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Which is the easiest consulate to apply for an ED Visa for studying in Thailand from neighboring countries?

ED VisaThai consulatesVisa application processLanguage courseImmigrationExpat adviceEducation VisaVisa typesNon-O Visa
May 27, 2017
8 years ago
Cody *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
ED VISA

I want to organise an ED Visa while I'm outside of Thailand next month. I will be in Indonesia but Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia or Vietnam or all possible destinations if I need to go.

Which consulate is the most straight forward? I will be doing a language course in Rayong or Pattaya.

Thanks in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original post inquires about the simplest consulate to apply for an Education (ED) Visa while in Indonesia, with potential travel to other Southeast Asian countries for the application process. Comments suggest that the choice of school is crucial as they handle the necessary paperwork for the Ministry of Education (MOE) and can recommend specific consulates based on their relationships with them. Popular consulates mentioned for visa application include Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Vientiane. It’s advised to check with the school regarding specific consulate preferences and to ensure all documentation is in order before applying.
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Tod *********
Okay, now we're starting to split hares :O and seeing as I have nothing against rabbits ;) I'm gonna turn off commenting on this one boyz & squirrellz. :)

The O/P has enough information about what is and what isn't a real university. Once you enroll in a school and get the MOE paperwork it'll either be addressed to a thai consulate or to the immigration office.
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
You need to choose the school first. The school will arrange the papers to send to the MOE (ministry of education) to get the letter you then need to give the consulate to apply for the visa. Check if the MOE the school is under needs your police record check because that makes the process longer. When you fill the papers at school they'll be able to suggest you which consulate / embassy to apply to. Once you've written the consulate on the papers you cannot apply to any others.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
down south they recently made a rule where all students enrolling in a private school needed a police background check.

Up here in Bangkok only people from some countries need to get one.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
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Manu *********
We recommend to our students to go to Penang, K. Barhu or Vientiane, no problem at the moment. The tourist visa CAN'T be converted into a ED without leaving the country if you study at a private school

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8 years ago
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Rupok ********
Private unis are private schools....
8 years ago
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Tod *********
@Rupok *******
 Right, that's what we've all been saying.

You CANNOT do a conversion to an ED visa inside the country at ANY immigration office when enrolled in a private school.

That's because the paperwork that private schools get from the Ministry of Education are addressed to a thai CONSULATE (which are all outside of thailand ;) ). The paperwork a real university gets from the MOE is addressed to the immigration dept.
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
Private unis send you to Chaengwatthana
8 years ago
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Manu *********
@Rupok *******
 ah ok

So I was right when I have said that for private school it's not possible to convert the visa
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
For unis you can change your tourist visa to ed visa but you must have to have 15 days to expire your tourist visa. And you can do it by yourself at the same day without any hassle if you have all the docs ready. Student must have to enroll at the university because after 90 days you have to be there with documents supporting that you were studying at the school or university. Thai language classes you have to leave if you're not from the big NES countries.
8 years ago
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Manu *********
@Rupok *******
 is it for students studying at the university or any student? Here in Surat Thani it's not possible
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
At chaengwatthana....
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
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Tod *********
ask your school which consulate they recommend, certain schools prefer to send their students to specific thai consulates.

In fact up here in Bangkok, most schools give you a list with a couple consulates on it and if you choose to go to another one not on the list but don't get an ED visa, you don't get a refund on your tuition
8 years ago
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Andrew ******
Just get an education visa
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
You can Change your tourist visa in chaengwattana immigration office showing proper documents and paying 2000thb. That would be for 3 months, at the 90 day report you gotta show up with your institute documents, registration copies/ transcripts and extend 90 more days.
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
This is from a decent school. You can print it online, gather your papers, then go in and they check it all over. Hope this list helps.
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
The form is tm86. Not sure about visa exempt, tourist visa can be changed
8 years ago
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Rupok ********
If it is a real school, and you have 15 days left on your visa, you can. They do your paperwork at the school, make sure you've got everything you need, some unis even have a bus to get to Chaengwatthana. You bring the correct paperwork and they change it over. You can also go out of the country to do it but it's easier to go directly from the school
8 years ago
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Teck ***********
Thanks
@Tod ********
, I know U are around, somewhere ^_^
8 years ago
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Tod *********
@Rupok *******
, that is incorrect :/

for being enrolled in a private school you CANNOT change from a 30 day visa exempt stamp or a 60 day tourist visa to a 90 day Non-ED visa at Chaengwattana.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
@Te**
, nope, not unless you're enrolled in a real university for a real degree
8 years ago
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Teck ***********
Can convert tourist visa to ED at Immigration Chaengwattana without going to a Thai Consulate outside Thailand??
8 years ago
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Cody *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks.

Is it possible to outright apply for an Education Visa at say Kuala Lumpur? I don't want to risk entering Thailand on a third consecutive exempt stamp.
8 years ago
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Cody *******
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Lloyd ********
Once you pay the money to the course provider, they will give you the paperwork for you to apply for the visa.
8 years ago
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Michael ********
Vientiane is pretty easy. Many book a package with a visa company and stay for 1 night.
8 years ago
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Cody *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm guessing I do if it's going to be 6-12 month.
8 years ago
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Lloyd ********
No, you can study on any visa
8 years ago
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Lloyd ********
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Steve *******
It depends on where and how long your course is. You dont need an ED visa to study in Thailand at private institutions
8 years ago
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Steve *******
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