Thai Education Visa, officially called Non-Immigrant Visa (Category ED), is a visa issued to applicants who wish to study or do an internship in Thailand. This type of visa is required for foreign nationals aged 12 or more to remain in Thailand for the full-time educational program. The visa is valid for 3-months for a single-entry visa, and one year for a multiple-entry visa.
Thai Education Visa recipients must regularly attend the class applied. Neglecting the class or using the visa for another purpose will violate the immigration law and may risk being expelled from Thailand and banned from later immigration to the country.
Do you need an education visa?
Visa is required for entry into Thailand if you are a foreign national aged over 12. However, if you prefer to study in Thailand for less than 3-months you can obtain a tourist visa, which is available as a single-entry which is valid for 60-days with an extension for another 30-days or a multiple-entry visa which is valid for 6-months. Another option is Immigration Exemption for 30-days with an extension for another 30-days.
For studying in Thailand for more than 3-months. If you are eligible for other types of visa, such as a Non-Immigrant Visa (Category B) for business and working, or Non-Immigrant Visa (Category O) for a long stay. You do not need to apply for an education visa, because these types of visas are eligible for the recipient to take an education course in Thailand. If you are not eligible for other visas, you need to obtain a Thai Education Visa to legally study in Thailand.
What do you need to prepare for your application for the visa?
To make your application, you will first need to be enrolled in a recognized full-time education course, which meets all the requirements of the visa, and you must have paid at least 50% of the enrollment fee.
Once you have enrolled on the full-time course, the academic institution will need to prepare and supply you with all the necessary paperwork for you to make your application including
- a letter of acceptance, which must be typed on the institution letterhead and signed by authorized person
- evidence of enrollments, such as receipts of tuition fees
- a copy of the course description or study plan
- a copy of the institution’s license or registration documents.
In case of applying for a visa for attending the seminar, training session, or internship, you must provide a recommendation letter from the organisation.
Other documents needed are
- the completed TM 87 Thai Visa Application Form
- passport-size photographs
- a copy of passport or travel document valid at least 6-months from arrival date in Thailand
- a copy of Bank Statement
- a copy of Health Insurance documents.
Thai Education Visa must apply at the Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand. If you are in Thailand, you need to leave the country to apply for a Thai Education Visa. It may be possible for you to apply for a visa at one of the neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore. In some cases, you need to apply at the Thai Embassy or Consulate of your country of origin.
The visa process usually takes around 4 business days or more, depending on the process of authorization of the documents. The in-depth requirement for the application also depends on your nationality. For further information about your application, please contact the nearest Thai Embassy or Consulate.
What do you need to do after the visa is granted?
The Non-Immigrant Visa (Category ED) is valid for 90-days and will be extended to 1-year, after making the first 90-days reports and showing a document that confirms your course registration is complete and the tuition fee is fully paid to the Immigration Office.
Under the immigration law, Holders of Thai Education Visa must report their current address every 90-days with a complete TM47 Alien Notify of Staying Form, which can be done in person, done by mail, or done through the agent who has the power of attorney.
If you plan on leaving and re-entering Thailand whilst on a single-entry Thai Education Visa, you will first need to get a re-entry permit to not lose your visa when you leave. The re-entry permit can be secured from an Immigration Office or any International Airport. The fees are 1,000 Baht for a single re-entry and 3,800 Baht for a multiple re-entry permit. When re-entering Thailand, make sure to note the number of your re-entry permit on your immigration arrival form for your visa to be re-activated.
If the visa expires, you must begin the application process all over again. For the visa renewal of the current student, a copy of the Student ID, tuition fee receipt, and Education Record is needed.
How can we help you?
PBISS can offer visa assistance for students and parents, including document preparation for applications of Category ED Visa for students and Category O Visa for parents, and a consultant for your Thai Visa application – including planning, process, timeline, and essential document needs. For our prospective student, PBISS can send you documents required for Visa application at your country of origin.
(For both parents and students, the visa application requires complete documentation according to Thai Immigration law.)
For further information about visa assistance or assistance for your child and your family to studying in our campus at Koh Samui, please visit our campus or contact Khun Ging via ging@panyadee.ac.th
