A Thailand student visa for an Indian student is the Non-immigrant ED, applied for on thaievisa.go.th at INR 7,000 for a single entry and decided by the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi or the consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in about 10 working days. It gives 90 days of stay on arrival, and the Immigration Bureau extends it one year at a time for THB 1,900 while the university or school confirms enrolment and attendance. Tuition at Chulalongkorn, Mahidol or Thammasat runs THB 100,000 to 400,000 a year for English-taught programmes, students show THB 20,000 per person in funds on the e-Visa file, and the visa carries no work rights.
The compact version with the price card and checklist is on the Thailand student visa route page. This is the long version, written around an August intake.
Who qualifies for a Thailand Non-immigrant ED visa?
Anyone holding an acceptance letter from a Thai institution recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation or the Ministry of Education: degree programmes at public and private universities, exchange semesters, places at international schools, licensed Thai-language schools and vocational and culinary courses. Indian students most often enrol in English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes at Chulalongkorn, Mahidol, Thammasat, Kasetsart, Chiang Mai and the Asian Institute of Technology, in medicine and dentistry at private universities, and in international school years for families relocating to Bangkok.
The institution issues the admission letter and, for universities, a letter from the registrar or international office addressed to the embassy confirming the programme, duration and tuition paid. Language schools must hold a Ministry of Education licence, and immigration checks attendance at each extension; the Immigration Bureau tightened ED extensions for language students in 2024 and 2025, so a school with a poor record can cost you a renewal. Students under 18 at international schools need a parent on a Non-immigrant O guardian visa or a Thai guardian.
How much money must I show?
The e-Visa file needs bank statements showing THB 20,000 per person, about INR 55,000, for the last three months, in the student's or a parent's name with a relationship document. Universities separately require proof that the first semester's tuition has been paid or that funds are available for it, and immigration applies the same THB 20,000 figure when extending. Living costs in Bangkok are THB 15,000 to 25,000 a month for a student sharing accommodation, lower in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. Indian education loans are accepted when the sanction letter accompanies the statements.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-immigrant ED visa, single entry | INR 7,000 | Online on thaievisa.go.th; not refunded |
| Extension of stay, 1 year | THB 1,900 | At the Immigration Bureau |
| Re-entry permit | THB 1,000 single; THB 3,800 multiple | If leaving Thailand mid-stay |
| 90-day report | Free | Online or in person |
| Tuition (public university, English programme) | THB 100,000 to 400,000 a year | Paid to the university |
| Health insurance | About THB 10,000 to 20,000 a year | Required by most universities |
Vistolane charges the INR 7,000 government fee as listed and shows the university and insurance costs separately on the Thailand destination page.
How does the application run?
- Accept the offer and pay the deposit; the university issues the admission letter and the registrar's letter to the embassy, usually within two to four weeks.
- Create an account on thaievisa.go.th, choose "Non-immigrant ED", upload the passport, photo, admission and registrar's letters, three months of statements, academic certificates and the residence proof for your state.
- Pay INR 7,000 online; the embassy or consulate reviews the file in about 10 working days and may ask for further documents.
- File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within three days before departure and enter within the three-month validity; the officer stamps 90 days.
- Before day 90, apply at the Immigration Bureau with form TM7, the university's extension letter, enrolment certificate and THB 1,900 for a one-year extension; file the 90-day report every 90 days.
How long does it take for an August intake?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Admission and letters | 2 to 4 weeks after the deposit |
| e-Visa processing | About 10 working days |
| Travel | Within 3 months of issue |
| First extension | Before day 90, same-day decision |
Start six to eight weeks before the semester begins in August or January; medical and dental programmes with interviews need three months. Students who arrive on the 30-day visa exemption cannot convert to ED status inside Thailand in most provinces, so the visa must be issued in India before travel. International school families often file the child's ED visa together with a parent's Non-immigrant O guardian visa so that both can be extended on the same day each year.
Working, dependants and what comes after
The Non-ED visa carries no work rights, and Thailand's list of occupations reserved for nationals bars most part-time jobs regardless. Paid internships need a Non-immigrant B visa and a work permit arranged by the host company; university-approved unpaid placements are tolerated. The Immigration Bureau checks attendance records at every extension, and language schools must report students who miss classes; a student who drops below the school's attendance threshold is usually refused the next year and given seven days to leave. Spouses and children can join on Non-immigrant O visas at INR 7,000 each, extended with the student, as the Thailand family visa guide explains.
Graduates who find a Thai employer switch to a Non-B visa and work permit, usually with a visa run to Vientiane or Penang or, for some categories, by changing status at the Immigration Bureau; the Thailand work visa guide covers the THB 50,000 salary rule and the THB 2 million capital test. Graduates of top universities with offers above THB 1.2 million a year can also look at the SMART visa.
Why are Thailand student visas refused, and what fixes each reason?
Institution not recognised. A language school without a licence or a course not approved by the ministry. Choose institutions on the ministry registers and ask for the licence number before paying.
Funds not shown. Statements under THB 20,000 or a lump sum deposited just before applying. Hold the balance for three months and add a parent's statements with a relationship document.
Attendance or study doubted. Repeated ED extensions at language schools with little progress. Keep attendance above the school's threshold and carry test results to the extension interview.
Documents mismatched. The admission letter names a different programme or dates from the registrar's letter. Have the university reissue consistent letters before uploading.
Wrong jurisdiction or expired validity. Filing with the wrong consulate or entering after the three-month validity. Use the mission for your state and travel within the validity window.
How Vistolane handles it
Vistolane prepares the e-Visa file with the university's letters, files it for the correct mission and charges the INR 7,000 fee as listed; study consultants run whole intakes through the same workspace. Start with the free eligibility check or the Thailand student visa route page. Students comparing destinations can read the Malaysia Student Pass guide, the Singapore Student's Pass guide and the Japan student visa guide.
