Many of us have Thailand on our bucket list for travel, but some people take it one step further and make the Asian nation their home.
Enter: The Thailand Privilege Card. Starting at around €17,300 and going up to about €133,350, those keen to move to Thailand can do just that, while bypassing other visa considerations.
“We are right in the middle of Asia, so travelling to any part of Asia would be within two to four hours,” said Manatase Annawat, President of Thailand Privilege Card Co., speaking to Euronews Travel at World Travel Market in London. “So people can also use Thailand as a base to stay and then also travel to any parts of Asia easily.”.
Annawat says Thailand is also worth considering as a home destination for Europeans, as it has some of the best healthcare services in the world – “some hospitals are almost like a hotel” – famous hospitality and a staggering 20,000 restaurants which, he estimates, would take 10 years to experience in total.
There are also business opportunities, and the weather is famously appealing.
“We have 365 days of warm climate and also mountains, sea, sand, sun, everything,” said Annawat. “It’s a lifestyle that you have been dreaming of. It is a place to come, to visit, to stay longer and even retire in Thailand.”
Currently, most Thailand Privilege Card members live in the capital, Bangkok, but others live in the likes of peaceful Chiang Mai in the north, close to mountains, or Phuket in the south, known for its world-class beaches.
Thailand, Annawat explained, makes an especially great home for retirees, not least because money goes so much further in the Southeast Asian nation.
Annawat also emphasised that locals welcome foreigners who move to Thailand and don’t make them feel like outsiders. “We take good care of them,” he added.
While the shortest period for foreign residents using the Thailand Privilege Card is five years, membership packages also offer stays of 10, 15 and 20-plus years. Holders don’t have to stay in the country for the entire timeframe, but just having the membership ensures that getting into and out of Thailand is far easier.
Benefits of the card include VIP airport treatment, think fast-track immigration, airport lounge access, meet-and-greet services and limousine transfers, as well as lifestyle perks which range from access to golf courses and bookings at top restaurants, spas and wellness facilities.
The card is, in theory, effectively offering a VIP pass to the country, allowing wealthy foreigners to enjoy longer stays with a range of perks that go well beyond a standard tourist visa.
For those keen to get peace of mind before signing up, the team behind the card also offer plenty of practical support, from help with opening bank accounts and obtaining driving licences to handling immigration reporting requirements.
“You know that whenever you come to Thailand and you need help or assistance, we have someone to assist you,” explained Annawat.