Thailand · Student
Thailand Study visa (ED)
First stay: 1 yr, 90-day entry
Non-Immigrant Visa Category ED (study below degree level, short courses, internship)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Study visa (ED) is a student route for Thailand. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- First stay
- 1 yr, 90-day entry
Cost, time and long term
Shown, not spent฿20k+ ≈ $590
- THB 20,000 (≈ $590)Only where the embassy asks for it: the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest lists a bank statement from the past 6 months showing this minimum per person. The embassies in Vientiane and Phnom Penh ask for proof of funding without an amount.
RenewalRenewable
Immigration can extend the stay at the officer's discretion.
Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand
Presence rulesStay rule
Leaving and re-entering during the stay needs a re-entry permit.
Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in Thailand
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Private institutions need Ministry of Education approval to enrol foreign students, plus their registration certificate.
What you must show2
- Proof of funds is set by each embassy: Budapest asks for a bank statement from the past 6 months showing at least THB 20,000 (≈ $590) per person, Vientiane for proof of tuition payment and funding such as a bank statement, and Phnom Penh for financial evidence covering tuition and living costs.
- The visa fee is charged by each embassy in its own currency: THB 2,000 (≈ $59) in Vientiane, USD 80 in Phnom Penh and EUR 70 (≈ $78) in Budapest.
Documents3
- An acceptance letter from the school, institute, organiser or company is required.
- Government institutions also provide a recommendation letter addressed to the embassy.
- Seminar, training and internship applicants add Thai company documents.
After you arrive3
- The visa is valid 90 days and allows a stay of up to 90 days from entry.
- Leaving and re-entering during the stay needs a re-entry permit.
- An extension of stay can be granted for up to one year from first entry and is at the discretion of the immigration officer.
What happens at day 180
How Thailand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
3 months at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 180 days in a tax year in which the income is earnedResident for Revenue Code section 41 purposes.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (from 2024)
Foreign-source assessable income earned from 1 January 2024 is taxed in Thailand in the year it is brought into the country; income earned before 2024 is not taxed even if brought in later.
All tax rules for Thailand Tax records checked
Full official text
Education visa for full-time study below bachelor level, short training courses, student exchange and internships. 1 2 3
What you must show
- Savings of at least THB 20,000 (≈ $590) · Only where the embassy asks for it: the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest lists a bank statement from the past 6 months showing this minimum per person. The embassies in Vientiane and Phnom Penh ask for proof of funding without an amount. 1 2 3
Requirements
- Private institutions need Ministry of Education approval to enrol foreign students, plus their registration certificate. 1
- Proof of funds is set by each embassy: Budapest asks for a bank statement from the past 6 months showing at least THB 20,000 (≈ $590) per person, Vientiane for proof of tuition payment and funding such as a bank statement, and Phnom Penh for financial evidence covering tuition and living costs. 1 2 3
- An acceptance letter from the school, institute, organiser or company is required. 1
- Government institutions also provide a recommendation letter addressed to the embassy. 1
- Seminar, training and internship applicants add Thai company documents. 1
- The visa is valid 90 days and allows a stay of up to 90 days from entry. 1
- Leaving and re-entering during the stay needs a re-entry permit. 1
- An extension of stay can be granted for up to one year from first entry and is at the discretion of the immigration officer. 1 3
- The visa fee is charged by each embassy in its own currency: THB 2,000 (≈ $59) in Vientiane, USD 80 in Phnom Penh and EUR 70 (≈ $78) in Budapest. 2 3 1
Stay
- Visa valid 90 days from issue with a stay of up to 90 days from entry. An extension of stay can be granted by the Immigration Bureau for up to one year from the date of first entry, at the officer's discretion.
- Initial permitted stay: 3 months.
- Visa validity: 3 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to all nationalities.
Work
Study or training only; ED holders may not work.
Fine print
Documents and proof of funds differ by embassy; check the page of the embassy where you apply.
Official sources
- Non-Immigrant ED visa for education · Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-02-11
- Non-Immigrant "ED" and "ED Plus" visa (page updated 15 July 2024) · Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2024-07-15
- Non-Immigrant ED visa · Royal Thai Embassy, Phnom Penh · checked 2026-10-12
Study visa (ED) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study visa (ED) | – | 3 mo, renewable | No |
| Study visa (ED Plus) | – | – | No |
| Student visa Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Student visa · Non-formal Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Study visa (ED)?
Savings of at least THB 20,000 (≈ $590). Only where the embassy asks for it: the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest lists a bank statement from the past 6 months showing this minimum per person.
How long can I stay on the Study visa (ED)?
Visa valid 90 days from issue with a stay of up to 90 days from entry.
Can I work on the Study visa (ED)?
No. Study or training only; ED holders may not work.
How are Study visa (ED) holders taxed in Thailand?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Study visa (ED). The standard rules apply: A person present in Thailand for 180 days or more in a tax year is a Thai tax resident. Foreign-source assessable income earned from 1 January 2024 is taxed in Thailand in the year it is brought into the country; income earned before 2024 is not taxed even if brought in later.
More in Thailand
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Non-Immigrant ED visa for education · Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand · checked 2026-10-12
- Non-Immigrant "ED" and "ED Plus" visa (page updated 15 July 2024) · Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane · checked 2026-10-12
- Non-Immigrant ED visa · Royal Thai Embassy, Phnom Penh · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.