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Can I transition from an ED visa to a DTV visa using the same school in Thailand?

Oct 10, 2025
2 months ago
Mods, feel free to delete if this is too off topic. I have a question about visa transitions. If I did an ED visa to learn Thai, but wanted to transition to the DTV soft power eventually, would I get denied if I used the same school for both visas?

For context, I am trying to move by a certain time frame. In order to meet the 500k baht requirement, I need to sell all my things, but I would need that money in the bank for at least 3 months. So I figure, if I did an ED visa, I wouldn't have to meet that requirement, and it would give me time for my money to sit in my bank account long enough to then apply for the DTV visa.

I want to do the soft power DTV to learn Thai, but I'm curious if that will look weird or bad going from an ED visa to DTV with the same school or if that's even allowed.

Any insight is welcome! Thanks in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about the possibility of transitioning from an ED visa, used for studying Thai, to a DTV visa focusing on the same school. They express concerns about meeting the financial requirements for the DTV visa and seek clarification on whether using the same educational institution for both visa types could lead to complications or denials.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Hamad ********
Language school isn't a category accepted for dtv, you have to choose a different activity.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've seen mixed results on this depending on the embassy. Jakarta seems to approve DTV for language courses.
Steve *******
Why do you need the ED visa for a 3 months stay? You can study anything you want on a tourist visa or visa exemption.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
I plan to stay long term. I just don't want it to look like I'm trying to abuse their tourist visas.
Steve *******
Anonymous participant if you're getting a DTV, it doesn't matter what you do the three months prior. Getting a ED visa and cancelling it is such an unnecessary headache. Just use the visa exemption and then go get your DTV.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Heard. Thank you!
John **********
Very few people get approved for a DTV to learn Thai, normally they tell you to get an ED visa. Learning Thai is not listed as a soft power activity.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
I have been looking at this language school in Chiang Mai (
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and they have a DTV option, so that's why I thought it would work for the soft power activity.
Fyre ********
Anonymous participant I looked at this option to for their DTV becauseit appealed to me a LOT, but I couldn't find anyone who had actually been accepted through it.
Luit *****************
@Fyre *******
This might work because of the weekly culture part of the course.