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Applying for an ED Visa

Eligibility, required documents, application routes and country-specific requirements.
By Sam
• 3 articles

Education Visa Eligibility and Applications

Learn how to enroll, prepare documents and complete an Education Visa application inside or outside Thailand. Starting your application How do I start enrollment if I am already in Bangkok? Contact us with your chosen language, intended start date, current country and permission-to-stay expiry date. A school team member will explain the document-submission process. We then review your passport and entry history before arranging an enrollment appointment. Allow 1 to 2 hours to complete the forms. What should I bring to my enrollment appointment? Bring your original passport, 12 physical passport photos measuring 4.0 cm × 6.0 cm with a white background, copies of your Thailand entry stamps and payment for the full course fee. For an overseas application, also send the requested digital photo and take physical photos to the Thai embassy. Can I apply if I am currently outside Thailand? Yes. Email us a clear copy of your passport and Thailand entry stamps. We will review your eligibility, send the enrollment forms, explain how to submit the documents and prepare the school documents for your embassy application. Should I enter Thailand as a tourist first? We recommend entering Thailand on a tourist visa or tourist stamp first and coming to the school promptly. Most nationalities can use this route, but repeated Thailand entries or a criminal record may affect eligibility, so we review your passport and entry history first. Can the school convert a Tourist Visa to an ED Visa inside Thailand? Yes. Converting a Tourist Visa or visa-exempt entry to an ED Visa inside Thailand is our preferred route. We prepare the supporting documents, and you submit the application yourself at Immigration Division 1 in Chaeng Watthana. Is there a placement test or trial lesson before enrollment? There is no formal placement test and we do not offer trial lessons. Classes at different levels run concurrently, so enrolled students can attend the appropriate beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Do I have to use Bangkok Immigration if I do not live in Bangkok? Yes. Our ED Visa applications and extensions use Immigration Division 1 in Bangkok because the school is based in Bangkok. If you need to use immigration in another province, a school in that province will be more suitable. Application process How does the process work if I apply from inside Thailand? 1. Send your passport photo page and all Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years for review. 2. If eligible, make a school appointment, complete the enrollment forms and pay the package fee. 3. We submit the education documents to the Ministry of Education. 4. After approval, collect the approval letter and submit your own ED Visa application at Immigration Division 1. 5. Return to immigration to collect the stamp. 6. Show the school your completed visa page within 7 days. How does the process work if I apply through a Thai embassy abroad? 1. Provide your email and current country of residence. 2. Complete enrollment and the application form sent by email after the team's review. 3. Prepare copies of your passport's main page and all stamped pages, signed on every page. 4. Follow our submission instructions for the forms, passport copies and 12 photos. 5. Wait for the Ministry of Education approval letter, which we scan and email to you. 6. Submit your own ED Visa application through the responsible Thai embassy or consulate. 7. After the visa is granted, return to Thailand and contact the school with your passport within 7 days of arrival. How long does the whole process take? The full process normally takes 45 to 60 days. Start early because timing is controlled by the Ministry of Education and immigration. Can the school apply for my visa on my behalf? No. The school cannot submit visa applications for you. We supply the Ministry of Education and school-side documents needed to support your application. Locations and documents Where is the school located? Lake Rajada Office Complex, Ratchadapisek Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. It is an 8-minute walk from BTS Asok station and Terminal 21 shopping mall. Where do I go for visa applications and extensions? Immigration Division 1, Government Complex, Building B, 120 Chaeng Watthana 7 Alley, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210. What if my current visa expires in less than 2 weeks? We need 45 to 60 days to complete the process. If your permission to stay expires too soon, you can enroll and, if eligible, apply through a Thai embassy in a nearby country after leaving Thailand. We cannot provide a bridging letter or an under-consideration stamp. Does the school provide all required documents? We provide the Ministry of Education and school-side documents required to support your application. You are responsible for submitting your own visa application at the embassy or Immigration Division 1. How many passport photos do I need? You need 12 passport photos. Bring physical photos for the school application. A digital photo is used for an online application, but you still need physical photos when attending the Thai embassy. Do I need to sign my passport copies? Yes. For an embassy application abroad, sign every page of your passport copy before emailing it to the school. Does the school keep my physical passport? No. You keep your original passport at all times. We photocopy the required pages and prepare the paperwork. You take your passport to immigration yourself and show the school the completed visa page afterward. Is the English course approved by the Ministry of Education? Yes. The school and its English course are approved by the Ministry of Education. We do not publish the school licence or course approval reference number. The ED Visa itself is issued by Thai immigration.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2026

Eligibility by Age, Nationality and Previous Visa History

Review passport, nationality, previous visa and course eligibility requirements before paying. Passport and entry history What passport conditions does the school check? Your passport should have at least 6 months of validity and 4 blank pages. You should hold a TR-60 Tourist Visa or eligible visa-exempt entry, have 45 to 60 days of permitted stay remaining, and have no more than 2 Thailand entries recorded during 2026. Is there a minimum number of previous Thailand entry stamps? No previous Thailand entry is required. A fresh passport history or first visit is usually the simplest case. We mainly check for overstays and repeated use of short-stay or visa-exempt entries. Will several months in Thailand on tourist stamps affect my application? More than 2 Thailand entries in the year can prevent an in-country application. You may still enroll but need to apply through a Thai embassy in your home country or a nearby country. Send your passport and all Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years so we can check the correct route. Can a previous ED Plus visa holder apply through a language school? A previous ED or ED Plus visa does not automatically prevent another application, but you cannot repeat an ED Visa for the same language. You must leave Thailand, return on a fresh tourist stamp and apply for a different eligible language. Native English speakers cannot use an English course for ED Visa purposes. Applicants from China, Taiwan or Singapore cannot use a Chinese course for ED Visa purposes. Are there nationality restrictions or an age limit? There is no fixed age limit and no blanket nationality restriction. Course eligibility may depend on your native language and previous ED Visa history. Send your passport photo page and all Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years so we can review the case before payment. Will you confirm eligibility for an Iranian citizen before payment? Yes. We accept applicants from different countries, including Iran. Send a clear passport copy and your Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years. We will review your eligibility before you pay, but the final decision belongs to the relevant authority. Does an ED Visa on an old passport still count? Yes. A new passport does not remove your previous ED Visa history. You cannot repeat an ED Visa for the same language. You must leave Thailand, return on a fresh tourist stamp and apply for a different eligible language. Send information from both passports for review. Country-specific questions Do Iranian applicants need a police clearance certificate? Iranian applicants must apply for the ED Visa in their home country. The country-requirements list provided to us does not mark Iran as requiring a criminal background check. Follow any additional instructions issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran. What financial documents does an Iranian applicant need? The school does not require bank statements or a minimum bank balance. You need a valid passport and must pay the school fee in full. A Thai embassy may request additional documents under its own current procedure. Do Finnish applicants need a police clearance certificate? Finnish applicants are not listed as requiring a criminal background check in the country-requirements document provided to us. If an embassy or immigration officer requests additional documents for an individual case, the applicant must provide them. Can a Finnish citizen entering visa-exempt convert inside Thailand? Yes. A Finnish citizen entering through an eligible tourist or visa-exempt route can apply to convert to an ED Visa inside Thailand. We prepare the school documents and assist with the application process, including the applicable immigration form. How does an Iranian citizen currently in Iran apply? Apply through the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran once your documents and Ministry of Education approval are ready. The school emails the required files so you can complete the application. Other course and school questions Can I study English and Chinese at the same time? An ED Visa can be tied to only 1 language course. You can enroll in English with your ED Visa and pay separately to join Chinese classes through the school's other department. Do you offer IELTS preparation? No. We focus on practical, everyday language courses with our own certificates. We do not run official IELTS preparation or partner with outside testing organizations. Is there a student ID card? No. The school does not issue a student ID card. Can I switch my study language partway through the course? No. Changing your enrolled language partway through is not possible. Can instruction be supported in Chinese or another language instead of English? No. Instruction follows the language course you enroll in. For example, a Chinese course is taught mainly in Chinese with basic English support. We do not provide full instruction or translation in an unrelated supporting language. Do you provide accommodation or a dormitory? No. We do not provide accommodation or dormitory facilities. We can recommend an agent who may help you find accommodation. Are most students Thai or international? Most students are international. Can students under 18 apply? Yes. Students under 18 may enroll with a parent or guardian's approval. A guardian is required for the application and enrollment process.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2026

ED Visa Country Requirements for 2026

Bangkok Language School uses the following country screening rules 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. 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 - North Korea Countries that must apply from their home country Nationals of the following countries must apply for the ED Visa through the responsible Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in their home country: A to C Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros and Cuba. D to I Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iraq, Iran, Israel and Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). J to O Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria and Oman. P to R Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. S to U São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Eswatini (Swaziland), Syria, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and United Arab Emirates. V to Z Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Criminal background checks Applicants from Cuba, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam must provide 2 criminal background checks: 1. A criminal record or criminal background check from the applicant's home country. 2. A criminal record from the Criminal Records Division at Royal Thai Police Headquarters. Special instructions for Chinese applicants Chinese applicants must apply through the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate responsible for the area nearest their hometown. Chinese applicants do not need to provide a criminal background check under this list. 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. Yellow fever vaccination documents Applicants who are applying from, residing in, or travelling through a yellow-fever-risk area may need an international yellow fever vaccination certificate. The country list and requirements can change, so check the current instructions from the responsible Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate before applying. What if my country is not listed? If your country does not appear in either list above, you may proceed through our normal eligibility review. This does not mean automatic approval. Send us: - 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.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2026