Sawatdee krap,

After three visits to the kingdom of Thailand I have finally found time to begin studying Thai language. My plan is to obtain an ED Visa here in Canada and stay in Thailand for 6 months (or even possibly 1 year). Within that term I have made plans every month for a week at a time to visit the neighboring countries by air (Vietnam, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia). I have read that I might need to study 2 hours for 4 days out of the week, is this correct?? Would I be better obtaining a 6 months TOURIST Visa? Which one is easier to get? Any response or personal experience would be a big help!!

P.S I am serious about leaning the Thai language as I think its fascinating.

You need to check with the Thai consulate, if you could obtain a multi-entry 'ED' visa then you plan would work, you could stay up to one year with mandatory border hops every 90 days, and never visit immigration in Thailand.

Otherwise if you can only obtain a single-entry, you would then have to obtain extensions of stay in Thailand, be tested and charged for mandatory study hours, thing that has become hassling and expensive.

In that case I would recommend you get instead a triple entry tourist visa in your home country, again you would have to leave every 90 days but you would have zero dependence related to immigration, schools, study hours and proficiency.

In order to obtain an ED visa you will need paperwork from a school. To obtain that paperwork will require an upfront financial investment.

I would suggest obtaining a double or triple entry tourist visa which will allow you to visit schools and to choose one which meets your needs.

Each 60 day entry which a tourist visa provides can be extended for 1900Bht at a local immigration office easily.

For ED visa I agree with Paz if you are lucky enough to get a multiple, by any means get one! You would have the choice to chose from immigration extensions or leaving the country.

Extensions of 3 months are hard to get but still do exist.

Theoretically you have to study 8 hours a week, in practice courses are really bad quality and you will feel really frustrated to attend them as you won't get much progress for your time spent,unless you go for the real courses like Chulalongkorn Uni, they are pricey but worth it as progresses are spectacular.

Edited March 8, 201511 yr by Kitsune

The school that is assisting me with obtaining the visa said to apply for a multiple entry visa. Okay I think I understand, as long as I have the multiple entry visa I can come and go as I please with in the 90 day period. I am worried that the school will not help my renew the Visa after 90 days if I have took a couple weeks off within the period.

The school that is assisting me with obtaining the visa said to apply for a multiple entry visa. Okay I think I understand, as long as I have the multiple entry visa I can come and go as I please with in the 90 day period. I am worried that the school will not help my renew the Visa after 90 days if I have took a couple weeks off within the period.

Multiple entry 'ED' visa is valid one year and you can come and go within the year. Total stay up to 15 months. After the visa is issued there are no further renewals and neither the school or anyone can have it cancelled. That would be the best solution for you if the upfront investment is reasonable.

Thank for the help guys!

I have an ED visa. That I renew here at the local immigration office. It is extended 1 month amd the two months. I went back to europe last month and had to get 1 single rentry visa. When I came back they put a 3 months visa stamp in my passport.

I went back to school and they said that the stamp given at the border is wrong. And I have to follow the old visa stamps.

Anyway I went to the immigration, paid the fees and got one month extention. while I was having a stamp from the border that is still valid.

So if I understand you right. If I go to the immigration and pay for a multiple rentry visa I only need to leave the country every 3rd month and I don't need to go to the immigration?

I paid 20 000 baht for the thai course, and every third month I pay 3200 to my school to help me with the renewal.

So if I understand you right. If I go to the immigration and pay for a multiple rentry visa I only need to leave the country every 3rd month and I don't need to go to the immigration?

No. To not go to immigration, one needs a multi-entry ED visa from a consulate abroad. Not a multiple re-entry permit.

I paid 20 000 baht for the thai course, and every third month I pay 3200 to my school to help me with the renewal.

Cost of extension is Bt 1,900 at immigration. You paid 1,300 too much.

Thank you paz!