Thai Education Visa

There are a number of options when wanting to study in Thailand. You do however firstly need a Thai Education Visa once you have been accepted by a school or university in Thailand. Thailand has a number of international schools and colleges and with a lower cost, many have decided to study in Thailand. This is mainly the Thai language and Asia Studies at the university level. Always ensure that you have the correct Thai visa for your education.

When Thailand started expanding it attracted many expats who had children attending international schools in Bangkok. This catered to the education needs of resident expats children but also the more affluent Thais. In order to study in Thailand, you need to ensure that the following requirements are met or the visa will not be issued at the Thai Embassy or extended when in Thailand.

The requirements are easy to meet unless you want to arrive in Thailand on a tourist visa first. Then visit the educational institutions before you decide to enroll. When you have decided you can collected the needed documents and return home and prepare you application. The Thai dependent visa as well as the Thai guardian visa which is similiar. 

If you want to study in Thailand then you will need the correct visa for this. Today there are upwards of 30,000 international students in Thailand when one counts all grades and short-term exchange students. Applying for the Thai education visa from the Thai Embassy or the Thai Consulate in your country entails having met the requirements listed below:

• Letter of Admission from a government accredited school or university

Once you have been accepted you will need to request for the approved school or university a letter of admission which is written on their letterhead. Normally this only occurs after paying the fees and having met their requirements.

• Passport

Note that your passport should have at least a remaining validity of not less than 6 months when entering Thailand. It would be best if your passport is valid for much longer. You dont want the additional stress of moving your visa from one passport to another later.

• Passport-sized photos

The photos need to be less than 6 months old. These would be the standard passport size photos.

Should you not have all the requirements as listed above or are still looking for a school or university then you can arrive in Thailand with a marriage visa. This if you are married to a Thai which gives you 90 days or a tourist visa for Thailand which is the easiest to obtain and gives you 60 days to find what you need in Thailand and arrange you documents and obtain what is needed directly instead of from abroad.

If you are older than 50 and can meet the requirements of a retirement visa then this can also be applied for while looking around in Thailand. This visa will give you 90 days. Speak to our immigration lawyer about the visa options available if you can meet the requirements of a marriage visa or retirement visa. 

The initial educational visa for Thailand is normally valid for 90 days. This time should give you enough time to work on the requirements for the student visa in time for the extension 21 days before the initial visa expires. The validity of your student visa usually depends on the duration of the course program that you will be attending.

The requirements for an extension usually include:

The following is what you will need to study in Thailand. This can be at a university, Thai language school, or college. Some arrive in Thailand for other studies such as Mai Thai fighting schools. Speak to us online or WhatsApp us for more information and guidance.

Letter of Admission – It must contain the following info:

• Your name, age, nationality, passport number of the student
• Your level of education;
• Transcript of the applicant
• Total Academic Years
• Curriculum and Funding

The university or school can normally provide you with this. You will also need to provide the following.

• Evidence of enrollment i.e. receipts of tuition fee payments

Provide them with a copy of your tuition fees which have been paid.

• Course description and syllabi

The university or college will also provide you with this. It is normally in a brochure format.

• School documents i.e. registration and the like

If it is a Thai university this would be easy. The Thai language schools and others you will need to ask for these documents. Their registration documents as well as their educational institution credentials. 

• Passport size photos (2 pcs, recently taken)

You will need to complete the applications forms as well as provide the photos for your application.

The extension is done at the Thai Immigration Office on or 21 days before the expiration of the initial visa. These are the basics for an educational visa in Thailand. If you require more information then contact us for assistance. We are on Whatsapp as well as on application Line. See our immigration lawyer in Thailand.