Legal and Visa Updates

One of the advantages of the ED Visa is you can remain in the country without the constant threat of overstaying. Another advantage is, the Thai authorities recommend this method of a long stay visa. Not to mention, the ED Visa greatly enhances your experience and makes it easier for you to live here.  Students on the Ed Visa will further their knowledge of Thai culture and language and this Ed Visa will enable students to stay in Thailand as a student for up to ten years.

The way the process works is a qualified school, such as the CTLS Language School in Pattaya, issues the 25 pages or so of documents to the student, who then applies for the visa at one of the Thai consulates outside of the Kingdom. The student is then issued a temporary three month ED Visa and more documents are then submitted to the MOE for approval of a12 month extension, payable every 90 days at a cost of 1,900 baht.

For many visitors here that wish to stay long term, but don’t have a work permit or some other kind of long term visa such as a retirement visa, the ED Visa is a wonderful alternative. With all the changing rules by the Immigration Department, the ED visa is seen by many as a lifesaver. This truth has certainly come to light now that the free tourist visas were discontinued on March 5.

There are many other advantages to having the ED Visa, one of them being the ability to purchase insurance, receive a drivers’ license and get a bank account with a debit card.

The better schools can offer education visas for up to ten years, but not all schools are the same. The CTLS Language School has highly trained and experienced Thai language teachers and other courses that have already been approved and licensed. CTLS Language School has courses still in the planning stages, such as music, cooking, makeup and Khon dancing.

Those that wish to acquire an ED Visa must enroll in an MOE certifed school such as CTLS Language School. CTLS is one of the schools who graciously gives 100% back to the community in the form of scholarships and fundraisers. Their course is 180 hours, 4 hours per week with two hour lessons twice a week. With these classes, you will greatly enhance your experience living here in the kingdom. The Thai people really appreciate when foreigners put an effort into learning about anything that is Thai related.

Speaking from experience, learning to speak and read Thai with CTLS, my life in Thailand has is much improved. I’m not such an outsider, because I can communicate with the people, and they see me as a person, not just a foreigner with an unknown agenda. I cannot even imagine living here and not being able to speak the language, and I wouldn’t want to move and start all over in another country. Thailand is home and the Thai people are my friends. Learning Thai at CTLS has been instrumental in making this a reality.

If you are interested in learning to speak, read and write Thai give CTLS a call on  038 416 891.