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What are the financial requirements for obtaining a NON-O visa for my child's international schooling in Thailand?

Non-O Visa ED Visa International School Fees Bank Requirements Child's Birth Certificate Visa Extension Expat in Thailand

Sep 25, 2025

7 months ago

Leya *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

hello! I plan on coming over on a non0 visa (putting my child full time into international school).  I am aware that i have to pay the year in advance when i apply for the visa, however is there requirements on how much savings i should have in my account or am i fine as long as i pay for the entire year of schooling?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

When applying for a non-O visa in Thailand to enroll your child full-time in an international school, you need to be aware of certain financial requirements. Specifically, immigration mandates that you must have at least 500,000 baht in your Thai bank account for a guardian ED visa application. This amount must be in your account for one month at the time of the first extension application and for three months for subsequent extensions. Note that the tuition payment for the school, while substantial, does not influence immigration requirements directly, but you should also be prepared for potentially high annual fees, which can exceed US $30,000 for good international schools. Additionally, ensure you have an authenticated copy of your child’s birth certificate as part of your documentation.

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Wannikea *********

500,000 baht banked for guardian visa

7 months ago

Jim *******

@Wannikea ********

You may well be right, so complicated.

7 months ago

Reply to

Jim *******

Have you spoken to the school? Licensed international schools have an interview with the whole family (they want to see you all) before letting your child in and taking any payment from you. It is not like walk in and pay.

7 months ago

Leya *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

i'm speaking to several but still trying to get an idea of the visa process 🙂 THank you.

7 months ago

Jim *******

Non O-visa is for 90 days and it lets you into the process with Thai Immigration.

To get it (online) you have to show 3 months statements from your bank (anywhere in the world, not in Thai banks) in excess of 800,000 THB. .pdf files, 3 consecutive months, you will have to concatenate them into a single attachment. Took me 5 business days from the Thai Royal Consulate in Osaka to get it approved.

Then, you enter Thai.

With that and accommodation certificate (infamous TM30, landlord has to submit it within 24 hours from your arrival) , you are entering the process.

Opening a bank account. I have done that, got 1 year extension until September 26. 2026. I am over 50 years old, that is the requirement for the non immigrant O-visa.

Honestly, you might be confused with all different answers.

Talk to an agency, they have it all streamlined. Initial consultation, no fee.

If no chance, no fee. If they take your case, count on ~1,000 US$ for their service.

7 months ago

Nongnuch ********

@Jim ******

she won't be doing a 90-days Non-imm-O retirement visa. Once her child is enrolled in school on a Non-Imm-ED visa, she will apply for a "sponsor" Non-Imm-O visa dependent on the ED-visa of her child in school in Thailand. This needs 500,000 in her Thai bank account, not 800,000 THB

7 months ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Jim *******

There were posts about situations similar if not identical to yours. Hope some of those valued contrubutors come up here and repeat what they knew and their experiences.

7 months ago

Jim *******

@Leya ******

In 2011. I was offered a position (of South East Asia Technical Manager) in my (same company, a multinational IT) in Bangkok, as a local hire, not an expat. We already had our home in Bangkok, used as a holiday home.

The problem was - I could not remain on the same money as in Japan, true, top of then Thai salaries for a non-director in Thai) , 120K THB a month + company car but it was still considerably less than with my same Japan job while the International school would be nearly the same cost. Turned it down, remained in Japan. Thai cost structure (no rent, own home, cheaper daily life) would have eaten that through the school fee. Bangkok Pattana was the school.

For visa, I would have been on a working visa, daughter and Thai wife are Thai nationals.

7 months ago

Reply to

Jim *******

Brad ************

Full time for a good international school plan on paying US $30,000 a year or more for board

7 months ago

Kim **********

Also make sure you have an authenticated copy of your child’s birth certificate. In the United States, at least this is a multi step process that can take months and months

7 months ago

Peter *********

I hope you know the prices of international schools before you decide

7 months ago

Leya *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Peter ********

what a strange statement to make. No Peter, i'm just going to blindly enroll my child without doing a cost comparison.

7 months ago

Reply to

Leya *******

Brandon ************

Immigration doesn't care about what you pay the school. That's between you and them.

The immigration requirement to apply for a guardian of a non-Thai child with an ED visa is to have 500,000 baht in your Thai bank account.

For the first extension, the money must be in your account for 1 month at the time you apply.

For future extensions, the money must be in your account for 3 months at the time you apply for the extension.

7 months ago

Jim *******

@Brandon ***********

I did not know that. Not even interested but a new knowledge to me.

7 months ago

Reply to

Jim *******

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