Thailand Elite Oldmembership Price
Thailand Elite Old Membership Price
- The old membership types (often sold 2003-2008) are no longer offered directly by the program. They’re only transferred privately from existing members.
- Because each case varies (membership type, remaining validity, transfer rights, benefits used, etc.), the price is negotiated case by case. For example: “There is no fixed price for the former Thailand Elite memberships. … The amount of the transaction is determined by agreement between individuals.”
- Transfer involves not just paying the seller, but also the buyer needing to pass screening, paying official transfer/name-change fees, and dealing with possible remaining term/benefit issues.
- The scarcity and uniqueness of each membership also drive variability: earlier memberships with “lifetime unlimited transfers” rights command premium, while lesser types (e.g., only 30 years, or only one transfer) will cost less.
In short: you won’t find a published “retail price” for the old membership; you must treat it as a private luxury asset transaction.
2. What the current market indications suggest
Even though there’s no fixed price, there are some indications and reported asking prices that give an idea of the scale.
From these data points you can infer: if an old membership offers more favourable rights (lifetime + unlimited transfers + major perks) then the price may run into the multi-million baht range, whereas lesser ones may be lower, but still significant.
3. Estimate of what you should budget
Based on the above, here’s a rough ballpark range (with caution) for what you might expect if buying a legacy old membership:
- For a “premium” old membership: lifetime validity, unlimited transfers → perhaps THB 3 million to THB 10 million+ (or more) depending on how rare/strong.
- For a more typical old membership: maybe valid for 30 years, plus some transfer rights → maybe THB 3 million to THB 5 million or thereabouts.
Important caveats:
- These are asking prices, not necessarily sale-prices. Negotiation is expected.
- Remaining term matters a lot: if the membership has only 10-15 years left, price will be lower.
- Benefit usage and transfer rights matter: unlimited vs limited transfers, accessory perks (golf, limousine, etc).
- Extra costs: Aside from the “purchase” price, you’ll likely pay official transfer/name-change fees, legal/broker fees, tax/escrow costs.
- Liquidity risk: Because there is no public market, resale may be more difficult (fewer buyers) and valuations may fluctuate.
4. Why the price may seem high — justification
Here are reasons why some buyers are willing to pay high sums for these old memberships:
- They offer very favourable stay/visa privileges vs many standard visas: e.g., long-term stay, VIP treatment, etc. Some old memberships are described as “equivalent to Thai permanent residence” on some marketing/broker sites.
- Scarcity: Because the program no longer sells these old types, supply is limited → the “asset” nature increases value.
- Transferability: Old memberships that allow unlimited transfers add an extra dimension: the holder could sell on later, potentially reducing long-term “cost per year”.
- Lifestyle/perks: Some buyers value the luxury concierge, airport limousine, golf/spa privileges that come with some of the old tiers.
- Hedge vs future visa/higher cost inflation: Some buyers may hope that future new membership costs will go up further, making their “legacy” purchase comparatively better.
5. Risks you must factor in when assessing value
When considering what price to pay, these risk factors will effectively reduce what a “fair” value is (or should be):
- Approval risk: Even if a membership is offered for sale, the buyer still must pass the program’s screening and the name-change/transfer must be approved by the issuing company. Until then, transaction isn’t final.
- Term remaining: If the membership has only e.g., 10 years left vs full 30/“lifetime”, the “value per year” declines.
- Benefit usage/expiry: Some benefits may have already been used or reduced; some old membership packages may have hidden conditions or lower utility now.
- Liquidity / resale risk: You may pay a high sum now, but if you later want to sell, the market may be small and price uncertain.
- Transfer costs: The official transfer/name-change fee may be significant and is not always included in the asking price advertised.
- Legal/contract risk: Because these are private transactions, there is potential for fraud or mis-representation (seller mis-states rights, membership invalid, etc.). Broker sites warn of this.
- Regulatory change risk: Future changes to visa/immigration/benefits could affect the attractiveness of the membership (e.g., fewer perks, changed privileges).
- Currency/exchange risk: If you’re buying from abroad, baht fluctuations matter.
Given these, a prudent buyer may apply a “risk discount” when negotiating (i.e., pay less than the maximum possible).
6. Practical guidance for negotiating / setting your budget
If you are in the buyer’s position (e.g., living in Sendai, Japan, considering a legacy Thailand Elite membership), here are steps and tips:
- Define your objective: How many years do you intend to stay? How much value do you place on the luxury perks vs just the visa stay? This helps you figure how much you might “justify” paying.
- Ask for full disclosure: From the seller ask: membership type (lifetime vs 30 yrs vs limited), transfer rights (unlimited or limited), remaining term (how many years left if 30-yrs), usage of benefits, any restrictions.
- Check comparable cases: While there are few public cases, use the examples to benchmark what others are asking.
- Estimate “value per year”: Suppose you pay THB 3 million for 30 years → approx THB 100,000/year (ignoring perks). Then factor perks, transfer rights, and risk discounts.
- Negotiate uncertainty/risk premium: Because you face uncertainty (approval risk, transfer fees, future resale), you might aim to pay less than the “top ask”.
- Include all costs: Don’t just budget the purchase price. Include: official transfer/name-change fees, legal/broker fees, your time and due diligence, plus any tax or banking costs.
- Check financing/timing: Ensure funds are ready; negotiations could take months; approval could take weeks/months. The seller may expect a deposit or escrow.
- Exit strategy: Think ahead — if you later want to sell, what term will remain, how marketable will it be? That influences how much you should pay now.
7. Conclusion: What to expect & what a “reasonable number” might be
To summarise:
- A legacy old Thailand Elite membership is not cheap. For the best types (lifetime + unlimited transfers + full perks) you may expect several million Thai baht (THB).
- Because of the many variables and risks, you should view the price you pay as reflecting both the “visa/benefit” value and a “premium for rarity & transferability”.
- If you see a seller asking THB 5 million+ for the top tier that has full lifetime rights plus unlimited transfers, that may not be unreasonable in the current niche market—but you must ensure the premium is justified.
- Always approach with caution, verify thoroughly, and build in the risk adjustment.