FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Student Visa (ED Visa)
In some cases, it is possible to change from a Tourist Visa to a Non-Immigrant ED Visa while staying in Thailand, subject to the requirements and approval of Thai Immigration.
If you are eligible, ALA can assist with the required school and ED Visa documentation for the application. You must have sufficient time remaining on your current permitted stay when submitting the application.
Please note that in-country visa conversion is not guaranteed. Eligibility and approval depend on your nationality, current immigration status, supporting documents, and the requirements of Thai Immigration at the time of application.
If you are currently in Thailand, please provide ALA with your nationality, current visa type, and the expiry date of your permitted stay so we can advise you on the appropriate process.
The processing time depends on your nationality, current visa status, and whether you apply for the ED Visa from outside Thailand or change your visa status while in Thailand.
For most students, we recommend allowing approximately 4–6 weeks for the overall process.
Typical process with ALA:
– Enrollment & document preparation – We assist you with the required documents and application process.
– Ministry of Education (MOE) approval – The required school documents are prepared and submitted for approval.
– ED Visa application – Once the required documents are ready, you can proceed with the visa application through the appropriate Thai Embassy/Consulate or Immigration Office, depending on your situation.
– Visa issuance / status change – Processing time can vary depending on the applicant’s nationality, documents, and the relevant government office.
⏰ Important: Some nationalities require additional documents, such as a Police Clearance Certificate, local bank account and lease agreement which can make the process considerably longer. Therefore, we recommend starting the process as early as possible.
At ALA Language School, our team will guide you through each step and explain the required documents, timeline, tuition fees, and visa-related procedures before you begin.
📍 ALA Language School – Bangkok
Sukhumvit 13, Bangkok
Between BTS Nana and BTS Asoke
If you tell us your nationality and your current visa status in Thailand, we can advise you on the expected timeline and the appropriate ED Visa process for your situation.
To apply for an ED Visa for language program, you are generally required to prepare the following documents and fees:
– Valid Passport
– Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), where applicable
– E-Tourist Visa approval letter, if applicable
– Recent passport-size photograph — 3.5 × 4.5 cm, with a white background and appropriate formal attire
– Police Clearance Certificate from the Royal Thai Police and/or a Criminal Record Certificate/Report from the applicant’s home country, if required for the applicant’s nationality
– Tuition fee and Documentation fee
Please note: Additional documents may be required depending on the student’s nationality, current visa status, place of application, and the requirements of the relevant Thai government authorities or Thai Embassy/Consulate.
ALA Language School will advise each student of any additional documents required and guide you through the ED Visa application process.
In general, students may apply for a Thai Non-Immigrant ED Visa from outside Thailand before traveling to Thailand. ALA will prepare the required school and Ministry of Education documents to support the application.
However, overseas ED Visa application rules may vary depending on the student’s nationality and the country of application. Certain nationalities may not be permitted to apply for an ED Visa from overseas, and the requirements and procedures may be changed by the Thai authorities from time to time.
Therefore, students should contact ALA before making any payment or travel arrangements to confirm the latest requirements and whether they are currently eligible to apply from their country.
Once the ED Visa has been approved and issued, students can travel to Thailand and begin their studies at ALA according to their designated class schedule.
Please note that ALA can assist with the required school documents and application process, but ED Visa approval is determined solely by the relevant Thai government authority.
Yes. Students are required to apply for their ED Visa extension in person at Thai Immigration before their current permission to stay expires.
ALA will assist you throughout the extension process and prepare the required school documents for your visa extension. When your current permission to stay is approaching its expiration date, please contact ALA. Our team will explain the extension process, required documents, and the appropriate timing.
Please note that an ED Visa does not automatically extend. Students must complete the extension process with Thai Immigration, and the final decision to approve the extension is made solely by Thai Immigration.
ALA will guide and support you throughout the process to help ensure that you are properly prepared for your extension application.
ED Visa extensions must be submitted in person to the Immigration Office responsible for your area of residence. Therefore, if you are staying outside Bangkok, you may be able to apply for your extension at the Immigration Office that covers your area.
However, ALA students are required to follow the Immigration Office and procedures applicable to their registered residence and individual case. Please contact ALA before making any arrangements to extend your ED Visa outside Bangkok so that we can confirm the appropriate procedure and prepare the required school documents for your extension.
The number of extensions depends on your course duration and the period of stay approved by Thai Immigration. An ED Visa does not automatically extend, so students must apply for each extension in person at Thai Immigration before their current permission to stay expires.
ALA will notify you when your extension is due, prepare the required school documents, and guide you through the extension process.
* 3.5-month Beginner Course: 1 extension
* 7–9-month Beginner + Intermediate Course: Up to 3 extensions in total
* 11.5-month Beginner to Advanced Course: Up to 5 extensions in total
* 13.5-month Beginner to Advanced Course: Up to 4 extensions in total
* 14-month Beginner to Advanced Course: 5 extensions in total
Please note that the number and duration of extensions are subject to Thai Immigration’s consideration and approval and may vary depending on the course and individual circumstances.
For the 8-month Thai Language Program and 9-month Chinese Language Program, students must leave Thailand after completing the Intermediate Course before re-entering Thailand to continue to the Advanced level.
No. An ED Visa is for studying and does not permit students to work in Thailand while they are enrolled in the ED Visa program.
If you wish to work in Thailand, you will need to change your visa status to the appropriate Non-Immigrant “B” Visa and obtain a valid Work Permit before starting employment.
Yes. If you stay in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive days, you must complete a 90-Day Report (TM.47) to notify Thai Immigration of your current address.
The 90-day period is counted from your most recent entry into Thailand. If you leave Thailand and re-enter, the 90-day count starts again from your latest arrival date.
You can submit the report in person, online, or through other methods permitted by Immigration. The report can generally be made up to 15 days before or within 7 days after the due date.
Please note that a 90-Day Report is not the same as an ED Visa extension. ALA can advise you about your ED Visa requirements, but students are responsible for completing their 90-Day Report within the required timeframe.
Based on our students’ experiences, some banks and/or individual branches may not accept bank account applications from ED Visa holders. Bank policies and account-opening requirements can vary between banks and branches and may also change from time to time.
You are therefore advised to contact your preferred bank or branch directly to confirm the latest requirements and whether you can open an account with yourspecific visa status before visiting the bank.
Please note: ALA Language School cannot guarantee or confirm that a student will be able to open a Thai bank account. The final decision and approval are solely at the discretion of the bank.
Yes. If you plan to leave Thailand temporarily while holding an ED Visa, you must obtain a Re-Entry Permit before leaving Thailand. Without a valid Re-Entry Permit, your current permission to stay may be cancelled when you leave Thailand.
A Single Re-Entry Permit costs THB 1,000 and allows one departure and return. A Multiple Re-Entry Permit costs THB 3,800 and allows multiple trips while your current permission to stay remains valid. Re-Entry Permits can generally be obtained at an Immigration Office or, where available, at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang International Airport.
A Re-Entry Permit does not extend your permission to stay. You must return to Thailand and complete any required ED Visa extension before your current permission to stay expires. The Re-Entry Permit is valid only for the period covered by your current permission to stay.
If you leave Thailand with a valid Re-Entry Permit, your existing permission to stay remains in effect when you re-enter Thailand.
Please also remember that your 90-day reporting period starts again when you re-enter Thailand. Keep your previous 90-day report receipt and present it when completing your next 90-day report, if requested by Immigration.
ALA recommends contacting our team before making travel arrangements so we can advise you on the applicable requirements.
For Language ED Visa program, the 8-month Thai course and the 9-month Chinese course cover the Beginner and Intermediate levels. If you wish to continue studying the Advanced level after completing the intermediate level, you must leave Thailand and apply for a new ED Visa before returning to continue your studies.
This is because the period of stay available under the ED Visa for language-school study is subject to the conditions and limits set by Thai Immigration. ALA cannot extend the same ED Visa indefinitely beyond the permitted period.
Before you leave Thailand, ALA will advise you on the required procedures and documents for your next ED Visa application.
Course
ALA offers Thai language courses with different durations depending on your study level:
– 3.5 months: Beginner
– 8 months: Beginner to Intermediate
– 14 months: Beginner to Advanced
If you do not require an ED Visa, ALA also offers shorter Thai language programs, with each level typically taking 2–4 weeks, depending on the course and study schedule.
The appropriate course duration depends on your current Thai language level, learning goals, and visa requirements.
Before starting your course at ALA Language School, we will assess your current language level to determine the most suitable class for you. This ensures that your course matches your current ability and learning needs.
If you are a complete beginner, you can start directly at the Beginner level. If you already have knowledge of Thai, English, or Chinese, ALA can assess your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and place you at the appropriate level.
However, students applying for an ED Visa are required to start from the Beginner level and cannot skip any level, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education. Students must complete each level in sequence before progressing to the next level.
At ALA, our Thai language courses are designed to develop practical speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, with a focus on helping students communicate in everyday situations.
With regular attendance and practice, many students can begin using basic Thai for everyday communication within the Beginner level. As you progress through Intermediate and Advanced levels, you can develop greater confidence and communicate in more complex situations.
The best way to progress quickly is to attend classes regularly and practice Thai with Thai people as much as possible outside the classroom.
It depends on your focus. If you need to learn Thai language for communication with local Thais, you can start with speaking courses which will cover basic spoken Thai as well as shortcuts to survive living in Thailand. If you need to master Thai language with a deep level of writing and reading to better understand Thai culture, it is still recommended you start with speaking for 2-3 courses so that you can pick up the vocabulary, how to pronounce the correct tones, and how to form a sentence. Once you start writing, you can then utilize the knowledge derived from the speaking course and progress in writing faster.
Students enrolled in ALA’s Thai, English, or Chinese Language Courses under the ED Visa program are required to maintain a minimum attendance of 90% throughout their course.
Regular attendance is important not only for your progress in learning Thai, English, or Chinese, but also for maintaining your student status and complying with the applicable Ministry of Education requirements.
If you are unable to attend a class due to illness or an emergency, please inform ALA as soon as possible and provide supporting documentation when requested. Students may be absent no more than 2 times per level.
You can take ALA’s online classes from anywhere with a live teacher through Zoom. Simply check the current online class schedule and register with the ALA administrator in advance. Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive the Zoom link and class details for your selected course. Please note that if you plan to apply for an ED Visa through ALA, online classes are not permitted. ED Visa students are required to attend classes onsite at ALA Language School in Bangkok in accordance with the applicable requirements.
Yes, we do teach Thai language with Chinese-speaking teachers and Chinese textbooks.
Each class at ALA Language School normally has approximately 10–15 students, creating a comfortable learning environment where students can actively participate and interact with their teacher and classmates.
The actual class size may vary depending on the language, course level, and enrollment period.
For students enrolled under the ED Visa program, ALA assigns the class and schedule based on the student’s language level, course requirements, and available class arrangements. Students cannot select or request a preferred class or schedule.
If you would like to check the current class size for a particular Thai, English, or Chinese course, please contact ALA with your preferred language and level. Our team will be happy to advise you based on the current class arrangement.
Yes, we offer evening classes to accommodate students who work or have daytime commitments. Our monthly class schedules may vary depending on the course and level, so please contact ALA Language School for the latest available evening schedule and we’ll help you find a suitable class.
Yes. ALA Language School provides certificates of completion upon request for students who successfully complete their course.
If you are interested in studying a language other than Thai, ALA Language School offers English and Chinese language programs that may be available under the ED Visa program, in addition to our Thai language courses.
Our ED Visa language programs include:
🇹🇭 Thai Language
🇬🇧 English Language
🇨🇳 Chinese Language
The available course levels, schedules, and ED Visa arrangements may vary depending on the program and your individual circumstances.
If you are interested in English or Chinese with an ED Visa, please let us know your nationality and current visa status in Thailand. Our team can advise you on the appropriate program and application process.
SCHOOL
No, ALA Language School currently operates from one main campus in Bangkok, located at 10/32-10/33, 1A Floor, Trendy Tower, Sukhumvit Soi 13, Bangkok. We do not currently have any other branches. Should there be any changes or plans to open additional branches in the future, ALA Language School will make an official announcement to the public through its communication channels.
Students who are applying from outside Thailand can make payment to ALA Language School by international bank transfer or Wise.
Once you have confirmed your course and enrollment details with ALA, our admissions team will provide the bank account details and payment instructions.
Please ensure that the full amount received by ALA covers the required tuition and documentation fees. Any international transfer or intermediary bank charges are the responsibility of the student.
After completing the transfer, please send the payment confirmation/slip to ALA so our team can verify the payment and proceed with the required enrollment and ED Visa documentation.
Please note: ALA will provide the applicable payment instructions and required amount based on your selected course and individual application.
Yes, ALA Language School accepts credit card payments for course fees. Please note that a 3% additional processing fee will apply to all credit card payments.
If your ED Visa application is officially rejected by the Thai government, your tuition fee can be refunded, according to ALA’s refund policy.
The THB 4,000 documentation fee is non-refundable, as it covers the preparation and processing of your visa documents.
A refund is available only if your visa is officially rejected by the Thai government. It does not apply if you cancel, withdraw from the course, change your plans, or cannot continue for another reason.
Any government, visa, bank, or other third-party fees that have already been paid are also non-refundable.
Please note that ALA assists students with the ED Visa application process but cannot guarantee visa approval. The final decision rests solely with the relevant Thai government authority.
After you have registered and completed your payment, ALA Language School will arrange the delivery of the required textbooks by courier or another available delivery service for students based in Thailand. The delivery fee is the student’s responsibility. For students residing abroad, we will provide the required e-textbooks by email instead.
Yes. Parking spaces are available on the 3A, 4th, and 5th floors of Trendy Tower. Students can enjoy 2 hours of free parking with an ALA Language School stamp.
Yes. Trendy Tower has a variety of restaurants, cafés, and food options within the building, making it convenient for students to grab a meal, coffee, or refreshments before or after class.
ALA Language School is conveniently located near both BTS and MRT stations. The closest stations are BTS Nana Station and BTS Asok Station, both within easy walking distance of the school. MRT Sukhumvit Station is also nearby, making ALA easily accessible from different areas of Bangkok.
Yes. ALA Language School is conveniently located in downtown Bangkok, with several shopping malls nearby. Terminal 21 Asok and Robinson Sukhumvit are just a short distance from the school. A few BTS stations away, students can also easily access Emporium, EmQuartier, Central Embassy, CentralWorld, Mercury Ville, Central Grand Rama 9, and Fortune Town, offering a wide range of shopping, dining, cafés, entertainment, and lifestyle options.
