Education Visas (Non-Immigrant ED)
Current · Last updated 24/09/2026
Who can apply
The ED categories are defined by what and where you are studying. ED1 — study at elementary to secondary level. ED2 — vocational and technical study, and university diplomas below bachelor's level. ED PLUS — study at bachelor's degree level and above. ED3 — short courses in Thai or English, and Muaythai training. ED4 — attending a workshop, training or seminar organised by a Thai government agency, a foreign mission or an international organisation in Thailand. ED5 — monks, nuns and priests studying dharma in Thailand. ED6 — curricular internships, meaning an internship that forms part of your degree programme. A non-curricular internship uses the Non-Immigrant B4 category instead.
Checked 22/09/2026 against image.mfa.go.th
Current requirements
Every ED category is issued as a single entry with three months' visa validity. That is the validity of the visa itself, not the length of your course — longer study is handled by extending the stay permit at the Immigration Bureau in Thailand once you have arrived and enrolled. Unlike the business and retirement categories, no fixed baht threshold is published for ED. The stated requirement is financial evidence sufficient to cover tuition fees and living expenses, or living expenses alone for the seminar and internship categories, shown as bank statements or a sponsorship letter. The substantive gate is institutional rather than financial: you need the school, university or organiser to confirm your enrolment, and in most categories a second letter from the authority that oversees them.
Checked 22/09/2026 against image.mfa.go.th
Documents you need
Common to all: passport biodata page, a photograph taken within the last six months, a document indicating your current location, and financial evidence covering tuition and living costs. ED1 adds: a letter from the relevant authority under the Ministry of Education or from the international school, plus a letter confirming enrolment details signed by an authorised person, with a copy of that signer's ID card or passport. ED2 and ED PLUS add: a letter from the institute or university, plus the same signed enrolment confirmation with a copy of the signer's ID. ED3 adds: a letter from the relevant authority under the Ministry of Education, or from the relevant organisation including the Sports Authority of Thailand for Muaythai, plus the signed enrolment confirmation. ED4 adds: a letter from the government agency, or a note verbale from the foreign mission or international organisation in Thailand. ED5 adds: a letter from the National Office of Buddhism. ED6 adds: a letter confirming the curricular internship from your own university or educational institute, and a letter confirming your participation from the host company or international organisation.
Checked 22/09/2026 against image.mfa.go.th
What it costs
The application fee is set by each embassy in its own currency, so check the fee page of the mission handling your application. ED falls under the ordinary Non-Immigrant single-entry rate rather than any special category. Payment is made by Visa or Mastercard through the e-Visa system and is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Beyond the visa fee itself, the costs that matter are tuition and living expenses, since you have to evidence enough to cover both, and later the extension fee at the Immigration Bureau for a course lasting longer than the initial stay permit.
Checked 22/09/2026 against image.mfa.go.th
Where to apply
Through the official e-Visa system at thaievisa.go.th, to the Thai embassy or consulate covering where you live. Because the visa is issued with three months' validity, students on longer courses extend their stay permit in Thailand at the Immigration Bureau rather than reapplying abroad. Your institution normally issues the paperwork needed for each extension, which is why enrolling with a school that is properly registered with the Ministry of Education matters in practice. Approval is not automatic and the embassy may ask for an interview or further documents.
Checked 22/09/2026 against www.thaievisa.go.th, image.mfa.go.th
The ED categories are narrower than people expect. There is no general “student visa” — the category follows the exact level and type of study, and each one names the specific letters you need from the institution and from the authority above it.
The three-month validity is the other common surprise. It applies to the visa, not to your course; a year-long programme is handled by extending the stay permit in Thailand, which depends on your school being able to issue the supporting paperwork each time.
Which makes the choice of school the decision that actually matters here — and not for the reason people expect. See choosing a school that will hold your visa for what to check before paying, and the single-entry trap that costs people a whole enrolment.
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Official sources
Planning your stay
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Read next
- Choosing a school that will hold your visawhat to check before you pay
- 90-day reports and TM30the address reports every long-stay visa comes with
- Opening a Thai bank accountwhich visas the banks accept, and what to bring
- Visa cost calculatorwhich visa fits your stay, and what it costs over a year
This is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change — always check the official source linked above before making a decision.