Student Visa In Thailand: The Ultimate Guide

Ready to swap your textbooks for temples and classrooms for coconut beaches?

Thailand is a dream destination for many international students, but the paperwork can be a nightmare. Fret not, future scholars!

We’ve compiled everything you need to know about snagging that coveted Thai student visa. Class is in session!

Studying In Thailand As A Foreigner

Studying abroad may be one of the most beneficial experiences for a college student. It’s a game-changer for many and can change your entire life.

Why? Because even if your path remains the same, your perspective will change completely.

You’ll start viewing things from a different angle. So if you’re reading this, you’re the type of person who wants to travel the world and discover new adventures. You’re open to THE CHANGE.

Can you imagine going to school during the week and exploring a whole new country on the weekend?

Thailand has one of the strongest economies in Southeast Asia and is constantly experiencing rapid changes in modern society.

The cost of living can be meager, and local people are rather friendly and have warm hospitality. For international students hoping to study primary curriculum and learn the Thai language, Thailand is the only place to go.

What Is It Like For A Foreigner To Study In Thailand?

Studying in Thailand can be quite a shock for foreigners from Western countries. As Thailand has unique customs and culture, it can be difficult for foreigners to adapt to “Thainess” at first.

The best advice we can give about relocating here is to remember that Thais are not aggressive people, and losing your temper will be frowned upon.

Also, learning a few simple Thai phrases is best to get you around. While most Thais are able to read English, sometimes they need to be more open to speaking.

After all, it isn’t their mother tongue.

If you try a phrase or two in Thai, this will likely end up being an icebreaker and likely will bring a smile to the local people.

It’s important to note that Thailand’s standard of living differs from most Western countries.

While Thailand is very much international, depending on where you choose to live and study, you might not have some of the conveniences you are used to back home.

Considering all of the above, Thailand is a wonderful place to study. You’ll have access to beautiful nature, world-famous beaches, delicious cuisine, and memorable experiences to carry with you for a lifetime.

Thailand’s international airports are well-placed to travel and explore nearby countries such as Bali in Indonesia, KL in Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and even Hong Kong.

Now to the serious part, as an international student, you’ll need to get an Education Visa.

How Much Does It Cost To Study In Thailand?

In Thailand, public universities’ tuition fees are lesser than private universities. At private universities, studying costs depend on factors such as the course duration, type of course, and institution.

For international students, the average cost of tuition fees in Thailand varies from 580,116.50 THB to 990,640.00 THB, depending on the program.

To cover your living expenses in Thailand, you need anywhere between 21,231 THB to 42,462 THB monthly, depending on your location, lifestyle, and miscellaneous expenses.

The living expenses in Thailand include food, transportation, and accommodation.

Eligibility Requirements For A Thailand Student Visa

Suppose you are a foreigner accepted into a Thai educational institution. In that case, you have to get a Thai Student Visa to be allowed to pursue your studies as an international student.

You have to get a visa before you are allowed to begin your studies.

The Thailand Student Visa is a Non-Immigrant Thai Visa. Non-Immigrant Visas are issued to foreigners traveling to Thailand for reasons other than tourism and are categorized based on the purpose of travel.

The Thailand Student Visa is a Non-Immigrant Visa Category “ED”.

In order to qualify for a Thai Student Visa, you have to:

Be enrolled in a Thai educational institution
Take at least three courses (sometimes the requirement is four courses, so you have to check with your school)
Have at least 15 hours of classes per week

Note: The requirements for a Thai Student Visa are subject to change, so make sure to check in with your school before applying.

What Are Thailand Student Visa Requirements?

When you apply for a Thai Student Visa, you need several documents to support your application. The Thailand Student Visa requirements are:

Your passport is valid for at least another six months and has at least two blank visa pages. If you’re applying for a one-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 can download it from the website of the Embassy or Consulate or get it there if you apply in person.
A Letter of Admission from your school in Thailand, addressed to the Thai Embassy or Consulate in which you will apply.
If the school is a private institute: 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 you are enrolled in is.
Passport-sized pictures 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 evident
- Headgear is only allowed for religious purposes, even if it does not cover the face.
- Glasses are allowed only if they do not cover your eyes and do not have heavy frames.

Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration of your stay. You need 20,000 Thai Baht if you are traveling alone and 40,000 Thai Baht if you are traveling as a family.
A police clearance certificate issued by the authorities in your country proves you do not have a criminal background. This is necessary only if you will take a course which is at least 1 year.
Payment of the Thai Student Visa fee.

Several documents you submit may have to be legalized before the Thai Embassy can use them.

The documents you submit must be in Thai or English (as the Embassy or Consulate informs you), so if they still need to be, you have to translate them by an authorized translator.

How can I apply for a Thai Student Visa?

You have to apply for a Thai Student Visa (Non-Immigrant Visa Category “ED”) at a Thai Embassy or Consulate near you.

Before you apply, you must have already been accepted into the Thai educational institution, and the school has to provide you with an enrollment letter.

The application process for a Thai Student Visa is as follows:

Contact the Thailand Embassy or Consulate where you will submit the visa application. You can also visit their website if one is available. Learn about the opening hours, working days, and their preferred method of paying for the visa fee.
Make an appointment if one is required.
Collect the required documents for a Thai Student Visa.
Submit the documents and visa application. Depending on which Embassy/Consulate you apply to, you can apply:
- In-person
- Through the post, in which case you have to enclose a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope

Wait for the application to be processed.
Collect the passport and visa. If you apply by mail, they will be mailed back to you.

If your Thailand Student Visa is approved, you have to enter the country within the time stated on your visa. Otherwise, it will expire.

Note:

If you have entered Thailand on a different type of visa (e.g., a Thai Tourist Visa), you can apply to change your visa category at the Office of the Thai Immigration Bureau in Bangkok. You must apply before your current visa expires.

If you have entered Thailand using a Visa On Arrival, you cannot change your visa category. You must leave Thailand and apply from a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad.

If you have entered Thailand under the visa-exemption program, you must leave and apply from a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad.

How Long Does It Take To Process A Thailand Student Visa?

The processing time for a Thailand Student Visa depends on the Embassy or Consulate through which you apply.

You should give it 5 – 10 business days, although some offices claim to process your visa in as little as two days.

How Long Is The Thai Student Visa Valid?

A Thailand Student Visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days for single or multiple entries. Even though your course of study is most likely at least one year, you’ll still get a 90-day visa.

However, before your visa is up, you can apply to extend it at the Thailand Immigration Department for a fee of 1,900 Thai Baht.

You have to extend it every 90 days before the expiry of the existing visa.

After receiving the student visa, every foreigner staying in Thailand long-term has to report their address to the Immigration Department of Thailand every 90 days.

This practice is necessary for all visa holders, regardless of the category of visa they’ve got.

Failure to report your stay can lead to a fine of about 2,000 Thai Baht and even the endangerment of your visa.

Getting The Re-Entry Permit

If you have received a single-entry Thailand visa and want to leave the country during your stay without your visa becoming void, you have to get a Re-Entry Permit.

The Thailand Re-Entry Permit allows the holder to leave and re-enter Thailand within the duration of the visa without having to apply for a new one every time.

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 your stay at the Thailand Immigration Department.

How Much Does It Cost For A Student Visa In Thailand?

The fee for a Thailand Student Visa is 2,000 Thai Baht (appx. US$ 65 / € 60). However, the fee can change slightly depending on the local currency as well as the Embassy / Consulate in which you apply.

The method of paying for the Thailand Student Visa fee also changes depending on where you apply.

Some Embassies or Consulates may require the fee in cash, while others can ask you to pay it through bank order.

Can You Work In Thailand With A Student Visa?

No, a Student Visa does not allow you to work. No one can work in Thailand unless they have a Work Permit, and it appears the Thai authorities are not forthcoming in approving Work Permits for Student Visa holders.

However, many international students do some work once they get to Thailand, even if it is not technically “paid employment” to finance their stay.

Is Studying In Thailand A Good Option?

Today, the Thai government’s policy on higher education aims to make the country’s education the best in the Asian region.

Under this ambitious goal, huge funds are allocated, and conditions are provided for maximum favoritism for universities and individual specialists in their professional activities.

In general, everything is done to make Thailand the center of the educational power of the most promising region of the planet for the next hundred years.

Today the universities of this country are taught by specialists from Canada, Australia, Europe, and the USA.

The highest global level of education in many educational institutions in Thailand is recognized worldwide, yet at the same time, the cost of education in Thailand’s universities remains, on average, significantly lower than in similar institutions of the old and new world.

The benefit of studying in Thailand is the multitude of promising job opportunities in Thailand itself and Asia as a whole, the fastest-growing segment of the world economy.

Some peculiarities are worth mentioning. Asian countries have long been colonies of more developed European countries.

And even today, Europeans have a significant advantage in hiring here a priori.

If you are also ready to move up the career ladder and make a significant effort, the prospects before you are simply outstanding.

The fact that you will learn English even better as you study because you will be immersed in a language environment is at the top of your priorities.

Due to the internship system practiced in many universities in Thailand, you will be able to build bridges to employment while still in your final year of study.

Thus, studying in Thailand opens up quite a few job opportunities in the future.

Conclusion

So there it is—your fast track to educational enlightenment in Thailand’s scenic splendor.

Yes, the Thai student visa process has its hoops, but once you’re through, the Land of Smiles awaits with open arms. Study hard, play hard!

Study Smart!

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