What visa options are available for my children if my wife and I are on an ED visa in Thailand?

ED Visa Dependent Visa Child Visa Visa Options for Families Immigration Rules Thailand

Oct 18, 2021

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

If my wife and I plan to spend the next year in Thailand studying Thai on an ED visa what visa options do we have for our children? They are aged 3,5 and 7.  We will home school our 5 and 7 year old this year. Can they get a dependent visa? Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

When planning to enroll your children while you and your wife are on an ED visa in Thailand, it's important to understand that technically, everyone, including children, requires a visa. For children under 15, there are no fines for overstaying. However, if your children overstay their visa status, they will not be able to apply for any type of visa within Thailand. This could pose risks if you later decide to formalize their stay. The context highlights that while homeschooling is an option, enrolling children in a formal educational setting could lead to more straightforward visa arrangements.

Tod *********

The only down side of letting kids overstay is the second they do go on overstay they can't get ANY visa issued inside the country.

3 years ago

Daniel *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

so we’d have to leave and apply for a new visa (TR or dependent) outside the country! Hopefully by next summer travel and embassies will be somewhat back to “normal”!

3 years ago

Reply to

Daniel *********

Benjamin ******

Technically, EVERYONE needs a visa. However, for children under 15 years old, there is no punishments, or fines, for being on overstay. Since a person (you and your wife) can only study Thai language for a year on an ED visa, and you are not going to enroll them in a school, my opinion is to leave them on overstay.

3 years ago

Daniel *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

will it affect us when I apply for work permit next year? Thanks!

3 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Daniel ********

You can't work on an ED visa. Are you using an agent?

3 years ago

Daniel *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

no I don’t plan to work these next ten months. Taking ten months to just study Thai. But next year, after 10 months…will be hoping to applying for work permit.

3 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Daniel ********

My opinion: think about getting a Non-B visa/ work permit later. Things are still in flux here in Thailand, and the rules 10 months from now will be different.

3 years ago

Tod *********

@Daniel ********

won't affect you in the least and remember a work permit doesn't let you STAY in thailand it lets you work here with the correct visa. You'll have to switch off the ED visa/extension and get the correct Non-B visa to work. BUT that's down the road a bit.

3 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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Can I bring my wife and child with me on an ED visa to Thailand?

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