Thailand Student Visa Process
Your step-by-step guide to the Thailand student visa application: procedures, timelines, fees, and interview preparation.
Complete Guide to Thailand Student Visa Process
Visa applications from India and Pakistan are made online at thaievisa.go.th, for an e-Visa (a visa you apply for and get online). You do not hand in your passport. The visa comes to you by email.
To study at a Thai university you need a Non-Immigrant ED visa (education visa). Degree students (bachelor's and higher) get the ED Plus type. You apply online on the Thailand e-Visa website.
Understanding the Thailand Student Visa
Know the visa types, eligibility criteria, and application timeline
Non-Immigrant ED Plus visa (degree students)
The education visa for full-time degree students at Thai universities.
• For bachelor's degree and higher.
• Full-time degree students get ED Plus.
• No re-entry permit needed to leave and come back.
Non-Immigrant ED visa (other study)
The education visa for study below a degree or for short stays.
• For school, diploma, language or short courses, and exchange students.
• India: single entry. Use it within 3 months. You may stay 90 days.
• Needs a re-entry permit before you travel out and back.
Important
To qualify for a Thailand student visa, you must meet these requirements:
A place at a Thai university
Your admission letter and a signed enrolment letter.
Money for fees and living
Bank statements or a sponsor letter that cover your tuition and living costs.
You are in India or Pakistan
You must stay in India or Pakistan while the visa is processed. Apply to the embassy or consulate that covers the place where you live.
The timing of your visa application is crucial for a smooth process.
New Students
Apply on the Thailand e-Visa website after you get your university letters. Allow about 14 working days after you pay.
Continuing Students
In Thailand, extend your stay at the immigration office at least 15 days before it ends. Mahidol University students: contact the International Relations Officer at least 15 business days before you plan to apply.
Recommendation
Thailand Student Visa Application Process
A sequential guide to applying for your student visa
- 1
Step 1: Get a place at a Thai university
The visa is for students who have a place at a Thai university.
Key points:
- Get your admission letter.
- Ask for the enrolment letter signed by a staff member allowed to sign for the university, with a copy of their ID.
Pick a university that can give you the two letters the visa needs.
- 2
Step 2: Make an account on thaievisa.go.th
Every visa from India and Pakistan is applied for online here.
Key points:
- Sign up with your email and a password.
- Open the link in the email to switch on your account.
India: Indian passports have no middle name. Leave that box empty.
- 3
Step 3: Fill in the form
Answer every question in English, as your passport shows it.
Key points:
- Choose Non-Immigrant ED as the visa type.
- Upload your passport page and photo.
- Add your personal and travel details.
Choose the office for where you live now.
- 4
Step 4: Upload your papers
Add the papers for your study and your money.
Key points:
- University letters.
- Bank statements or sponsor letter.
- Proof you are in India or Pakistan now.
Use clear JPG or PDF scans.
- 5
Step 5: Pay the fee
Your application moves only after the fee arrives.
Key points:
- India (New Delhi): bank transfer, UPI or DBS Bank deposit, then email the slip.
- Pakistan (Islamabad): cash at the embassy visa gate.
Pay carefully.
- 6
Step 6: Get and print your e-Visa
Wait about 14 working days after the fee is received.
Key points:
- The visa comes to your email.
- Show the printout at airline check-in and to immigration in Thailand.
Phone copies are not accepted.
The visa needs two letters from your university.
Key Information Included:
- The admission letter from the university.
- An enrolment letter signed by a staff member allowed to sign for the university.
- A copy of that person's ID card or passport.
- India: the letter must name your course, how long it lasts and any scholarship.
Important
The e-Visa website is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (MFA). You can apply yourself, or someone can apply for you.
Application Process:
- Make an account and confirm your email.
- Fill in the form and upload your passport page and photo.
- Upload your supporting papers.
- Pay the visa fee.
- Wait for the visa to be processed.
- Get the e-Visa by email and print it.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- India (New Delhi): bank transfer or UPI to the embassy's DBS Bank account
- India (New Delhi): cash deposit at a DBS Bank branch
- Pakistan (Islamabad): cash at the embassy
Tip
Required Documents Checklist
Prepare all necessary documents for your visa application
Organize these documents well before your visa appointment. Keep originals and make copies of important documents.
Passport photo page
A scan of the page with your photo and details.
Photo
A colour photo taken in the last 6 months. See the photo rules below.
Proof you are in India or Pakistan now
You must stay in India or Pakistan for the whole application. India: for example your Aadhaar card, rent agreement or electricity bill. Pakistan: for example a rent agreement or utility bill.
Money proof
Proof you can pay your tuition and living costs: a bank statement or a letter from a sponsor (the person who pays for you). Follow your own country's list for how many months.
Admission letter
The admission letter from the Thai university.
Enrolment letter
A letter confirming your enrolment, signed by a staff member allowed to sign for the university, with a copy of that person's ID card or passport.
These additional documents can strengthen your visa application:
Academic Documents
• Your past results (India and Pakistan): Copies of your degrees or school certificates.
• Tuition receipt (India): For India, degree students need payment slips for at least your first semester's (half a year's) tuition.
Financial Documents
• Bank statement (India): India: your bank statement for at least 6 months. With a sponsor, add the sponsor's letter, ID proof and bank statement.
• Bank statement (Pakistan): Pakistan: your original bank statement for at least 1 year, with a certified letter from the bank.
Personal Documents
• Cover letter: A short letter from you with your name, passport number, why you are going and your travel date. Pakistan needs it. India needs it too, and it must also say who pays your costs.
• CNIC copies (Pakistan): Two copies of your CNIC card (your Pakistani national ID card).
Additional Documents
• Air ticket: India: a confirmed ticket into Thailand. Pakistan: a confirmed ticket that cannot be refunded.
• Where you will stay (Pakistan): Papers showing where you will live in Thailand.
Your photo is a vital part of your visa application. Make sure it meets these specifications:
Colour photo taken in the last 6 months, JPG or JPEG, not over 3 MB.
India: 630 x 810 pixels, plain white background.
Head and top of the shoulders fill 80% to 85% of the photo.
Look straight at the camera, eyes open, natural face.
Common Photo Mistakes to Avoid:
A photo older than 6 months.
A background that is not plain white.
Shadows on the face, or hair over the eyes.
A photo taken too close to the camera.
Tip
Pro Tip: Document Organization
Scan each paper clearly as JPG or PDF before you start. Type your name exactly as it is in your passport.
Understanding Visa Fees
Complete breakdown of all costs associated with the Thailand student visa application
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, India (Non-Immigrant ED, single entry) | INR 7,000 |
| Visa fee, Pakistan (Non-Immigrant ED) | Ask the Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Karachi |
| Extension of stay in Thailand | THB 1,900 (Thai baht) each time |
Additional Potential Expenses:
Re-entry permit
A single-entry visa ends when you leave Thailand. To come back on the same visa, you need a re-entry permit (a paper that lets you leave and come back) before you go. It costs THB 1,000 for one trip out or THB 3,800 for many trips out. Degree students on ED Plus do not need one.
Late fines
Staying past your permitted date costs THB 500 for each extra day, up to THB 20,000. A late 90-day report (telling immigration where you live, every 90 days) costs THB 2,000.
India: Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi
Available payment methods:
- Bank transfer to the embassy's account at DBS Bank (a bank)
- UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
- Cash deposit at any DBS Bank branch
The embassy takes no cash at its office. Email the payment slip and the Payment Info Summary page from the e-Visa website to the email address the embassy gives. Consulates in Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai set their own ways to pay.
Pakistan: Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad
Available payment methods:
- Cash at the embassy visa gate
Bring your application confirmation. Pay on a working day, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm or 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Karachi sets its own ways to pay.
Refund Policy
Visa fees are not refunded under any circumstances, even if you withdraw the application.
Important
Visa Fee FAQs
Visa Interview Preparation
Prepare for your Thailand student visa interview with expert tips and guidance
- The embassy may ask for more papers or an interview. India: if the embassy asks for more papers, your wait gets longer.
- You can check your status any time by logging in to your account on the Thailand e-Visa website.
Tip
- Why did you choose this course in Thailand?
- Who pays your tuition and living costs?
Important
Do's:
- Apply yourself on thaievisa.go.th. It is fully online. You do not need an agent, but you can ask someone you trust to apply for you.
- Use the embassy or consulate that covers the state or city where you live now.
- Print your e-Visa and carry the paper copy.
Don'ts:
- Do not upload a fake ticket, booking or bank paper.
- Do not pay anyone who says they have contacts to get you a visa.
- Do not show the e-Visa only on your phone. It is not accepted.
Pro Tip
Keep your university letters and money papers ready. They show why you are going and how you will pay.
Visa Timelines & Application Tracking
Understand processing times and how to track your Thailand student visa application
Get your university letters
Your Thai university gives you an admission letter and an enrolment letter for the visa.
Apply on the Thailand e-Visa website
Make an account, fill in the form and upload your papers.
Pay the fee
India: bank transfer, UPI or a DBS Bank deposit for New Delhi. Pakistan: cash at the Islamabad embassy.
Wait for the decision
About 14 working days after the fee is received
The visa is sent to your email. Print it for the airline and for immigration in Thailand.
Important
Online Tracking System
Your account on the Thailand e-Visa website shows the status of each application.
- Go to thaievisa.go.th and sign in.
- Open Manage Visa Application(s).
- Choose the Check Status tab to see your application.
- When the visa is granted, it comes to your email. Print it.
Tip
Check your status online
Log in to your account on the Thailand e-Visa website and look at your application.
Answer requests for papers
If the embassy asks for more papers, upload them quickly. Clear JPG or PDF scans avoid more requests.
Ask the help desk
For problems with the online form, email [email protected].
Patience is Key
Helpful Resources & Official Links
Access official resources and additional guidance for your Thailand student visa application
Immigration Bureau of Thailand
Extension of stay, the 90-day report and re-entry permits once you are in Thailand.
Visit WebsiteStudying visas (Thailand e-Visa website)
The papers for each kind of study, including bachelor's degree and higher.
View GuideHow to apply online (e-Visa user manual)
Step by step: make an account, fill in the form, upload papers and pay.
View GuideStay Updated
Get Help With Your Thailand Student Visa
Our experts are ready to assist you with the visa application process for studying in Thailand.
Contact Us