This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Do I need to leave Thailand to validate my student visa, or can I start it upon arrival?

Visa Types Tourist Visa ED Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Regulations Student Visa Onward Travel

Nov 5, 2018

7 years ago

Inès *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey guys! 

I’m coming to Thailand on December 12th on a tourist visa because I think my student visa will only start on January 2nd. 

Do you know if I’ll have to get out of the country to validate my student visa?

Or do you know I can ask at the ambassy to start my student visa on December 12th since I already booked my flight? 

Thank you for your help!

481

views

all likes

replies

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is asking if they will need to leave Thailand to validate their student visa after entering on a tourist visa, and if it's possible to have the student visa start on the same day they arrive. Comments suggest that a tourist visa may not be sufficient for their plans and advise obtaining an ED visa beforehand. The ED visa is usually issued for studying at recognized institutions and must be obtained from a Thai consulate before arriving unless conditions allow otherwise.

Pelle Eriksson★★★★★

Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...

recently on Facebook

Luca G.★★★★★

I used this agency for my DTV Visa...

recently on Google

Trusted Thai Visa Agent

OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED

#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND

Tod *********

Sorry about that

@Inès ************

:O IF you hold a french passport you can indeed get stamped into the country for 30 days on the visa exempt program BUT you might have problems checking in for your flight here IF you do not have proof of onward travel OR a valid visa in your passport. So I would still say get a single entry tourist visa from a thai consulate BEFORE you come here. That will stamp you in for 60 days and will be plenty enough time for you to get the paperwork from your school.

As a rule UNLESS you're enrolling in a real university for a degree program you cannot get an ED visa inside the country and instead get paperwork from your school to go to a thai consulate in another country and get a 90 day single entry ED visa

7 years ago

Inès *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Alright! I’ll talk with my school and see if they can hurry for the papers 🙂

It’s an exchange program so I think it’ll be okay 🙂

Thank you so much for taking time to answer me 🙂

7 years ago

Reply to

Inès *************

Tod *********

There is no student visa :/ There is an ED visa <- the ED means education.

When you apply for the ED visa from a thai consulate it is valid for 90 days from the date it's issued <- That means you have 90days to ENTER thailand and when you do you'll be stamped in for 90 days.

As long as you get an ED visa from the thai consulate in your country BEFORE you come here, you'll be stamped in on that when you arrive.

7 years ago

Inès *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Perfectttt!!! Thank you 😀

And what if I can not get the ED visa before coming? (I’m still waiting for my school in Bkk to send me the papers and I live in Mexico right now... no idea if there is a Thai embassy but I really hope so haha)

7 years ago

Reply to

Inès *************

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

Can I apply for an ED visa for language school in Thailand after entering on a tourist visa from the UK?

26 comments