Answered8 years ago

What is the best visa option for attending yoga training in Koh Phangan and traveling in Thailand?

Visa options METV Multi-Entry Tourist Visa Tourist Visas Education Visas Immigration advice

Tod *********

asked Jul 11, 2018

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Carrie Brightwell posted

I'm trying to figure out the best visa option / combination for my given circumstances.

- I am attending yoga training 17th Sept - 7th Dec 2018

- Yoga school is on Koh Phangan

- Yoga school is Canadian registered and say they can't help with student visas

- I want to stay for the duration of the course and then travel to and stay in CM until early March 2019 (I need to return back to the UK)

- After this I would like the option to return back to Thailand and stay for another 6 to 12 month

Answer summary

Carrie is looking for visa options for her stay in Thailand while she attends a yoga training course from September to December 2018, followed by travel until early March 2019. The school cannot assist her in acquiring a student visa, prompting her to seek alternative options. Comments suggested obtaining a 6-month Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) from a Thai consulate in her home country before arriving, followed by single-entry tourist visas for extended stays.

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Jeremy ********

You can always get a 6 month METV from Perth Australia thai consulate if you meet all the requirements and check all the boxes...

8 years ago

Tod *********

If the school can't help you with an ED visa it means they're not approved by the Ministry of Education in Thailand to offer ED visas to students.

That means your best choice is getting that 6 month METV from the thai consulate BEFORE you wing your way here and then getting single entry tourist visas from the thai consulates in the area after that.

Just so you know you can't get the 6 month METV from any thai consulate in S/E Asia.

Good Luck, (y)

8 years ago

Carrie ************

Thank

@Tod ********

, I was definitely planning on getting before. And I'm pleased you were able to say why the yoga school couldn't help - I did wonder and now I know 👍

8 years ago

Tod *********

You can get a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa from a thai consulate in your country before you come here. That will give you about 9 months in country (in 60 day increments & with a 30 day extension).

After that you can go to a thai consulate in a nearby country and get a single entry tourist visa. That will stamp you in for 60 days and you can extend that by 30 more days at the immigration office for 1900baht.

8 years ago

Carrie ************

After my initial 60 I will go to Samui for my 30 ext then I’ll do a boarder cross. It’s good to know I can do Malaysia in a day. If I didn’t want to come back to KP do you know what my other options are? I intend to make my way to CM eventually so I’m wondering if cost wise it would be better to just head that way anyway rather than a return back to KP. Cheers Sophie.

8 years ago

Sophie *******

There are lots of border run services from Koh Phangan that can take you by minibus to Malaysia and back in one day. This gets you 30 days then you can go to samui 2 more times making the total 90 days.

8 years ago

Carrie ************

@Tod ********

This is really helpful, thank you! My next question then is, from Koh Phangan what are my border crossing options after my 60 + 30 days? I need to figure out how many days I need to have available from the 30 day extension to ensure I have enough time to leave the country so I can get my next 60 days. Is this a question for another group? Happy to post it there instead :)

8 years ago

Carrie ************

@Sop***

, thanks for this info, I'll make sure I have one. Seem's crazy that someone who is able to travel for 6 months must have a job who's willing to let them go! Most people leave their jobs to do that, right? 😅

8 years ago

Sophie *******

I tried to get a multiple entry visa from London Thai embassy before, it is a requirement that you have a letter from your current employer in the UK, giving you permission to leave and confirming you are employed in the UK. I didn’t have this so couldn’t get the multiple entry, just a heads up to sort that out before you get there.

8 years ago