The following country rules reflect Thai immigration requirements for Education Visa applications. These rules help us identify the correct application route and documents before payment.
Final approval always belongs to the Ministry of Education, Thai immigration, and the responsible Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate. An authority may request additional documents for an individual application.
Country-specific ED Visa requirements
Are any nationalities currently unable to apply through the school?
Yes. Citizens of Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, North Korea, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen cannot currently apply for a Non-Immigrant ED Visa through the school.
Why can't I apply with my nationality?
We are sorry, but the school is not able to accept applications from your nationality at this time. We are not able to share more detail about this decision.
Do some nationalities have to apply from their home country?
Yes. Citizens of Iran must apply for the ED Visa through the Royal Thai Embassy in Iran, or in another country where they hold a permit to stay long enough to wait for the visa approval. Citizens of Israel can apply inside Thailand or at a Thai embassy abroad. For other nationalities, an overseas application must follow the current jurisdiction and requirements of the responsible Thai embassy or consulate. Tell us your nationality and where you will be when you apply so our team can review the route with you.
Is this a school rule or an Immigration rule? Why do some nationalities have different rules?
Most of these are Immigration rules. Thailand follows Thai law, and we cannot explain the reasons behind them. It is like asking why some passports get 30 days, some 15 days and some 7 days.
Which applicants need 2 criminal background checks?
Applicants from Cuba, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam must provide 1 criminal record from their home country and 1 criminal record from the Police Clearance Service Center, Special Branch, Royal Thai Police.
Do I need a criminal background check for my nationality?
The criminal background check is a Thai immigration requirement, not a school rule. Applicants from Cuba, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam must provide 2 criminal background checks. For citizens of many other countries listed in our ED Visa country requirements, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Israel, Turkey and many countries in Africa and the Middle East, whether you need a criminal background check depends on your passport. Please message us with a clear photo of your passport photo page, and we will check the requirement for you.
How do I get a criminal background check?
For a check from your home country, ask your local police there. If it is not in English, have it translated into English. For a Thai check, use the Police Clearance Service Center of the Royal Thai Police at https://pcscenter.sbpolice.go.th/. If you live in Thailand, book online, then go in person to the Special Branch Public Service Center in Lak Si, Bangkok, with your passport and original documents for fingerprints. If you live overseas, apply on the same website and have 2 fingerprint cards taken at a Thai embassy, a consulate or your local police. The Thai check takes 15 to 25 working days. Each check must be issued within 1 month before you submit it.
What if my country is not on the school exclusion list?
If your country is not on the school exclusion list, you may request a normal eligibility review. This does not mean automatic approval. The Thai embassy or consulate that can receive an overseas application depends on its current jurisdiction and your application location.
Send us the following.
- A clear copy of your passport photo page.
- All Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years.
- Your current country and intended application location.
- Your current permission-to-stay expiry date if you are in Thailand.
We will check whether you can use the in-country application route or must apply through a Thai embassy or consulate.
Detailed guidance
Countries we cannot currently accept
Citizens of the following countries cannot currently apply for a Non-Immigrant ED Visa through our school:
- Cambodia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Yemen
Countries that must apply through their home country
Citizens of Iran must apply for the Non-Immigrant ED Visa through the Royal Thai Embassy in Iran, or through a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in another country where they hold a permit to stay long enough to wait for the visa approval. They cannot apply inside Thailand.
Citizens of Israel can apply inside Thailand or at a Thai embassy abroad, under the same rules as other nationalities.
Criminal background checks
Applicants from the following countries must provide 2 criminal background checks:
- Cuba
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Vietnam
The required documents are:
- A criminal record or criminal background check from the applicant's home country.
- A criminal record from the Police Clearance Service Center, Special Branch, Royal Thai Police (https://pcscenter.sbpolice.go.th/).
Countries where a criminal background check might be required
Based on your nationality, a criminal background check might be required. Please message us with a clear photo of your passport photo page, and we will check the requirement for you. This applies to citizens of the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Ivory Coast
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Swaziland (Eswatini)
- Syria
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Turkey
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Special note for Indian applicants
ED Visa applications from Indian applicants may face a high risk of refusal at the Thai embassy. Contact us for a document review before paying. If you decide to continue, approval cannot be guaranteed.
What if my country is not on the school exclusion list?
If your country is not on the school exclusion list, you may request a normal eligibility review. This does not mean automatic approval. The Thai embassy or consulate that can receive an overseas application depends on its current jurisdiction and your application location.
Send us the following.
- A clear copy of your passport photo page.
- All Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years.
- Your current country and intended application location.
- Your current permission-to-stay expiry date if you are in Thailand.
We will check whether you can use the in-country application route or must apply through a Thai embassy or consulate.