Classes at Thammasat Tha Prachan are online on 12 October and from 14 to 16 October. 13 October is a public holiday. The BIR Office is closed from 12 to 16 October. Read the advisory

Getting your student visa

Apply for a Non-Immigrant ED visa from abroad, submit the TDAC before you land and carry your documents.

For international students

Responsible office Thai embassies and consulates, Immigration Bureau and the BIR office

Last checked 30 September 2026

Updated 30 September 2026

Quick answers

Which visa?
A Non-Immigrant ED visa, applied for from abroad at thaievisa.go.th. Details
When do I submit the TDAC?
Within 72 hours before you arrive. There is no departure card. Details
Can I enter on a tourist stamp or a DTV?
Not for degree study. Apply for the ED visa first. Details
On this page

Apply for a Non-Immigrant ED (education) visa from outside Thailand, after BIR has admitted you and you hold your acceptance letter. Use the visa within 90 days of the day it is issued.

Apply from abroad

Apply online at thaievisa.go.th (opens in a new tab) through the Thai embassy or consulate that serves your country. You normally need the following.

  • A passport valid for at least 6 months
  • The visa application form
  • A recent photo, 4 by 6 cm
  • The acceptance letter from the university
  • Your academic records

Each embassy sets its own checklist and fee, so read the one for your country.

The ED visa is single entry. It lets you stay up to 90 days at first. You then extend your stay in Thailand, as described in visa rules while you study.

ED Plus

Some Thai universities can issue an ED Plus visa to degree students. Holders leave and re-enter without a re-entry permit. Thammasat does not appear to issue ED Plus visas, so plan on getting a re-entry permit whenever you travel. See visa rules while you study.

Submit the TDAC before you land

Every non-Thai traveller, including children, must submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at tdac.immigration.go.th (opens in a new tab). Submit it within 3 days before you arrive, counting the day of arrival, which is up to 72 hours. There is no fee and no student exemption. Thailand no longer uses a paper departure card.

What to carry

Keep these in hand luggage, printed or saved on your phone.

  • Your passport with the ED visa
  • The immigration approval or acceptance letter you used for the visa
  • The TDAC confirmation
  • The address of your first accommodation, which the TDAC also asks for

Visas that do not cover study

Enter on the ED visa. Ask the BIR office before you enter visa-exempt or on a tourist visa and plan to change to an ED visa later. According to secondary sources, the visa-exempt stay for many nationalities is 30 days from 15 September 2026, down from 60. Check the current rule on the Immigration Bureau website.

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is for remote work and similar activities. It is not a study visa, so do not use it for BIR.

After you arrive

Follow the steps in your first two weeks. The route from the airport is in from the airport to Tha Prachan.

Related guides

  • Visa rules while you studyInternational students report their address every 90 days, need a TM30 receipt and a re-entry permit, and cannot work without a work permit.
  • Your first two weeksSet up the TU Greats app, your student card and your TU account, register for courses and go to orientation. International students have extra steps.
  • From the airport to Tha PrachanFrom Suvarnabhumi take the Airport Rail Link and MRT to Sanam Chai, from Don Mueang take the SRT Red Line and MRT, or take a taxi to the campus gate.
  • How to apply to BIRYou can apply to BIR through Inter-Portfolio 1, Inter-Portfolio 2 or TCAS 3, and the 2027 dates are set.

Sources

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