Student visa for Thailand, for students from Indonesia

Students need a Non-Immigrant visa, category ED or ED Plus. You apply online through the Thai e-Visa system at thaievisa.go.th, with an acceptance letter from your Thai institution.

Which one you need. According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest:

• ED: full-time study below bachelor's level, short training courses, exchanges and internships. The visa is valid for 90 days from issue, and each entry gives up to 90 days' stay.
• ED Plus: full-time study for a bachelor's degree or higher. ED Plus holders do not need a re-entry permit to leave and return during their studies, and may stay for one year after graduating.

The fee is set by each embassy in local currency and is non-refundable: US$80 in Washington DC, €70 in Budapest, SGD 100 in Singapore.

The money: there is no single national figure. Each embassy publishes its own requirement, and they differ widely:

• Washington DC and Los Angeles: bank statements for the last three months with an ending balance of at least US$4,000 each month for degree study
• Singapore: a balance of at least SGD 3,000 or THB 75,000 over three months
• Budapest (ED Plus): a bank statement for the past six months showing at least THB 20,000

Use the figure published by the embassy or consulate where you will apply, and do not rely on a figure from another country's page.

Apply early. Washington asks for applications at least 30 working days before travel, Singapore at least 21 working days, Los Angeles at least 15 working days.

After arrival. Your 90-day entry is extended at an immigration office for the length of your studies. Assumption University quotes the extension fee at 1,900-1,960 baht, with transcripts, registration receipt, your Thailand Digital Arrival Card copy and address notification forms. Every foreigner on a Non-Immigrant visa staying more than 90 days must also report their address to Immigration every 90 days, within 14 days before or 7 days after the due date.