Education Visa Eligibility and Applications
Learn how to enroll, prepare documents and complete an Education Visa application inside or outside Thailand.
Enrollment and getting started
How do I start the enrollment process if I'm already in Bangkok?
Contact us first with your chosen language, intended start date, current country and, if you are in Thailand, your
permission-to-stay expiry date. Send photos of your passport photo page and all Thailand entry stamps from the last 2
years, on any of our chat channels or by email. The team then reviews your passport and entry history. After that
review, we can arrange your enrollment appointment. Bring your passport and payment for the course fee. If you have 12
passport photos, bring them too. If not, the school can take and print them for 120 THB. Allow 1 to 2 hours to complete
the forms.
How can I contact you on LINE, WeChat, Telegram or email?
You can reach the same school team on any of these channels:
LINE (@046povnk): https://line.me/R/ti/p/@046povnk
Telegram (@bkklangsch_bot): https://t.me/bkklangsch_bot
WhatsApp (+65 8391 7446): https://wa.me/6583917446
WeChat ID: Bkklangsch
Email: [email protected]
Contact page with QR codes: https://bkklanguageschool.com/contact-us/
What are your social media accounts?
We do not have social media accounts. You can contact us on LINE, WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat or email.
Can I apply if I'm currently outside Thailand?
Yes. Send us a clear photo of your passport photo page and your Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years, on any of
our chat channels or by email. 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, or wait abroad for the school's documents?
There are 2 ways to enter Thailand and change to an ED Visa here.
Option 1, visa-exempt entry, 30 days. This is a passport stamp without a visa, sometimes called a tourist stamp. Come to
the school to enroll and pay within 2 working days of arriving. With 1 extension of 30 days, this gives the 50 days of
permitted stay the process needs.
Option 2, Tourist Visa (TR-60), 60 days. With 1 extension of 30 days you get 90 days in total, so you have more leeway
and do not need to rush to the school.
Option 1 needs the 30-day extension, so citizens of countries limited to a 7-day extension need Option 2.
A visa on arrival cannot be changed. If you are already in Thailand visa-exempt and more than 2 working days have passed
since you arrived, contact us today so we can check whether you can still apply in Thailand. If you cannot, you can
enroll with the school and apply for the ED Visa at a Thai embassy abroad. When you arrive, use a staffed immigration
counter so you get a stamp in your passport. If you go through an automatic gate and get a paper slip or a sticker
instead, go back to the airport immigration office to change it to a normal stamp before you apply in Thailand. Most
nationalities can use the Tourist Visa route, but repeated Thailand entries or a criminal record may affect eligibility,
so we review your passport and entry history first. Citizens of Iran cannot use this route. They must apply in Iran, or
in another country where they hold a long enough permit to stay.
Can I enroll and pay before I arrive in Thailand?
If you plan to apply in Thailand, there is no need to pay before you arrive. Come to the school in person to enroll and
pay. On a visa-exempt entry, come within 2 working days of arriving. If you apply at a Thai embassy abroad, you enroll
remotely and pay by international bank transfer.
Does the school support converting a Tourist Visa to an ED Visa inside Thailand?
Yes. A Tourist Visa (TR-60) can be changed to an ED Visa inside Thailand, and so can a visa-exempt entry, which is a
passport stamp without a visa, if you come to the school to enroll and pay within 2 working days of arriving. A visa on
arrival cannot be changed. To use the in-country route, you must have no more than 2 Thailand entries in the current
calendar year, at least 6 months of passport validity and 4 blank pages, and at least 50 days of permitted stay left on
the day you enroll and pay. Having 75 days left gives a comfortable margin. A Tourist Visa gives 60 days, and for most
nationalities 1 extension of 30 days at Immigration for 1,900 THB counts toward the 50 days, giving 90 days in total, so
we highly recommend it. A 30-day visa-exempt stay with the same extension gives 60 days, which is why you need to come
to the school within 2 working days of arriving. Only 1 such extension is allowed. Citizens of Sri Lanka, India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda can only extend by up to 7 days, according to Immigration
Division 1. On a visa-exempt entry a 7-day extension does not reach 50 days, so citizens of these countries need a
Tourist Visa to apply in Thailand. You can still enroll, then apply at a Thai embassy abroad if you do not qualify for
the in-country route. If you entered through an automatic gate and got a paper slip or a sticker instead of a stamp in
your passport, go back to the airport immigration office to change it to a normal stamp before you apply. The extension
and the Non-Immigrant ED application are separate processes. Contact the school immediately after arriving so we can
review your passport, entry stamp and previous Thailand entry history. We prepare the supporting documents, and you
submit the application yourself at Immigration Division 1 in Chaeng Watthana. Extensions, changes of visa status and
Non-ED applications are subject to Immigration approval. We cannot guarantee eligibility or approval before reviewing
your documents.
Can you show me the official announcement for changing a visa-exempt entry to an ED Visa?
No. There is no official source we can send you, because Immigration keeps changing its practice. We follow what
Immigration accepts now, and we review your passport and entry stamps before you pay.
What is my status while my application is being processed in Thailand?
You stay on the permission to stay shown by your current passport stamp while the application is processed. Please make
sure you do not overstay, and apply for an extension if you need more time.
Can I leave Thailand while my in-country application is being processed?
No. You cannot leave Thailand while your ED Visa application at Immigration is being processed. Please stay in Thailand
until your ED Visa is issued.
Can the school help me extend my 30-day visa-exempt stay while I wait for visa approval?
If you entered Thailand visa-exempt or on a Tourist Visa, you can apply in person at Immigration for a 30-day extension
of your stay. Only 1 such extension is allowed. If you enroll and pay within 2 working days of arriving visa-exempt, you
can change to an ED Visa inside Thailand, and this extension gives you the 50 days the process needs. If more than 2
working days have passed since you arrived, contact us today so we can check whether you can still apply in Thailand. If
you cannot, you can enroll with the school, complete the Ministry of Education step, which takes 5 to 6 weeks, then
submit the e-Visa at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ while abroad and stay there until it is approved, up to 14 working
days, about 2 to 3 weeks. Citizens of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda can
only extend by up to 7 days, according to Immigration Division 1. In Bangkok, go to Immigration Division 1 at the Chaeng
Watthana Government Complex, Building B, South Zone, Monday to Friday 8:30 to 16:30, with a lunch break from 12:00
to 13:00. Bring a completed TM.7 form, your passport and a copy, 1 photo (4 cm by 6 cm) taken within the last 6 months,
a copy of your TM30 address notification, and the 1,900 THB fee in cash. The school cannot submit this extension on your
behalf. Approval is decided by Thai Immigration, so the school cannot guarantee the result. For more information, see
Thailand visa extension.
Is there a trial lesson before I enroll?
There is no trial lesson, because we do not want to disrupt the students who are already studying. If a different trial
student joined every day, it would affect the class. Visits are by appointment only, after we review your passport and
entry stamps.
Do I have to use Bangkok Immigration even if I don't 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.
Can I live outside Bangkok?
Yes. All ED Visa applications and extensions for our school are done at Immigration Division 1 in Bangkok. Beginner Thai
can be studied online. An ED Visa student can study online most of the time, but not all of the time, because
Immigration does spot checks to make sure you are studying. You must be able to come to the school in person when asked.
Intermediate and advanced Thai, and all English and Chinese classes, are in the classroom in Bangkok.
Application process and documents
How does the application process work if I'm applying from inside Thailand?
First, send your passport photo page and all Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years for review. You can send the
photos on any of our chat channels or by email. If eligible, make an appointment at the school, complete the enrollment
forms and pay the package fee. We submit the education documents to the Ministry of Education. After approval, you
collect the approval letter, submit your ED Visa application yourself at Immigration Division 1 and return there to
collect the stamp. Show the school your completed visa page within 7 days.
How does the process work if I'm applying from a Thai embassy abroad?
You can enroll from anywhere, and everything is done remotely by email. Send us a clear photo of your passport photo
page and your Thailand entry stamps from the last 2 years, and we send you the enrollment forms. Complete them, sign a
copy of your passport main page and all stamped pages, and pay the course fee. The school charges 1,000 THB for document
scanning, plus 120 THB if you want the school to take and print 12 passport photos.
The Ministry of Education step takes 5 to 6 weeks, and you can be anywhere during it. We scan the approval letter and
send it to you. Apply at a Thai embassy abroad as soon as you receive it.
Most of our students apply at the Thai embassy or consulate in Vietnam, but any Thai embassy can work. You submit your
own e-Visa at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ while you are in that country, and you must stay there until it is approved,
up to 14 working days, about 2 to 3 weeks. The embassy visa fee is paid to the embassy. Citizens of Iran must apply in
Iran, or in another country where they hold a long enough permit to stay.
Once your ED Visa is granted, enter Thailand and contact the school with your passport within 7 days of arrival.
If you enrolled to apply in Thailand and later need to apply abroad instead, contact the school, and the team will tell
you whether any extra fee applies.
Can I apply at the Thai embassy in the country where I live, not my home country?
Yes. You can apply at a Thai embassy in any country that has one, not only your home country. You must be in that
country when you apply and stay there until your visa is approved. The exception is Iran. Iranian citizens must apply in
Iran, or in another country where they hold a permit to stay long enough to wait for the visa approval.
Can someone else submit my embassy application for me?
No. You must submit your own e-Visa application at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ while you are in the country of the
embassy.
I have a complicated entry history. Will I have problems coming back after approval abroad?
Many Thailand entries only stop you from applying in Thailand. You can still apply at a Thai embassy abroad, whatever
your entry history. An approved ED Visa lets you enter Thailand, but the final decision is made by the Immigration
officer at the border. If you have many previous entries, please send us your entry history so our team can review it
before you apply.
If I apply for an ED Visa at a Thai embassy in a nearby country, do I need to stay there while it's being processed?
Yes. Plan to stay in the country where you applied until the Thai embassy or consulate approves your e-Visa, and do not
return to Thailand or travel elsewhere while it is being processed. Requirements can vary, so check the embassy's
current rules before you travel.
Which Thai embassy do students usually use, and how long does it take?
Most of our students apply at a Thai embassy or consulate in Vietnam, because the cost of living there is low.
Processing takes up to 14 working days, about 2 to 3 weeks. You submit your e-Visa online while you are in that country,
so make sure you are allowed to stay there until your visa is approved. Check the embassy's current rules before you
travel.
How long does the whole process take?
The full process normally takes 45 to 60 days. The Ministry of Education takes 5 to 6 weeks. After that, if you apply in
Thailand, Immigration takes about 2 weeks. If you apply at a Thai embassy abroad, the embassy takes up to 14 working
days, about 2 to 3 weeks. Sometimes an embassy has a backlog and takes 21 to 30 working days, so the whole process can
take up to 75 days. We cannot give a fixed date for when your documents will be ready. The 45 to 60 days depend on the
Ministry of Education and on the embassy or Immigration. Start early.
Can the school apply for my visa on my behalf?
No. The school cannot submit visa applications for you, but it supplies all the Ministry of Education and school-side
documentation needed to support your own application.
Do you work with visa agencies?
No. We do not work with visa agencies.
Where is the school located?
Level 5, Lake Rajada Office Complex, Ratchadapisek Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. The nearest stations are BTS Asok
and MRT Sukhumvit, and it's an 8-minute walk from BTS Asok and Terminal 21 shopping mall.
Can you send me a photo of the school entrance?
We do not send photos of the entrance. Visits are by appointment only, Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 17:00, after
we review your passport and entry stamps.
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.
My current visa expires in less than 2 weeks, before my ED conversion could be ready. What can I do?
The in-country process takes 45 to 60 days in total, so on the day you enroll and pay you need at least 50 days of
permitted stay left. With less than 2 weeks left, even a 30-day extension does not reach 50 days, so you cannot apply in
Thailand. You can still enroll now and stay in Thailand during the Ministry of Education step, which takes 5 to 6 weeks.
If you need more time, extend your stay once at Immigration, 30 days for most nationalities. Make sure your stay lasts
until the approval arrives. After the Ministry approves, leave Thailand, apply at a Thai embassy abroad and stay in that
country until your visa is approved. We cannot provide a bridging letter or an under-consideration stamp.
I don't have 50 days left on my stay. Can I still convert to an ED Visa in Thailand?
Only if you have at least 50 days of permitted stay left on the day you enroll and pay, counting 1 extension. On a
visa-exempt entry, you also need to enroll and pay within 2 working days of arriving. Having 75 days left gives a
comfortable margin. For most nationalities, a 30-day extension of a Tourist Visa or visa-exempt stay counts toward
the 50 days. If you have not extended yet, you can apply for it at Immigration for 1,900 THB before your current stay
ends. Only 1 such extension is allowed, giving a Tourist Visa holder 90 days in total. Citizens of Sri Lanka, India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda can only extend by up to 7 days, according to Immigration
Division 1. You can enroll first and extend afterwards, but if Immigration refuses the extension, the school is not
responsible. A visa on arrival cannot be changed to an ED Visa inside Thailand. If you do not qualify, you can still
enroll, then apply at a Thai embassy abroad. Send us your passport photo page and entry stamps, and we will check before
you pay whether you have enough time to apply in Thailand.
My stay has expired or I overstayed. Can I still apply for an ED Visa?
If you overstayed, declared it yourself and paid the overstay fine, this should be fine. Please tell us about any
overstay before you apply, and send us your passport so our team can check it.
Is the English course officially approved by the Ministry of Education, and can you share the license number?
Yes. The school and its English course are approved by the Ministry of Education. Because scammers often try to
impersonate the school, we do not share the school licence or course approval reference number online. We are happy to
show it to you in person at your appointment at the school. The ED Visa itself is issued by Thai immigration.
I'm a Finnish citizen entering visa-exempt. Can I convert to ED status inside Thailand without leaving, and do you assist with TM.87?
Yes, if you come to the school to enroll and pay within 2 working days of arriving. A 30-day visa-exempt stay plus 1
extension of 30 days then still gives the 50 days the process needs. We still highly recommend a Tourist Visa (TR-60),
because 60 days plus a 30-day extension gives you more time. If more than 2 working days have passed since you arrived,
contact us today so we can check whether you can still apply in Thailand. If you cannot, you can enroll with the school,
complete the Ministry of Education step, which takes 5 to 6 weeks, then submit your e-Visa at
https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ while abroad and stay there until it is approved, up to 14 working days, about 2 to 3
weeks. We review the passport and entry history first and prepare the school documents for the suitable route. Please
see the ED Visa country requirements article and contact us before making travel or payment arrangements.
I'm an Iranian citizen currently in Iran. How do I apply?
You would apply for the ED visa through the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran once your documents and Ministry of Education
approval are ready. The school sends the required files to you by email to complete the application.