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How can I change my COVID visa to an ED visa in Thailand, and should I do it myself or use an agent?

ED Visa COVID Visa Visa Change Process Thailand Immigration Language Schools in Thailand

Jul 26, 2021

4 years ago

Grant *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi I’ve been in Thailand for 6 months on TR visa then covid visa.

I wish to stay longer and change to an ED visa for 1 year to learn Thai.

I’m currently living in Phetchabun.

Is there a way to do the visa process yourself using a local or online language school  or is it better to use a company to do it all for me? Can anyone recommend me anything? I have a Thai girlfriend who could do the forms for me and help me if needed 

Thanks krap

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is currently in Thailand on a COVID visa and wants to switch to an ED visa to study Thai. There are questions about whether to handle the visa change personally or through an agency. Community members have pointed out that it may be difficult to change from a COVID visa to an ED visa, with advice to either exit and re-enter the country on a different visa or potentially use an agent. It's suggested that legitimate language schools typically manage the visa process if you're enrolled.

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Tod *********

All you can do is start contacting real language schools OR visa agents/agencies (for one of those back-door, under the table, out of province ED or Volunteer visas).

As a rule you have to get the ED visa at the immigration office in the province where the school is located <- meaning you can't enroll in a Chiang Mai school and think you're gonna get the ED visa and extensions issued from the Phetchabun immigration office :/

4 years ago

Sam *********

They need to do something about all these folks on ED visas who don’t actually go to school...

4 years ago

James *******

@Sam ********

Why?

4 years ago

Reply to

James *******

Nick *******

Conditions say you can’t change a covid visa into any other type of visa. Your only options are to exit the country and enter on a different visa or use an agent. That option is obviously at your own risk as it’s not an official route but yes, overlooked.

4 years ago

Michael ********

@Nick ******

where does it say cannot change, not seen anything written officially, can you send link

4 years ago

Nick *******

@Michael *******

Sorry bud, it was the STV that you couldn’t change.

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Nick ******

the O/P specifically said a TR <- tourist visa not a special tourist visa. Whether they can or can't go from their current covid extension to a 90 day ED visa and then extensions is totally between the school they enroll in and the immigration office they use

4 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Niclas ***********

Enjoy Phetchabun I miss the place

4 years ago

Sacha ****

The school where you enroll sort the visa out for you. Real ED visas you actually have to attend school for a certain amount of hours per week.

4 years ago

Neo *****

it seems difficult to change covid visa to ED visa

4 years ago