BANGKOK: Manatase Annawat, president of Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. (TPC), said on Wednesday (Sept 16) that foreign scammers had recently affected several areas, including safety in Thailand.
To deter scammers and support a policy aimed at building confidence and safety for foreign tourists and Thai citizens, TPC has tightened background screening under the Thailand Privilege Card programme, formerly known as the Elite Card, through a 4+1 agency mechanism.
The agencies are:
1. The Department of Consular Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. The Immigration Bureau
3. The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), which was added in late 2025 to obtain information about offenders as quickly and comprehensively as possible
4. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)
5. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), which carries out in-depth financial checks, particularly in cases involving a change of nationality
This represents a significant tightening from two to three years ago, when checks involved only the Immigration Bureau and the Department of Consular Affairs, and closes more security loopholes.
TPC says member screening maximises crime prevention
Manatase said that, under continuous monitoring measures designed to guard against people with malicious intent, the company checks 100% of applicants on the day they apply.
All members have received a “clean” background-screening result from the first day of application.
Checks are repeated every 90 days and when visas are renewed annually, with the Immigration Bureau checking members about four times a year.
Members are also checked again during each five-year visa endorsement cycle.
If an irregularity is found or police request information, TPC immediately places the membership status on “Pending” from the day the background check begins.
It no longer waits for a final ruling in the case, as it did in the past.
Cases involving offences by Privilege Card holders have been very rare, accounting for less than 0.1% of the overall membership base.
All current cardholders are considered high-end, high-potential customers because membership fees and screening standards are higher than those for ordinary tourist visas, meaning the system already serves as a quality screen for foreign visitors.
In addition to helping stimulate the economy and tourism, TPC closely coordinates with government agencies and analyses data on various routes as part of comprehensive efforts to prevent transnational crime.
China remains the largest Thailand Privilege market
China remains the largest market within a total customer base of about 40,000.
TPC aims to increase the overall customer base to about 43,000 by the end of 2026.
China ranks first by market share, with about 20,000 members across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The group’s main demand is for special visa privileges through the Privilege Entry (PE) Visa as a second or third passport for peace of mind and security.
TPC will work with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and major sales agents in China and will continue travelling to expand its marketing.
Japan ranks second, the United States third and the United Kingdom fourth, while Taiwan and Russia rank fifth and sixth, respectively.
Geopolitical tensions drive surge in Elite Card sales
Manatase also said political unrest and geopolitical tensions in several regions had benefited Thailand because the country was viewed as a friendly and safe destination.
This has driven a significant rise in membership from Russia and Myanmar over the past two years.
Although there has also been strong interest from Israel, TPC has had to postpone marketing there because the current war situation remains volatile. - The Nation/ANN
