Answered5 years ago

Does my 1-year-old need an education visa in Thailand if she is not in school?

Visa Rules Non-O Visa Education Visa Thai Immigration Children Visa Requirements Expat Advice

Chloe ****************

asked Oct 8, 2021

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Hi ,

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this and has any advice.

Myself and my partner have 4 children in Phuket age 15, 10, 3 and 1 they are all at school except the 1 year old.

We have just renewed our visas for a year.  the 3 children who are in school are on education visas and myself and my partner are on non O (guardian) visas , my 1 year old came to thialand on a non O visa the same as myself and my partner. However immigration is saying she needs an education visa but she's only 1 and not in school?

Several people have said that she doesn't need a visa at all and not to worry until she goes to school.

I just don't want in a year's time she has to leave as she overstayed her visa 

Any advice is welcome as I'm not sure what to do 🥺

Answer summary

The poster is seeking clarification on visa requirements for their 1-year-old child who is not in school in Thailand. Their other three children are on education visas, while parents hold non-O (guardian) visas. Immigration has indicated the 1-year-old needs an education visa, raising concerns about potential overstay issues if a visa is not obtained.

11 repliesnewest first

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Tod *********

While it's true that children under 15 can't be fined for overstay and children under 18 can't be banned for it that is not the same as saying children don't need visas/extensions, because they do.

What you don't wanna do is let them run on overstay because then you can't get ANY visa issued for them inside the country.

I couldn't see any reason that the immigration office wouldn't give that child an extension based on either yours or your husbands extension. Clearly they're too young for school so who would provided the documentation to get an ED visa extension?

5 years ago

Siggi ********

I wouldn't think to much about a kid younger than 14. There is no problem staying in Thailand and going to school. My Son started school with 12 and 3 month before he turned 15 we applied with a complete new passport for education visa in his home country (EU) and let the passport send my mail. Then he made a weekend trip to kula Lumpur switched passports and activated the visa. He left Thailand between 12 and 15 every year 2 times and never a problem with overstay. They stamp you out, put red stamp in, that's it. When return no problem too.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Siggi *******

I would imagine that as long as you bounce them out and back before they're 15 to clear the overstay and get rid of the possibility of a fine, then get them on a visa you're good..

It's not the way to do it, but because there is no financial penalty or banning it works.

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Siggi *******

So your son attended school while on overstay? Is your child half-Thai?

5 years ago

Siggi ********

@Benjamin *****

No Czech German, and never a problem. If half Thai you don't need any vida. Kids not have any problems until 15years old.and with a baby i would even think about getting a visa. He got student card from school, of course school has copy of passport when registered but after this no interest in anything. And i don't met a parent who was solving this, bc no problem at all. And he went in and out thailand 5 times in this period on Xmas and summer break

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@T**

, OP said they (parents) are on Non-O guardian. Can the baby get Non-O dependant on a Non-O guardian?

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Ellie ******

the baby is on a non-O they just don't want to issue a yearly extension matching the parents for some reason

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Ellie ******

I only meant that the baby was already on a non-o and I have no idea why they couldn't have gotten a matching extension for some reason

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@T**

, you wrote "that the immigration office wouldn't give that child an extension based on either yours or your husbands extension."

So I thought it's Non-O dependant on a Non-O guardian. Apologize my English reading was wrong.

5 years ago

Chloe ****************

@Tod ********

yes that's exactly what I thought, I was thinking of covid exstention and hopefully they will keep doing it until she starts school at 2 🥺

5 years ago

Tod *********

Just know that if you do nothing until she goes to school you're going to have to bounce out and back in to get her off the overstay before you can get any visa issued inside the country

5 years ago