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What do I need to know about the Soft Power Education Visa in Thailand?

Educational Visa Soft Power Education Non-ED Visa Muay Thai Visa Visa Extension Thailand Immigration Expat Community

May 6, 2025

a year ago

Andrew ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Information for educational visa in thailand. 

There are two types one is for university study and the one I am giving information on is "Soft Power Education" this includes thai boxing language and such 

There is two things to this. The soft power education visa is permission from the Educational  Ministry to learn for one year. 

What you get from immigration is a 3 month stamp that you have to extend with fee 1900 baht ( 50 USD ) also ontop of this you still have to check in every 90 days which can be done on an app on your phone or in-person at immigration office. 

If you miss extension or have to leave for any reason and you mis the time frame to extend you have to start back over and the educational visa is 20,000 baht .. ( 500 ) 

I just did this today and was given full explanation by the school doing my visa. 

Hope this helps someone else 🙏 and I was explained that bank accounts are not given for these soft power education or hard to get just FYI

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The educational visa in Thailand has two types: one for university and the other for soft power education, which includes programs like Muay Thai and language courses. The soft power educational visa is issued by the Ministry of Education for a year. Initially, recipients receive a 3-month stamp, which can be extended for a fee of 1,900 baht (approximately 50 USD). Visa holders must check in every 90 days, and failure to extend on time can result in complications, requiring them to restart the application process. Additionally, participants are informed that bank accounts may not be easily accessible under this visa type. Note that there are discussions among users regarding the classifications and requirements associated with the educational visa.

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Frank **********

20,000 baht is 1900 USD,? Someone is ripping you off. Go back home.

a year ago

Andrew ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Frank *********

no i misprint that part 1900 paid for course and visa total

a year ago

Reply to

Andrew ********

Allan ******

20,000 baht is only about 600 usd

a year ago

Elías ********

You're wrong, but you already made clear you won't listen the other people trying to help, so I also have nothing else to add ☹️

a year ago

Andrew ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Elías *******

im relaying what i was shown by someone doing this for 19 years .. no one is helping I wasn't asking for help clearly no one can read just passing information from a school that has been doing this

You have nothing to say then why post anything just to say im wrong??? It's not me I'm passing info as it was shown to me

IN WRITTING and examples from other packets done before me.

Again I'll listen to a business in operation for 19 years over some person on face book coming to say "you're wrong but i have nothing to say "

Yeah you just proved all you peoole are "losten to me not people who actually have done it" crowd cause you want to feel special behind some key board seriously I'm only passing info that was given to me by people who actually do it.

But clearly you can't read nor can anyone else

a year ago

Reply to

Andrew ********

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

The term "soft power" has nothing to do with ED visa. The ONLY Visa that is relevant to is the DTV Visa.

For ED Visa there is only one type of visa, and you qualify for it two ways. Either university, or non-traditional (meaning language school, Muay Thai). They both starts as a 90-day non-ED visa, but with university you can get 1-year extensions, and with non-traditional you can only get 90-day extensions. Also the university extensions can continue until you get your degree, but non-traditional can only extend up to 1-year and then it's done.

a year ago

Andrew ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

ok again you can get an ED visa for the same thing you go for in DTV you people just want to argue for argue sakes like you have nothing better to do and you wonder why people don't like to post in here or ask questions..

People like you woukd respond to people's post asking question "why are you asking this"

I've seen so much negative responses from people.

Im just telling what I just went thru first hand experiance.

What im learning is soft power in DTV but not in DTV.

I was just explaining things but people like you as I said just want to argue for argue sakes. And it's really annoying

Im just explaining it as it was given to me by the school owner who has been in buisness in thailand for the last 16 years and doing this for people, I'll take his word over some person on social media who spends his time posting in a group just to argue

So there is that

a year ago

Elías ********

@Andrew *******

people "like him" is actually a visa expert that possible has been in Thailand for more than 16 years, and is well versed on visa matters. But why bother to ask here if you won't listen anyways.

a year ago

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

@Andrew *******

Terminology is IMPORTANT for government matters. I am telling you that you are using the incorrect terminology, and you are going to confuse people. But all you want to do is argue rather than take note of the correct information you are being provided.

a year ago

Reply to

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

John **********

That seems somewhat confused. There are indeed 2 types of ED visa one for university and one for studying at a school. The latter is what you have and you actually have to study and attend classes or you won't get the extensions every 3 months. Soft power is something else and only applies to the DTV visa

a year ago

Andrew ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

awesome well great cause DTV is new im doing soft power education and getting the ed visa for it the only difference is im doing it in country and i don't have 6 months account status showing 500k baht to qualify or else I'd jist do the DTV.

Im sorry you are confused but this was confusing in general im doing this visa .. just applied and sat down with the school and the explained that what I'm doing is soft power education.

The DTV is rather new just cheaper but requires 500k baht.

I love how people get on here saying "you are wrong" when I just sat down and had it explained to me by the school that does them.

They explained that the university education is different then what im doing University education visa doesn't require extension after 3 months that's the only trade off.

Soft power education was around BEFORE DTV.

Thank you for playing :)

a year ago

John **********

@Andrew *******

you are confused and the people you are listening to are misleading you

a year ago

Reply to

John **********

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