Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the Thailand Elite Visa, sometimes now being referred to as the Thailand Privilege Visa. Apparently we are transitioning to a new name, it's not going to be called the Elite Visa anymore, but for now I am going to use the old terminology. We are also discussing the fact that Indonesia has brought forth a new "Golden Visa" and I am going to kind of do some comparison and contrast because while I can understand that there is a lot of consternation especially emanating from the Western elements of the expat population here in Thailand regarding this substantial increase in pricing associated with the Thailand Elite Visa, it is worth noting that even programs that are being brought online, newly brought online are still substantially looking like they are more expensive than what you can get here in Thailand.

So, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, that is bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Indonesia office 'Golden Visa' to entice foreign investors. Quoting directly: "Indonesia is introducing a Golden Visa scheme to attract foreign individual and corporate investors in an attempt to boost its national economy, a statement from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights distributed on Sunday said. Quote: "The Golden Visa is granting a residence permit for an extended period of 5 to 10 years," Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim said in the statement. Quoting further: "The five-year Visa requires individual investors to set up a company worth $2.5 million, while for the 10 year visa, a $5 million investment is required." 

So again, when comparing this to for example the Thailand Elite system here in Thailand which is seeing an increase in terms of the cost associated with membership, yeah this Indonesian "Golden Visa" appears substantially more expensive than that. Then when comparing them to for example the standard Retirement Visa here in Thailand, yeah I think clearly the Golden Visa over there is substantially more expensive. That said, it appears to be a Business Visa so that brings us to the point of Thailand's Business Visa options which again all of them are, from personal experience I can say, substantially less expensive than a requirement that $2.5 million be invested or $5 million if you are looking for 10 years. Now you may not be able to front load 10 years all at once here in Thailand depending on the Visa you are going after, but that said I think it's definitely possible to get one self into a position where they can be here 10 years. I myself did it using standard Thai Business Visas and Work Permits and it would substantially less expensive I can tell you then 5 million or 2.5 million US dollars.

So again, while the Indonesia Golden Visa, it looks like it may be an interesting program for those who are looking to do business here in Indonesia when comparing it to the programs here in Thailand, it looks like Thailand may have things beaten in terms of price.