ED Visa Requirements in Thailand: What You Actually Need
For a student visa in Phuket you need three things from your side: a passport, a valid entry stamp and a TM.30 registration. No income proof, no bank statements, no tickets, no insurance. The school prepares everything else. Here is the list, the order things happen in, and the mistakes that cost people time and money.
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What you bring to the school
| Document | Requirement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for longer than the visa you want | If it expires sooner, extensions stop at the passport's expiry date |
| Entry stamp | Ideally 30-45 days left | Fewer? Message us; it is almost always solvable |
| TM.30 | Proof of address registration | Your landlord or hotel files it; if not, we do it for 800 ฿ |
Photos, forms, school letters and the immigration application are on us. You check the details and sign.
What you will not be asked for
This is the ED visa's biggest advantage over other long-term options:
- no bank statement or minimum balance;
- no proof of income or employment;
- no return ticket or hotel booking;
- no health insurance;
- no age limits for adults.
Compare: a retirement visa needs 800,000 ฿ in a Thai bank, a marriage visa 400,000 ฿, and a DTV 500,000 ฿.
Why your stamp and timing matter most
Since 15 September 2026, visa-free entry for most nationalities is 30 days instead of 60. For a student visa that is critical: you need at least 15 days left on your stamp at the first immigration visit, and about two weeks pass between the school visit and immigration.
So the plan is simple: land, then message us within your first week. If your days are already running low, we first extend your visa exemption by 30 days and then process the ED visa without pressure.
The process: two visits, about a month
- School, day 1. Bring your passport and TM.30. We check your documents and you pay cash on the spot. No online prepayment.
- Immigration, about two weeks later. You hand over your passport and the 13,000 ฿ immigration fee (included in the package). Our staff member goes with you. The visit takes about 10 minutes.
- Visa ready, about four weeks in. You collect your passport at immigration.
- Every 90 days. A 10-minute immigration visit for your extension, already paid for.
This is the route for people already in Thailand. If you are still planning your trip, message us first and we will tell you when to arrive so you have enough days.
What immigration checks now
Student visas are checked much more closely than a few years ago. According to Thai media, about 10,000 students had their permission to stay revoked in August 2025.
In practice that means:
- the school must be licensed and established. We have worked since 2013 and more than 3,000 people have gone through us;
- at each extension the school reports your study hours.
If you plan to renew two or three times in a row, a package with classes makes sense: immigration questions are easier, and your next visa is safer.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the last minute. With a 30-day exemption, your buffer disappears fast, and you need 15 days on the stamp at the first visit.
- No TM.30. Immigration will not accept the file without it. Check with your landlord, or tell us and we will help.
- Leaving without a re-entry permit. Any trip abroad without one cancels your visa. A single permit is 2,000 ฿ with us, multiple 5,000 ฿.
- An expiring passport. If it runs out before the visa would, renew it first.
Summary
For an ED visa in Phuket you need a passport, an entry stamp and TM.30; the school handles the rest. There is no financial requirement, which makes it the most accessible long-term visa in Thailand. Timing is what matters now: visa-free stays are down to 30 days, and you need at least 15 days on your stamp at the first immigration visit. Message us in your first week and the whole process takes about a month and two short visits.
Send a photo of your passport page and stamp on WhatsApp. Within 5 minutes we will tell you whether you have enough days and where to start. Prices for each option are in ED visa price.
