If you are a foreigner who has been admitted to a Thai School / Educational Institution, you have to get a Thai Student Visa before pursuing your studies as an international student in Thailand.
Below are the requirements for Thai Student Visa application, its process, as well as the supporting documents you need.
Thailand Student Visa basics
The Thailand Student Visa is a kind of Non-Immigrant Visa in Thailand, to be issued to foreigners travelling to Thailand for purposes other than tourism but for travelling. The Thailand Student Visa is managed under the Non-Immigrant Visa Category ED.
To be qualified for Thai Student Visa application, you have to:
- Be enrolled in a Thai school or educational institution
- Take at least 3 courses (or more as you have to check with your school)
- Have at least 15 hours of classes per week
You have to check with your school for any specifications before application.
Who Needs a Thailand Student Visa?
Everyone who is not a Thai national and wants to study in Thailand has to apply for a Thai Student Visa. This also includes those who are exempt from holding a Thai Tourist Visa.
Thailand Student Visa Requirements
Below are the supporting documents that you need when applying for a Thai Student Visa:
- Your passport with a valid period of at least 6 months and has at least 2 blank pages. If you’re applying for a 1 year visa, your passport should be valid for at least another 18 months.
- Photocopy of your passport
- A completed and signed Thailand Student Visa application form. You may be able to download it from the website of the Embassy or Consulate or get it there if you apply in person.
- A Letter of Acceptance from your school in Thailand.
- If the school is a private institution: Approval from the Ministry of Education
- The Thai School or Institution’s registration documents (if applicable)
- If you will undergo an internship in Thailand: A letter of confirmation from the school in which you are enrolled.
- Passport-sized images of yourself, with the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 4 cm x 6 cm
- White background
- Taken within the last six months
- You must have a neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
- Your entire face must be fully visible
- Headgear is only allowed for religious purposes and even then, only if it does not cover the face
- Glasses are allowed only if they do not cover your eyes and do not have heavy frames
- Financial Proof of having at least 20,000 Thai Baht if you are travelling alone and 40,000 Thai Baht if you are travelling as a family.
- Police clearance certificate issued by the authorities in your country, to prove that you are not committed to any criminal background. This is necessary only if you are going to take a course that last for at least 1 year.
- Payment proof of the Thai Student Visa fee.
Note:
This is not an exhaustive list of Thai Student Visa requirements. The Immigration department holds the right to request for any additional documents as they see fit.
You will have to translate all the documents into Thai if they are not, and get them certified by an accredited translator as well as the MFA in Bangkok.
You will also be requested to get your documents legalized or notarised by the relevant Embassy / Consulate for some foreign nationals.
How Can I Get a Thailand Student Visa?
You must have already been accepted into a Thai School or an Educational institution before applying for a Thailand Student Visa, as you will need an enrollment letter at the time you file all the documents with the officials.
Below is the flow for Thai Student Visa application:
- Contact the Thailand Embassy or Consulate where you will submit the Thailand Student Visa application. Visit their website to learn about the opening hours, working days, and their preferred method of visa fee payment.
- Make an appointment (most Embassies / Consulates require appointment during the pandemic)
- Prepare all the required documents for a Thai Student Visa.
- Submit the documents. Depending on which Embassy / Consulate you are applying at, you can submit the application:
- In-person
- By post, but only a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope will be allowed
- Wait for around 1-6 week(s) for the application to be processed.
- Collect the passport and visa. If you applied by mail, they will be mailed back to you.
Once the Thailand Student Visa is approved, you will have to enter the country within the time stipulated on your visa. Otherwise, it will expire.
How Long Does Thai Student Visa Last (Valid)?
A Thailand Student Visa is valid for a maximum stay of 90 days, either for single entry or multiple entries. Even though your course of study is most likely to last for at least 1 year, your visa will still come with a a 90-day limit. However, you can apply for extension at the Thailand Immigration Department in Bangkok for a fee of 1,900 Thai Baht, and renewal before the extension expires.
After Receiving the Student Visa
All foreigners who lives in Thailand staying over 90 days will have to submit a 90-Day Report to the Thai Immigration authorities in Bangkok, declaring their stay, except when you are holding a visa extended with this service. This practice is necessary for all visa holders, regardless of the category of visa they’ve got. You will get fined of about 2,000 Thai Baht per day or be banned from entering the country if you fail to complete so.
Getting the Re-Entry Permit
Once you get the visa extended, you should also get a Re-Entry Permit, which can be issued for a single-entry or multiple-entries, depending on what type of visa you are holding.
Thailand Student Visa Extension
After you receive your Thai Student Visa, you may travel to Thailand for study purposes for the duration of your visa. If you need to stay longer, you can apply for an extension of stay at the Thailand Immigration Department.
How Much Does it Cost for a Student Visa in Thailand?
The fee for a Thailand Student Visa application is 2,000 Thai Baht. However, the fee may subject to change depending on the local currency, as well as the Embassy / Consulate in which you apply.
Please check with the Embassy / Consulate for the exact amount of payment.
Can I Work in Thailand With a Student Visa?
You are not allowed to work or employed in Thailand if you are holding a Thailand Marriage Visa. Anyone who wants to work in Thailand has to get a Thai Work Permit from the Thailand Ministry of Labour in Bangkok. While some may say that you can get a Thai Work Permit while holding an O Visa, you may actually convert it into a Thai Work Visa before applying for the work permit.
However, there are quite a lot of international students do engage in some type of work once they get into Thailand, for example, being a freelance teacher in local tutorial schools.