International Students Office

Education (ED) Visa Guidelines

For the Province of Phuket

Under Current Situation – as of August 1st, 2022

During the pandemic and while the borders were closed, Thai embassies and consulates throughout the world stopped issuing all types of visa. Most have now reopened for business and tourism, but are not yet issuing education (ED) visas.

The only guaranteed way to obtain an ED visa at the moment is to have it issued in Thailand. To do so you need to enter Thailand with visa-exemption (issued on arrival at the airport) or a tourist visa (issued by a Thai embassy or consulate).

If you enter with a visa exemption it will be granted for 30 days. You can then extend it for a further 30 days at an immigration office. This provides ample time to apply for an ED visa.

If you enter with a tourist visa it will be granted for 60 days, which you can then extend for a further 30 days at an immigration office. This also provides ample time to apply for an ED visa.

Please contact BHLS Admissions Office for full details if you would like to obtain an education (ED) visa. 

Note: It is only possible to switch from a tourist visa to an ED visa within Thailand. It is NOT possible to switch from a special tourist visa, non-immigrant ‘B’ visa or a volunteer visa.

Under Normal Situation

The process detailed below relates to normal circumstances, whereby you can have an education (ED) visa issued by your nearest Thai embassy or consulate before traveling to Thailand. This is NOT possible at present. Please see above for the current process.

Apply for Education (ED) Visa in Thailand

This is for students who are already in Thailand and want to study with BHLS and need an education (ED) visa. Students will need to leave Thailand to a nearby country to apply for the education (ED) visa at the Thai embassy or consulate and re-enter Thailand.

Step 1: Enroll with BHLS.

Step 2: Confirm your enrollment by paying 50% of the tuition fee.

Step 3: Complete BHLS education visa application form.

Please provide the following to BHLS:

• your original passport with T.M.6 form
• 8 passport photos (white background)
• personal details (address in Thailand, phone number, monthly budget, etc.) to be filled a form

Step 4: After 1 business day, please return to BHLS to sign your completed application.

BHLS will apply for your visa documents at the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Step 5: After 2-4 weeks, BHLS will call you when your visa documents are received. You may pick up your documents at any time during business hours. Any tuition fee balance must be paid at this time.

Step 6: You must apply for your education (ED) visa at a Thai Embassy or consulate outside of Thailand. Arrange your trip to a Thai embassy or consulate outside Thailand. You can book one of the many visa run tours or arrange your own transportation and accommodation.

Step 7: Apply for your education (ED) visa at a Thai embassy or consulate using these documents:

• your passport
• passport photos (11 photos with white background)
• school documents (license and letter) provided by BHLS
• BHLS tuition fee receipt
• completed application form provided by BHLS
• other documents (depends on the Thai embassy or consulate where you apply for the education (ED) visa. BHLS may assist you with verifying the necessary documents upon request)

Step 8: After 1-2 days, pick up your passport with your new education (ED) visa and return to Thailand.

Step 9: Bring your passport to BHLS Student Service Office so we can make a copy and verify your visa with the MoE. Extra passport photos are needed to apply for visa extensions.

Apply for Education (ED) Visa Before Traveling

Step 1: Enroll with BHLS.

Step 2: Confirm your enrollment by paying 50% of the tuition fee.

Step 3: Complete BHLS education visa application form.

Step 4: Email BHLS a scan of your passport.

Step 5: After 1 business day, BHLS will email you the completed application to be printed, signed, scanned and emailed back to us. Once BHLS receives it back BHLS will apply for your visa documents at the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Step 6: After 2-4 weeks, BHLS will email you when your visa documents have been received. Any tuition fee balance must be paid at this time, along with the courier fee for BHLS to send the original documents to you.

Step 7: Apply in person or mail your application to a Thai embassy or consulate (in your country) using these documents:

• your passport
• passport photo (11 photos with white background)
• school documents (license and letter) provided by BHLS
• BHLS tuition fee receipt
• completed application form provided by BHLS
• other documents (depends on the Thai embassy or consulate where you apply for the education (ED) visa. BHLS may assist you with verifying the necessary documents upon request)

Step 8: After 1-10 days, you will receive your passport with your new education (ED) visa. And you can now enter Thailand with your education (ED) visa.

Step 9: Bring your passport to BHLS Student Service Office so we can make a copy and verify your visa with the MoE. We will also need extra passport photos for visa extensions.

Refusal and Refund: If you fail to obtain your visa, you will receive a refund of the total amount , except for the 200 USD registration fee, after BHLS receives written documentation from the Thai embassy or consulate of your visa denial.

• a passport or travel document with at least 6-month validity from the planned date of arrival in Thailand
• a completed TM 87 Thai Visa Application form
• 2 passport-sized photos (4 x 6 cm) taken within the last 6 months
  • white background
  • you must have a neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
  • your entire face must be fully visible
  • headgear is only allowed for religious purposes and even then, only if it does not cover the face
  • glasses are allowed only if they do not cover your eyes and do not have heavy frames
• admission letter from BHLS
• evidence of enrolment (receipts of tuition fee payments)
• course description
• school registration documents
• finance requirement: need to show that you have a minimum bank balance of $500.00 for every 90 days of your visa application

• Contact the Thailand Embassy or Consulate where you will submit the visa application. You can also visit their website if one is available. Learn about the opening hours, working days, and their preferred method of paying for the visa fee.
• Make an appointment, if one is required.
• Collect the required documents for a Thai Student Visa.
• Submit the documents and visa application. Depending on which Embassy/Consulate you apply in, you can submit the application:
  • In-person
  • Through the post, in which case you have to enclose a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope
• Wait for the application to be processed.
• Collect the passport and visa. If you applied by mail, they will be mailed back to you.

If your Thailand Student Visa is approved, you have to enter the country within the time stated on your visa, otherwise, it will expire.

When your student visa is approved and you have paid your fees, you may book your flight ticket.

Kindly contact BHLS Admissions Office to arrange your arrival date before purchasing the flight ticket.

The Admissions Office will prepare an arrival plan once the student purchases the flight ticket to Bangkok airport, where BHLS staff will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to La Xenia Hotel.

Upon arriving in Thailand, the Registrar will send information of class schedule, training plan, resources (if any), guidelines of Registrar, etc. to students.

Your International Education Experience Has Began …

A Thailand Student Visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days for a single entry or multiple entries.

Even though your course of study is most likely at least one year, you’ll still get a 90-day visa.

However, before your visa is up, you can apply to extend it at the Thailand Immigration Department for a fee of 2,000 Thai Baht.

You have to extend it every 90 days before the expiry of the existing visa.

Every foreigner who is staying in Thailand long-term has to report their address at the Immigration Department of Thailand every 90 days. This practice is necessary for all visa holders, regardless of the category of visa they’ve got. Failure to report your stay can lead to a fine of about 2,000 Thai Baht, and even the endangerment of your visa

When you report your address in Thailand, you need to have the following documents:

• Your valid passport
• Photocopies of the relevant pages on your passport:
• Your personal information
• Your current Thai Visa
• The latest entry stamp
• The latest Thai Visa Extension (if applicable)
• 90-Day Report Notification form, completed and signed (TM.47)
• A photocopy of the front and back of your arrival/departure card (TM.6)
• A copy of your previous 90-day slip (if you had one)
• If applying through registered mail: A self-addressed envelope along with a 10 Thai Baht postage stamp.

BHLS will assist students will this process.

Upon the request of an international student, BHLS will assist in securing a translator if needed.

BHLS will assistance students with purchasing proper Thai health insurance from a list of approved Thai health insurance providers.

Students must purchase Thai health insurance within 3 months upon arrival.  BHLS encourages students to purchase health insurance as soon as they arrive into Thailand.

If students need assistance with purchasing local telephone# or opening a bank account etc. they may request assistance from BHLS Student Services Office.