a family of four:
THB 204,000 for the first year and THB 180,000 for each subsequent year.
For 5 years — THB 924,000.
Option 2: LTR
The husband owns real estate abroad with a total value of USD 400,000. His investments in Thailand amount to USD 300,000.
To qualify for the Wealthy Global Citizen LTR category, an additional USD 300,000 is required, of which USD 200,000 is still missing in Thailand.
If the husband decides to purchase another condominium in Thailand, the total investment will meet the requirements for an LTR visa.
Application process
September 1 — document review, translation of documents into English with notarization, obtaining insurance and a police clearance certificate.
September 15 — online application submitted to the BOI for the husband.
September 25 — preliminary approval of the application or a request for additional documents.
September 30 — preparation and submission of additional documents; applications for family members are submitted.
October 10 — application approval. A date is scheduled for visa issuance in Bangkok, or the documents are completed through the e-Visa website to obtain the visa abroad.
October 15 — approval is received for the family.
October 25 — the entire family receives their LTR visas for 5 years.
Cost
Our services:
- main applicant — THB 100,000;
- each family member — THB 30,000.
Total — THB 190,000.
Government fees:
THB 50,000 per person, total THB 200,000.
Total — THB 390,000 for 5 years.
Option 3: Thailand Elite
In this case, there is no need to provide property documents, bank statements, or other proof of investments or financial capacity.
Application process
September 1 — application submitted for the entire family.
October 15 — application approval and receipt of the payment invoice.
October 20 — visa payment.
November 1 — receipt of the Welcome Letter, which serves as the basis for obtaining the visa.
November 5 — the entire family receives their Thailand Elite visas upon arrival in Thailand at the airport.
Cost
For 5 years — the Bronze package:
THB 650,000 × 4 = THB 2,600,000.
For 10 years — the Platinum package:
- main applicant — THB 1.5 million;
- each family member — THB 750,000;
- total — THB 3.75 million.
The promotional price is available for applications submitted by September 30, 2026.
From October 1, 2026, the regular prices are:
- 5 years — Gold: THB 900,000;
- 10 years — Platinum: THB 1.5 million for the main applicant and THB 1 million for each family member.
All timelines and costs are approximate and depend on the specific case.
Which option did the family choose?
The outcome of the real-life case: the family chose Thailand Elite for 5 years — THB 650,000 × 4 = THB 2,600,000, the promotional Bronze package.
What factors influenced their decision?
1. The visa was needed in the near future
The family did not want to wait several months while the entire structure for another option was prepared and processed.
2. The family does not yet have enough real estate for LTR
They are planning to purchase additional property, but they want to do so calmly and without rushing.
Thailand Elite for 5 years gives them enough time to purchase additional property and decide on their future plans.
3. Five years is enough time to make a decision
During this period, they can decide what to do next: keep their investments in Thailand and switch to LTR, or liquidate their investments and move the funds to another country together with the family.
4. They do not want to collect documents for an investment visa
In addition, if they had chosen the investment visa, the family would first have had to prepare the documents for the main applicant and then add the family members. According to the initial estimate, this process would have taken approximately four months.
Why not the other visas?
The family also considered other options.
DTV
The husband does not have an overseas employer.
One possible basis for a DTV is documentation from a Muay Thai school, but the husband does not want to practice Muay Thai.
Another question arises: how comfortable would it be for the family to regularly prove their participation in the relevant activity? There are discussions on forums about document checks upon arrival and requests to contact the school.
When traveling with children, the family does not need these additional complications.
Bank account
A key issue is the inability to open a bank account under the option being considered.
How can you live in a country without a bank account?
For this family, this turned out to be a significant disadvantage.
Guardian Visa
A Guardian Visa could be considered for one of the parents.
But then the question arises: what about the other parent and the child? They would need another visa basis.
In theory, Thailand Elite could be obtained only for part of the family, while one of the parents could use a Guardian Visa. However, a Guardian Visa is issued for one year.
This means constant renewals and different visa schedules for the family members.
Conclusion
The same family may have several suitable visa options at the same time.
However, the most suitable visa is determined not only by formal eligibility requirements, but also by the family’s actual plans: when the visa is needed, what investments they already have, whether they plan to make additional purchases, whether they need a bank account, how important the visa validity period is, and whether the family is prepared to regularly collect documents for renewals.
Therefore, before choosing a visa, it is important to first determine your plans and then select the option that best fits them.
Author: Aleksandra Agapitova.
All rights reserved.
Copying and use of these materials without the written consent of the owner is prohibited.