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Can I convert a tourist visa to an education visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

Visa Conversion Tourist Visa Education Visa Thailand Immigrations Rules Thai Visa Types Ministry of Education Approval Expat Visa Assistance

Nov 30, 2024

a month ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I would like to know if it's possible to convert a tourist visa to an education visa without returning to my country of origin

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Yes, it is possible to convert a tourist visa to an education visa in Thailand without returning to your country of origin. Several users reported successfully making this change while still in Thailand. The process generally involves your chosen educational institution applying for the education visa on your behalf, which requires laboring through the Ministry of Education and can take 2-4 weeks. Applicants must have at least 14-21 days left on their tourist visa when they apply for the conversion. It's advisable to start this process promptly after arriving in Thailand to ensure that everything is completed in a timely manner.

Aslam ******

Yes

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David *********

Yes I'm mid process with that at the moment and all is going smoothly 🙏

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Michelle ***********

My husband changed his visa on arrival to an Non Ed visa but his school did it for him

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Michael ********

I have recently done it you don’t have to leave the country to get an education visa

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Eric **********************

It's very easy that's no issue

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Olivia *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Eric *********************

does the passport nationality matter , I have a Botswana passport

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Eric **********************

no

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Eric **********************

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Eric **********************

Yes

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Da ****

yes thats possible and many people did that and still do. your school will guide you through the process. easy.

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Duncan *******

It costs more to do it in country, but you can also apply in neighoring countries - places like Penang and Vientiane are a nice trip away.

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Brandon ************

doesn't cost more. Every visa is 2000 baht paid directly to immigration

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Duncan *******

@Brandon ***********

Schools often charge more if you want to change to an ED in country, at least in Chiang Mai. For example, Manna charges 12,000 baht more.

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Duncan *******

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Sacha ****

Ask the school perhaps?

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Himanshu *****************

Yes it is possible, it is standard process here in Thailand to obtain education visa while in Thailand.

Simply you must have a tourist visa with 25 days validity. Because the ed visa process takes 3 weeks.

Including ministry of education and immigration.

You won't need to leave Thailand.

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Brandon ************

It's possible yes. But you have to get started quickly after arriving in Thailand because the school has to apply to the Ministry of Education for approval. This can take 2-4 weeks. Then you'll have to go apply for the visa and you must still have 14-21 days left on your permission to stay when you apply. So you'll need 1.5-2 months to complete the process.

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Michael ********

Yes

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Rolf *********

You can change to any visa from tourist visa if you fulfill the requirements without leaving the country. There are agents that does this for you if you don’t know how to apply yourself.

I’m changing my tourist visa to a marital visa shortly.

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Maksym ***********

Jönsson why use agent? This is job for school, it prepare documents and interact with MoE and then prepare documents and then help to apply in immigration

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Rolf *********

@Maksym **********

sure if you change to ed visa which was the question. But since I answered that it is possible to change to any kind of visa I added to use an agent. Of course not necessary if you’re a student at a school. My mistake to answer more than was asked for 🙏

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Graham ******

but no legal visa application requires an agent

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Graham ******

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Paul ***************

See an agent

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Tim *********

yes

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Vili *********

I did it come with tourist visa and school did for me and make education visa without leaving thailand

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Olivia *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you

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Olivia *******

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Graham ******

You need to ask your school not Facebook as it is the school who will provide the required documents

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Olivia *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I understand that I was just wandering if people have experienced this conversion

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Graham ******

yes, many have as it's a common thing to do

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Olivia *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you 😊

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Olivia *******

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SteBu ******

Imho you can’t convert any visa. But you can apply for the desired Visa

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Da ****

you can very well change visa. inform yourself about the TM86. And changing from TR/Exemption to ED is often done inside the country.

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SteBu ******

to my knowledge, is not possible from a visa exempt AND not from TR to ED

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Da ****

then you are misinformed. people do it all the time. 100% legit… to change it to ED you need at least 3-4 weeks left on your stamp, in some provinces more. as the process takes time. letter from MOE + process in immigration. its standard and commonly used. i have friends that even changed visa to retirement inside the country.

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Uwe *********

Retiremet is possible…

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Da ****

so is ED

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Da ****

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Olivia *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

what do you mean

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SteBu ******

there is no thing like converting a visa. You have it and good. May it is semantically….

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SteBu ******

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