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How flexible is the location on an education visa in Thailand?

education visa ED visa visa rules Extension of Stay Thailand immigration Chiang Mai Phuket

Nov 30, 2021

3 years ago

Alex *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello 

Can anyone tell me how flexible the location is on an education visa? Say I apply for and receive an education visa in Chiang Mai, but then in three months decide to move down to Phuket and enroll in school there. It's that allowed?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An education visa (ED visa) in Thailand is not flexible regarding location. Once issued based on a specific school, moving to another province requires canceling your current Extension of Stay and applying for a new one with new documents from the school in the new location.

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Keven ****

The ED visa is attached to the school.

3 years ago

Robert *******

If you move, you cancel you current Extension of Stay based on Education and you apply in the new province with documents from the new school for a new Extension of Stay.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Alex ******

Start by getting the ED visa for a language school. This isn't even certain.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Alex ******

Changing ED visa extensions for a new school might be possible, but also complicated, probably involving the permission of your previous school or things like that. Might or might not work in the end.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Alex ******

"what type of visa, or extension to stay, would I need to apply for while I waited for the new ED to process"

You could go on COVID extensions, but those might end soon.

HOWEVER, if you will be able to go back on extensions based on studying, in a new school, in a new province, would likely be complicated process.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Alex ******

1. You might or might not be able to get an ED visa for a language school while in Thailand.

2. If you do get an ED visa, you will need to buy 3 months of lessons minimum.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Alex ******

If you get an Non-Immigrant ED visa, you won't be able to switch to a Non-Immigrant B work visa inside the country.

It is not possible to change Non-Immigrant category inside the country.

3 years ago

George *************

@Keven ***

I don't doubt what you say regarding switching to a Non-B visa/extension from a Non-ED visa/extension, but seven years ago I was able to switch to a retirement extension from a Non-ED visa/extension so I do think it is sometimes possible to change a Non-Immigrant category inside the country (depending on the categories involved). At least it was possible seven years ago for the categories I mentioned. This was in Phuket.

3 years ago

Reply to

George *************

Alex *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Keven ***

I plan on doing more than 3 months of lessons regardless of the visa type.

3 years ago

Alex *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

No. I'm hoping to stay in Thailand for the long term, but just still haven't figured out where I want to live. The ED visa is to hold me over until I can get a job.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Alex ******

Getting a job after a Non-Immigrant ED visa is basically impossible without leaving Thailand.

Getting the work permit and teacher waiver, will equally be nearly impossible on an ED visa+work extensions.

3 years ago

Reply to

Keven ****

Alex *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ******

Okay, thank you. That's helpful. If I were to move and cancel the current ED extention to stay, what type of visa, or extension to stay, would I need to apply for while I waited for the new ED to process?

3 years ago

Reply to

Alex *******

Robert *******

There is NO flexibility in an ED Visa or Extension of Stay based on education. These are given with documents from the school, unless the school decide to move with you to other provinces.

3 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

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How can I extend my non-immigrant ED Visa when moving to another province in Thailand for further studies?

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