Thailand eyes rich expats from Hong Kong, Australia for ‘coronavirus haven’ visa scheme

The ‘pay to stay’ programme costs up to US$64,000 and comes with perks including yacht charters, medical check-ups and golf at championship courses

Though the operator admits global travel is difficult now due to the pandemic, it hopes to lure foreigners seeking a safe, comfortable home

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The Thailand Elite Card is a residential-visa scheme for affluent expats, investors and long-stay groups. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00am, 15 Aug 2020Updated: 1:14pm, 19 Aug 2020

Thailand’s “pay to stay” visa programme for wealthy foreigners is seeing an expansion opportunity, with visions of the country becoming a haven for expats from Hong Kong, Australia and farther abroad, thanks to its relative success in containing the coronavirus.

The Thailand Elite Card is a residential-visa scheme for affluent expats, investors and long-stay groups.

Membership, which ranges from 500,000 baht to 2 million baht (US$16,000 to US$64,000), provides for a renewable five-year visa.

It also comes with perks, which at the top end include limousine transport, jet and yacht charters, medical check-ups and golf at championship courses in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya.

The ‘pay to stay’ visa scheme comes with perks including golf at championship courses in Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya. Photo: Facebook

With borders currently closed and global travel at a near standstill, this would seem like the worst possible time for a visa programme. But Thailand Elite, which has been around for 17 years, is holding up during the pandemic.

It forecasts 2,288 new enrollees in the financial year through September, up 6.8 per cent from the previous year, and revenue is seen climbing 7.7 per cent to 1.4 billion baht.