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If you are an expatriate admitted into a Thai academic institution, you must get a Thailand Student Visa in order to continue your courses as an international student. Before you can start your education, you must get a visa.

This essay will go through the Thailand Student Visa required documents, application procedure, and other essential details.

What are Thailand Student Visa Basics?

Thailand Student Visa belongs to the category of Thai Non-Immigrant Visa. Non-Immigrant Visas are provided to international students visiting Thailand for purposes other than tourism and are classified according to the reason for the travel. The Thailand Student Visa falls under the Non-Immigrant Visa Category “ED.”

To be eligible for a Thai Student Visa, you must:

  • Be a student in a Thai academic institution.
  • Attend at least three classes (your school may require you to take four classes)
  • You must attend at least 15 hours of lessons every week.

Please keep in mind that the specific criteria for a Thai Student Visa are subject to change, so verify with your institution before applying.

What is a Thailand Student Visa?

Who Needs a Thailand Student Visa?

Anyone who is not a Thai national who wants to study in Thailand must get a Thai Student Visa. This also covers people who are not required to obtain a Thai tourist visa.

What are the Required Documents for a Thailand Student Visa?

The documents you need for a Thai Student Visa application vary depending on the type of visa. Thailand Student Visa requirements include the following:

  • Your valid passport must have validity for at least six more months. Your passport must also have at least two blank pages. If you’re seeking a one-year visa, be sure your passport is valid for at least a year and six months.
  • A copy of your valid passport.
  • A Thai Student Visa application form. This form must be completed and signed. You might be able to download the application form from the embassy’s website, or you may be able to obtain it in person.
  • An admission letter from your Thai school is written to the Thai embassy where you want to apply.
  • If the school is a private one, you need the given approval of the Ministry of Education.
  • Documents proving the registration of a Thai school or institution (if applicable)
  • If it’s your plan to take part in an internship in Thailand: A letter of acceptance from the school where you are enrolled.
  • Passport-sized photos of yourself that meet the following requirements:
    • 4 cm x 6 cm
    • White background
    • Six months old at most
    • Have a neutral facial expression.
    • Have a fully visible face in the photo.
    • Religious headgears are allowed.
    • Glasses without heavy frames are allowed.
  • Proof of adequate financial resources to fund the period of your stay. If you are going alone, you will require 20,000 Thai Baht and 40,000 Thai Baht if you travel with a family.
  • Police clearance paper provided by your country’s authorities proving you don’t have a criminal record. You only require it if you are taking a course that lasts at least a year.
  • Evidence of a paid Thai Student Visa application fee.

Note: This is not a full list of Thai Student Visa required documents. The Thai diplomatic mission office may request additional papers. Several of the papers you submit may require legalization before the Thai Embassy may utilize them. The documents you provide must be in Thai or English (as specified by the embassy), so if they are not, you must have them translated by an approved translator.

How to Get a Thailand Student Visa?

Thai Student Visas (Non-Immigrant Visa Category “ED”) must be applied for at the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country. In order to apply, you must already have been accepted into a Thai educational institution, and you must receive a letter of enrollment from the school. The Thai Student Visa application process is as follows:

  1. Make contact with the Thai embassy, where you will apply for a visa. If they have a website, you can also go there. Learn about their hours of service, business days, and preferred form of payment for the visa cost.
  2. If an appointment is necessary, schedule one.
  3. Gather the necessary paperwork for a Thai Student Visa.
  4. Submit the papers as well as the visa application. You can send the application to the following embassies/consulates, depending on which one you apply to:
    1. In person
    2. By mail. In this case, you must include a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope.
  5. Allow some time for the visa application to be processed.
  6. Gather your passport and visa. The embassy will mail them to you if you apply via mail.

If your Thai Student Visa is accepted, you must visit Thailand within the time specified on your visa, or it will expire.

Note:

  • Suppose you arrive in Thailand on a different form of visa (for example, a Thai Tourist Visa). In that case, you can request to modify your visa category at the Thai Immigration Bureau Office in Bangkok. You must apply before your existing visa hits its expiration.
  • You cannot modify your visa category if you visit Thailand using a Visa On Arrival. You must exit Thailand and apply through a Thai embassy in another country.
  • If you arrive in Thailand using the visa-free program, you must leave the country and apply at a Thai embassy overseas.

How Long is the Process of a Thailand Student Visa?

The processing period for a Thailand Student Visa is determined by the embassy where you apply. Allow 5 to 10 business days, while some offices say they can complete your visa in as short as two days.

How Long Is the Thai Student Visa Valid?

A Thai Student Visa has validity for a maximum of 90 days and can be used for a single or multiple entries. Despite the fact that your course of study will most likely last at least a year, you will be granted a 90-day visa. However, if your visa is about to expire, you can seek to extend it for a charge of 1,900 Thai Baht at the Thailand Immigration Department. You must renew it every 90 days before the current visa expires.

What to Do After Receiving the Student Visa?

Every foreigner who is residing in Thailand for an extended period is required to disclose their address to the Immigration Department of Thailand every 90 days. This practice is required for all visa owners, regardless of the type of visa. Failure to declare your stay might result in a 2,000 Thai Baht fine and perhaps the loss of your visa.

How to Get a Re-Entry Permit?

If you hold a single-entry Thai visa and wish to be able to depart the country without your visa turning invalid, you must get a Re-Entry Permit. The Thailand Re-Entry Permit permits the bearer to leave and re-enter Thailand throughout the visa’s validity period without applying for a new one each time.

How to Get a Thailand Student Visa Extension?

You may go to Thailand for study reasons after receiving your Thailand Student Visa for the period of your visa. However, if you need to extend your stay, you can do so through the Thailand Immigration Department.

How Much is the Student Visa in Thailand Fee?

A Thai Student Visa costs 2,000 Thai Baht (about US$ 65). The cost, nevertheless, may vary significantly based on the local currency and the embassy to which you apply.

Furthermore, the manner of payment for the Thai Student Visa cost varies depending on where you apply. For example, some embassies may need you to pay the fee in cash, while others may request that it be paid by bank order.

Can You Work in Thailand With a Student Visa?

No, you cannot work on a Student Visa. Work Permits are required for anyone to work in Thailand, and Thai officials appear to be taking their time to approve Work Permits for holders of Student Visas.

Nevertheless, many overseas students work once they arrive in Thailand, even if it is not officially “paid employment,” to support their stay.

Let’s Sum Up

The Thai government grants Thailand student visas to international students who plan to pursue their educational goals in Thailand. However, anyone who is not a Thai national and is eligible to get a student visa must submit their applications to a Thai embassy.

This type of visa has various requirements and a list of steps to go through, and the bad news is that you cannot work when you are under a Thailand student visa.

On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other Thailand Non-Immigrant visas like Marriage visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries. Have you thought of studying in Thailand? If yes, contact us so we can help you get your Thailand student visa.

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