Answered7 years ago

What Are the Current Extension Rules for Education Visas in Thailand?

asked Dec 11, 2019

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We went to Koh Samui today to get what we were expecting was going to be a 90 day extension for our education visa. Our passports came back and we saw that we had been stamped for very slightly over half this time. We queried it, but were told it was correct for the way the school has filled in the paperwork. We spoke to the school and they said it was because of new stipulations laid down where we got our visa (Vientiane, Laos) but there had never been any mention of this. Does anyone have any experience of this? We were expecting 90 days and this wasn’t great, especially considering we originally got turned down for our visa in KL. Thank you.

Answer summary

A user shares their experience of receiving a shorter than expected extension for their education visa in Thailand. Despite expecting a 90-day extension, they were granted slightly over half that duration due to changes in paperwork requirements from their school. Other commenters share insights about visa extension processes, suggesting that schools may not be fully transparent about the current regulations and emphasizing the importance of understanding the extension rules related to education visas.

13 repliesnewest first

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Tod *********

Thanx for the update..

7 years ago

Tod *********

and we're done.

The days of staying easily on an ED visa are coming to a close.

Talk to your school BEFORE you enroll and hash out how the extension process is going to go.

Remember the wording for the clause that gives extensions based on studying at private language schools says "extensions can be granted for up to 90 days at a time" <- meaning they can give you as little time as they actually want to give you but they can't give you any more than 90 days.

7 years ago

Allan **********

I got my first extension last week. 90 days from day I went to do it.

7 years ago

Danny *********

@Allan *********

Depends on the province.

7 years ago

Claire ********

Allan Flanagan I’ve just been to my school and they kept saying rule changes they didn’t know about. So instead of 3 x 90 we have to go 4 times and the last one is only 45 days. When you’re told one thing and pay a lot of money only to have goal posts moved. Not happy with them at all.

7 years ago

Robert *******

You sit in the Immigration Office, your passports came back from where? And why did you not directly asked the Immigration Officer? Or did you hand over your passport to a agency to fix your Extension?

7 years ago

Robert *******

That is why this page exist. Do it yourselves, it is not that difficult.

7 years ago

Claire ********

@Rob***

. The school asked for our passports to send them off with the paperwork and we had to collect them a week later. I’ve been to see them this morning and they are saying it’s rule changes. If you’re told one thing on signing up and now they are saying something else.

7 years ago

Tod *********

It has NOTHING to do with where you got the ED visa believe me that was just a b/s answer from your school.

in BANGKOK the way it works now for thai IS

You get the 90 day ED visa from a thai consulate, get stamped in for 90 days, then the first time you go for an extension you get 30 days :O during that 30 days you go to the Ministry of Education and get tested (to see if you have been paying attention in class for the last 3 months) ;) After that when you go for your next extension you get 60 days and then the extension after that you get another 60 days.

Then you're DONE studying thai at the basic and intermediate levels, get new paperwork to go get a NEW 90 day ED visa for the advanced level and you can get extensions for 60 days 3 times on it. THEN you're finished studying thai.

7 years ago

Claire ********

@Tod ********

apparently I’ve been told today that we need to go to immigration 4 times now and the last extension is only 45 day.. confused to say the least.

7 years ago

Stewart ***************

How many extensions have you had or was this your first one?

7 years ago

Stewart ***************

I was told I need to take a test after the first 3 months to get the first extension, this was a change that had been brought in, but then heard differently and some people say no test. They are a lot of changes that have been brought in, Im not sure what has happened with you. I would get your school to look into it a bit more as it will most likely happen again to someone else. Hopefully someone on here can help you out. Good luck.

7 years ago

Claire ********

@Stewart **************

this was my first one. The school sent our passports off one week ago and we had to collect today.

7 years ago