What are the current costs and requirements for obtaining an education visa in Thailand?

education visa Thailand immigration visa costs NON-ED visa extension fees private schools Chiang Mai immigration Thai visa regulations

Sep 30, 2020

4 years ago

Dawn **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

What does immigration charge for an education visa? Had heard it was 10k but today immigration requested 20k.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The cost of obtaining an education visa in Thailand varies. While standard fees for in-country NON-ED visas are around 2000 baht for the visa and 1900 baht for an extension, some individuals have reported unexpected higher charges from immigration offices or schools, with figures mentioned as high as 20,000 baht. Costs may differ based on the school and location, with hints that some agencies may offer services that involve additional "greasing" fees to facilitate visa issuance. It's noted that education visas may not currently be issued in-country without specific approvals.

Chan ****

I thought this type of education can be pursued online. What's the visa for?

4 years ago

Tod *********

the visa is to stay IN thailand :P I think they're not all that concerned about what they're actually studying. ;)

4 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Jay *****

Ed visas are not being issued in-country. Here is the letter dated 11 Aug from ministry of education requesting immigration to issue them in Thailand, but not approved as yet. Normally 2000, but unsure what they offered you as they cannot issue an Ed visa.

4 years ago

Dawn **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jay ****

thanks Jay

4 years ago

Jay *****

4 years ago

Tod *********

just so you know

@J**

there are private schools in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Prachuap, and Surat Thani that have ALL found ways to 'grease the wheel' and get in country 90 day non-ED visas issued from their immigration offices.

You can't do it in Bangkok, that's 100% certain but in the cities I mentioned there are schools that CAN do it

4 years ago

Jay *****

@Tod ********

I know in Pattaya you cannot as all agencies have said no more non-ED visas, only volunteer.

4 years ago

Reply to

Jay *****

Tod *********

Actually

@Da**

, ALL immigration offices the country over charge only 2000baht for a 90 day in country Non-immigrant visa of ANY type.

The fee you're talking about is what the school you're enrolling in charges and that depends on how much they have to "grease the wheel" to have the immigration office issue a back door, under the table in country ED visa for studying at a private school. ;)

4 years ago

Ivan ************

@T**

I heard at least one report that immigration in Chiang Mai were issuing Ed visas directly, you need to documentation from the school obviously but people go in with that and actually deal with them directly for the conversion.

The guy who told me this said they charged him the extra fee directly as well. IIRC it was 11k.

I don't know about Dawn's specific situation but it's possible that it was actually immigration who asked for the money directly.

4 years ago

Dawn **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ivan ***********

it was for a friend of mine. She had the school representative with her at CM immigration. The school thought the cost would be 10k, but the immigration agent said 20k. Given that the new extension lasts through Nov she said told immigration she would come back.

4 years ago

Reply to

Dawn **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thanks!

4 years ago

Reply to

Dawn **********

Shayne **********

Depends on which agency/school you are going through.

4 years ago