Visa For Becoming A Monk

[think87]

Hello

I plan on leaving to ordain as a monk sometime next year. i was wondering what kind of visa i will need to enter with and how to go about doing so. ive been told to enter with an extendable non - imigrant visa or something of the sort as a tourist visa will cause me many problems Can anyone tell me what the best course would be and how i would go about getting this type os visa. is it hard to get a a non imigrant visa for religious perposes?

thank you

[sabaijai]

Hello

I plan on leaving to ordain as a monk sometime next year. i was wondering what kind of visa i will need to enter with and how to go about doing so. ive been told to enter with an extendable non - imigrant visa or something of the sort as a tourist visa will cause me many problems Can anyone tell me what the best course would be and how i would go about getting this type os visa. is it hard to get a a non imigrant visa for religious perposes?

thank you

Non-Immigrant R (religious), Non-Immigrant O (other) or Non-Immigrant ED (education) visa. It doesn't matter which, and is largely up to the Thai embassy/consulate staff where you apply. I believe the ED is the one most commonly issued for this purpose. I never met any foreign monk who arrived on an R visa but I've heard that some do.

You'll need a letter from the abbot of the monastery where you will ordain to show to the Thai consulate or embassy in your home country. The embassy/consulate will issue a single-entry 90-day visa. Once you're in Thailand you should report to immigration within 90 days to extend your stay for a full year.

Thai govt explanation

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The R visa is complicated because the Department of Religious Affairs needs to authorize the Thai Embassy or Consulate and that is a very slow process. Go for the Non-Immigrant O or ED.

[Maizefarmer]

Easiest way - come on a 30 day stamp (nothing to stop you doing this) - ordain, and renew 2 times - before the 3rd time is up apply for an R, O or ED - haven't a clue which will be easiest. Getting a visa to stay as an ordained monk (with some months behind you) will go a lot smoother than trying to get it all before you've made the committement.

All the best Phra Farang

MF

[think87]

Non-Immigrant R (religious), Non-Immigrant O (other) or Non-Immigrant ED (education) visa. It doesn't matter which, and is largely up to the Thai embassy/consulate staff where you apply. I believe the ED is the one most commonly issued for this purpose. I never met any foreign monk who arrived on an R visa but I've heard that some do.

You'll need a letter from the abbot of the monastery where you will ordain to show to the Thai consulate or embassy in your home country. The embassy/consulate will issue a single-entry 90-day visa. Once you're in Thailand you should report to immigration within 90 days to extend your stay for a full year.

Thai govt explanation

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. i will try for the ED visa, as it sounds like the best choice.

The R visa is complicated because the Department of Religious Affairs needs to authorize the Thai Embassy or Consulate and that is a very slow process. Go for the Non-Immigrant O or ED.

Well im sure not going for that one! thanks for the help. i will definatley go for the ED.

Easiest way - come on a 30 day stamp (nothing to stop you doing this) - ordain, and renew 2 times - before the 3rd time is up apply for an R, O or ED - haven't a clue which will be easiest. Getting a visa to stay as an ordained monk (with some months behind you) will go a lot smoother than trying to get it all before you've made the committement.

All the best Phra Farang

MF

hmmm. that is what i was planning on until i was told im at all possible get the non-imigrant because you dont have to keep leaving the country. but if i cannot get the ED visa i will just enter that way. but from the sound of it if i have the letter from the abbot i dont see the problem.

also - "phra farang" was a great book

Lastly, can someone explain the difference between these two needed documents?

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED **

1. The applicants must submit the following relevant documents depending on the purpose of their visit.

- Three Visa application form completely filled out

- Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months and its copy

- Four 4 x 6 cm full-faced , bareheaded photos taken within the past six months

- Transcript / Letter of acceptance from the concerned schools/universities or institutes ("ED")

- Official Note certifying the purpose of travel from the Government Agencies /Embassies and Consulates / International Organizations / State Enterprises inThailand. ("F" / "B" / "ED" / "M" / "R")

[Grover]

Try and get your non imm R visa before you enter Thailand. Trying to get a non-imm R visa from inside Thailand is a huge hassle, involving many letters, signatures, and traveling all over the place to get sigs. Or, you can hope that your temple will help organize it for you.

There is a little green booklet at the Department of religious affairs at Putamonton that describes the requirements of this visa in detail. It is in Thai. You need a letter from these people to give to imm before they issue the appropriate visa.

Good luck.

[Chang_paarp]

It all depends whee you are planning to ordain.

Some places like Wat Pah Nanachat in Wainchumpat have a long lead time before you ordain. If you are going there it would be best to get a 12 month multi entry if you can or a multiple tourist visa. It saves the border runs. In the case of WPN they look after the religous visa once you ordain. They have the system down pat as they do it regularly, some other places may not be as familiar with the paperwork.

If on the other hand you are going to a place that ordains quickly a 30 day stamp on entry or a 60 day tourist visa should do.

[astral]

Please check with the Wat where you plan to ordain.

Do they take foreigners?

What is the procedure regarding visas.

In the past some unscrupulous men have used the monkhood to obtain a visa

extension and and then departed the very next day...................

[think87]

It all depends whee you are planning to ordain.

Some places like Wat Pah Nanachat in Wainchumpat have a long lead time before you ordain. If you are going there it would be best to get a 12 month multi entry if you can or a multiple tourist visa. It saves the border runs. In the case of WPN they look after the religous visa once you ordain. They have the system down pat as they do it regularly, some other places may not be as familiar with the paperwork.

If on the other hand you are going to a place that ordains quickly a 30 day stamp on entry or a 60 day tourist visa should do.

Your right! wat pah nanachat is where i am going. ive always loved ajahn chahs teaching.

[Grover]

Please check with the Wat where you plan to ordain.

Do they take foreigners?

What is the procedure regarding visas.

In the past some unscrupulous men have used the monkhood to obtain a visa

extension and and then departed the very next day...................

I think that after a foreign monk disrobes, his monk visa is immediately and technically no longer valid.

But the OP says he is going to wat pa nanachart and I think they will take care of any visa issues for him. Probably best to contact the temple directly and let them know of your intentions, any questions like "do I need to prepare anything or set anything in order before I come?" etc. Good Luck