The New Education Visa in Thailand: Non-ED Plus
In June 2024, the Thai Cabinet introduced a raft of new visas. Among them was the Thailand ED Plus Visa, which was specifically designed for students pursuing higher education at universities in Thailand.
What is the Thailand ED Plus Visa?
The Thailand ED Plus Visa is a type of non-immigrant Thai visa that is only available to students studying at universities or institutions in Thailand at a bachelor’s degree level or above. This is in contrast to the standard ED Visa, which is available to students at a variety of education levels.
The Plus Visa’s most noticeable feature is that it opens opportunities for graduates to seek employment, travel, and participate in other activities in Thailand after completing their studies through a 1-year extension. However, this extension can only be applied for if the university or institution submits a visa extension application on the graduate’s behalf.
The visa also allows both students and graduates to leave and re-enter Thailand as often as they please during the visa’s validity without needing to apply for a re-entry permit each time. This means that students and graduates can experience fewer visits to the immigration office when traveling back and forth from other countries and Thailand and will not need to worry about accidentally canceling their visas while doing so.
Thailand ED Plus Visa and Thailand ED Visa Differences
Though the Thailand ED Visa is the standard option for students in Thailand, the Thailand ED Plus Visa offers holders a few more benefits and security during their stay, as the table below shows:
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It is important to note that despite their differences, holders of both the Thailand ED Visa and Thailand ED Plus Visa will need to report every 90 days at the immigration office if they wish to continue pursuing their internship, education, or educational programs in Thailand.
The government has also removed the restriction prohibiting education visa holders from applying for and enjoying the free perks and benefits of a Thailand Elite Visa. By submitting a little extra paperwork, holders of both ED visas, past and present, can obtain Thailand Privilege Membership and the Elite Visa that comes with it.
Even though students now have access to the luxurious lifestyle the Thailand Elite Visa offers, they will not be able to seek employment in Thailand while holding the visa. However, this does not mean that they cannot enjoy the best Thailand has to offer while pursuing their studies.
Thailand ED Plus Visa Requirements
The requirements for the Thailand ED Plus Visa vary depending on where the student is enrolled. Even so, below is a list of the general documents that will need to be provided:
- Completed and signed visa application form
- Proof of payment of the visa application fee
- Passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining
- Recently taken passport-sized photograph (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
- Enrollment letter from the university or educational institution in Thailand and a copy of the school’s license or business registration
- Proof of financial funds, which can come in the form of:
- Bank statements
- Sponsorship letter covering tuition fees and living expenses
- Police clearance certificate
All the documents above must be in either Thai or English. If they are not, they must be translated by a certified translator and then notarized before they can be submitted.
Once all of the necessary documents have been gathered, the application process can begin at the nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the student’s home country or country of residence.
Contact Siam Legal International
If you are looking to pursue your education in Thailand but don’t know whether the standard Thailand ED Visa or the Thailand ED Plus Visa will better fit your needs, get in touch with Siam Legal International. We are a full-service law firm and visa consultancy with over 20 years of experience in helping clients from all around the world enter Thailand with the correct visa.
Our seasoned Thai immigration experts are more than qualified to identify which solution best meets your needs and guide you in applying for the correct visa.
Should you have any further questions regarding the Thailand ED Plus Visa or any other type of Thai visa, do not hesitate to contact Siam Legal.
Category: Thailand Visa
About the Author (Author Profile)
Siam Legal is an international law firm with experienced lawyers, attorneys, and solicitors both in Thailand law and international law. This Thailand law firm offers comprehensive legal services in Thailand to both local and foreign clients for Litigation such as civil & criminal cases, labor disputes, commercial cases, divorce, adoption, extradition, fraud, and drug cases. Other legal expertise of the law firm varied in cases involving corporate law such as company registration & Thailand BOI, family law, property law, and private investigation.
