Should I apply for an educational visa or extend my current visa for a stay in Thailand?

Question

Hi. I’m currently in Thailand now, have a 6 month rental. I am enquiring with someone about getting an educational visa. I only want to be here 6 months, I’ve been here 1.5 month currently. Am I best to get the educational visa or extend my 60 day visa by a further 30 days, do a visa run and spend a week in Malaysia for example, then return? Will I be able to get another extension when I return? So that I can spend a further 60 + 30 days here. I am happy to get the educational visa but I am just weighing up options as I only intend to be here 6 month in total. Thank you

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user is currently in Thailand and has been exploring options for staying an additional six months. They are considering applying for an educational visa versus extending their existing 60-day visa. Comments suggest that extending the current visa by 30 days, doing a visa run, and returning may be simpler and cheaper. It's noted that for a total stay of six months, obtaining a multiple-entry tourist visa may be a more efficient choice. Additionally, there is advice against getting an educational visa unless necessary, as it could complicate future interactions with immigration.

Bart ************** · Answer

If you only plan to stay 6 months total, it's much easier just doing visa exempt + extension twice. It doesn't prohibit studying (no visa prohibits that) and you save yourself the hassle of the non-ED and its extension. There are also stories about immigrations officers not understanding that studying is actually a thing and wrongly assuming that having a non-ED visa, or having had one in the past, means that you are currently trying to stay in Thailand unrighteously (so if you get a non-ED now, you can be 'punished' for that until forever).

Loreen *********** · Answer

You can just get the 6 months multiple entry tourist visa. It’s a lot cheaper.

Elías ******** · Answer

If you plan to stay only 6 months in total, and assuming you're from one of the visa exemption elegible countries, I wouldn't bother to get an ED visa.

Alistair ********** · Answer

You can extend by 30 days, then fly out and back in. Your next entry can also be extended by 30 days. If you want to stay more after this, I'd recommend using a border run company as they'll make sure you get out and stamped back in without issues.

Should I apply for an educational visa or extend my current visa for a stay in Thailand?

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