Education Visa Bangkok: The Complete Guide

Extending Your ED Visa

Once it gets close to the end of your first 90 days, you will be required to extend your ED visa at Immigration.

The cost per extension is 1,900 baht.

Be prepared to be quizzed in Thai by the Immigration officer, but do not worry, as the questions are usually simple, like “what is your name”, “where are you from”, “what do you like to eat”, and etc.

If you’ve been paying attention in your lessons you’ll find it very easy.

If the immigration officer is satisfied by your basic Thai knowledge, they will grant you the 60 day extension.

If they are unsatisfied they will give you a 30 day extension, or in the worst case scenario, 7 days to pack up and leave.

90-Day Address Report

In addition to extending your visa, you are required to report your address to Immigration every 90 days in Thailand.

If you haven’t left the country during your first 90 days, your first visa extension and 90 day report will coincide on the same day. This is convenient because you can settle both at Immigration on the same day.

From this point on, your 90 day report will no longer coincide with your visa extensions (because your visa extensions become 30 or 60 day extensions. The good news is, you do not need to do the 90 day report in person.

You can pay an agent to do it for you, or do it online if the website works.

The window for reporting online is from [15 days before to 7 days before] your actual report date. The window for reporting at an immigration office is the same, 15 days before to 7 days before your actual report date.

If you file a 90 day report more than 7 days after the report date, you will be fined 2,000 baht.

Leaving Thailand with an ED Visa: Remember to Apply for Re-Entry Permit

Remember to apply for a re-entry permit if you plan to leave Thailand while on the ED visa. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your ED visa upon re-entering Thailand.

The cost is 1,000 baht for single use, or 3,800 baht for a multiple re-entry permit.

The re-entry permit can be obtained either at Immigration or at the airport (both Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang).

Having a re-entry permit does not exempt you from your visa extensions. You must come back to Thailand on time for your extension or your ED visa will be revoked once past the extension date.

A re-entry permit is only valid as long as your current “extension of stay” stamp is valid for.

Leaving Thailand with a re-entry permit will keep your current extension of stay “alive”. When you re-enter Thailand you will be stamped in for the same “admitted until date” as your extension of stay.

The countdown for filing your 90 day report resets every time you re-enter Thailand. Your next 90 day report will be due 89 days from the date you enter Thailand because they count the day you enter as day 1.

DO NOT throw out your old receipt of filing a 90 day report (even though the due date of your next report is wrong). Keep it and turn it in along with the TM.47 90 days reporting form when you file your next 90 day report.

How long does the application process take?

Typically, the ED visa application process will take between 1.5 and 2 months from the date that you start your application with us, depending on your nationality and current waiting times at the Immigration Bureau. 

That means your current visa (most likely a tourist visa) must have enough time on it left for you obtain your ED visa! That’s why we recommend you should start the process as early as possible, ideally as soon as you come to Thailand.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The ED Visa procedure is subject to changing requirements by the Ministry of Education – we keep up to date with every policy changes, and will let you know if the requirements or process changes.

Who can apply for the Education Visa?

Anybody over 12 years old can apply for the Education Visa.

The Thailand Ministry of Education requires that people of the following nationalities: Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Sri-Lanka and Middle Eastern countries apply from their country of origin.

I am in Thailand with a Tourist Visa

Most commonly, applicants will start with a tourist visa. Come to the school and we will provide the required application forms and help you get through the process as smoothly as possible.

To expedite the process, please prepare the following before coming to our school:

• Your Passport
• 12 photos, 4x6cm. NOTE: Person in photo must be wearing a suit, collared shirt or (no tank tops). You can tell any photography shop you need visa photos.
• Tuition fee or a deposit, to enroll in a course

I am not in Thailand yet, but I want to obtain an ED Visa

Please e-mail the school and we will respond will all of the necessary application forms.

We will deal with all the necessary formalities on the students’ behalf.

After we receive the admission letter from the Ministry of Education, we will send it to the student by DHL Express, to whatever address in your home country you provide.

The admission letter allows the student to obtain the Education Visa in any Thai Embassy or Consulate.

I am from a neighboring country

Students from neighboring countries can get their Visas from the Thai Embassies in:

• Laos – Vientiane
• Malaysia – Penang
• Vietnam – Ho Chi Min

These are only examples. Students can obtain the visa in any Thai Embassy or consulate.

How much does the Education Visa cost in Bangkok?

The Education Visa costs 2,000 Thai Baht (around ~55 USD, ~50 EUR at the time of writing), which is paid to the Thai Immigration Bureau. Thai Solutions charges a 3,000 Thai Baht administration fee.

The extension of visa costs 1,900 Thai Baht for 3-months (we will guide you with this process when the time comes).

Payment Process

If the applicant is outside of Thailand, we require a deposit of 70%. The remaining balance can be paid after the student arrives in Thailand.

If the applicant is in Thailand, we require a deposit of 70%. The remaining balance can be paid when the student receives the Education Visa in person at the Changwattana Immigration building (official building for all immigration activities).

Payment can be made through Cash at the school, or transfer from a Thai Bank:

• Sarotorn Language School
• Kasikorn Bank Branch: Sukhumvit 21 Branch
• Account Type: Saving Account
• Account Number: 611-2-02775-9
• Kasikorn SWIFT Code: KASITHBK

Common Concerns

Is is possible to be rejected?

In very rare cases, the Ministry of Education may reject your application. If the application form is rejected by the Ministry of Education, the school will contact the applicant within one week of rejection.

We will give you information on the reason for the rejection, and refund your tuition fee, except for administration fee of 3,000 Thai Baht.

Will airport-officers test me on my Thai knowledge?

Yes, airport officers can also test your Thai when you return to Thailand while you are on an ED Visa. If you have an ED Visa and leave Thailand longer than 2 weeks, there is a high chance you will be interviewed at the airport.

So if you leave Thailand and return, you should have valid reasons for your trip, that you can clearly explain to airport officers.

Of course, this will vary depending on the officers you get. It is always better to be as prepared as possible. Please feel free to ask us if you have any questions about this.

Which Courses are available with the Education Visa?

Here is a list of all courses which can come with the Education Visa:

• Thai Language Courses
• Japanese Language Courses

One of our most popular courses that comes with the ED Visa is the 4-month Intro to Thai Course. It costs 12,900 THB.

• This course can be taken on MON/TUE/WED/THURS or MON/WED/FRI

Required Documents

Here are all the required documents made downloadable.

There is no need to prepare them yourself. If you come into the school we will print all these documents for you and help you through them:

• Personal History Check Page 1
• Personal History Check Page 2
• Personal History Check Page 3
• Personal History Check page 4
• Purpose of attending the course (Page 1)
• Purpose of attending the course (Page 2)

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