Study in Thailand from Nepal and India

Thailand student visa at a glance

Visa fee

NPR 11,211

INR 7,000

Source: newdelhi.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

No fixed amount

Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Work in term

See guide

Work rule

Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

1 yr

ED Plus – one year after graduation

Source: budapest.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in Thailand you apply for the Non-Immigrant Visa category "ED" (Education); "ED Plus" for bachelor's degree and higher. The main visa fee is INR 7,000 (about NPR 11,211). You must also show THB 20,000 one-off: money that stays yours. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 12 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).

How much does it cost to study in Thailand?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the Thailand student visa?

Visa type

Non-Immigrant 'ED' covers study, study or observation tours, seminars, conferences and training courses. Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

ED Plus

ED Plus is issued to students enrolled full-time in a bachelor's-or-higher degree at a Thai higher-education institution. Source: budapest.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Where to apply

Online at thaievisa.go.th; the e-Visa system took effect on 1 Jan 2025 and all applicants must use it. Source: newdelhi.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Documents (bachelor's or higher)

Passport biodata page, recent photo, proof of current location, financial evidence covering tuition and living costs, letter from the university, and enrolment confirmation signed by an authorised person. Source: thaievisa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Validity and stay

Single-entry non-immigrant visa is valid 3 months and allows a stay of up to 90 days per entry. Source: newdelhi.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Extension of stay

Qualified holders can get a further stay of up to one year from the Immigration Bureau, at the officer's discretion. Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Translations

Documents in other languages must be translated into Thai, or into English notarised by a notary or the applicant's embassy. Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in Thailand?

Work rule

Foreigners may not work in Thailand on any visa unless granted a work permit, and must hold the correct visa type to apply for one. Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Part-time work for students

No official page found that allows ED-visa students to work part-time. Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

ED Plus – one year after graduation

ED Plus holders (bachelor's or higher) may extend their stay one year after graduating to look for work, travel or other activities, and may change visa type in Thailand if employed. Source: budapest.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Extensions during study (ED Plus)

The host university submits stay-extension applications for the student. Source: london.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Working after graduation

A job needs a Non-Immigrant 'B' visa and a work permit from the Department of Employment. Source: mfa.go.th (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in Thailand?

Compare universities across countries

What do Nepali and Indian students study in Thailand?

The most-studied fields, from official enrolment statistics.

What has changed recently?

1. 1 Jan 2025

   Thai e-Visa became mandatory for all Thai visa applicants in Nepal (the New Delhi embassy states the same for India); passports and originals are no longer submitted in person. Source: kathmandu.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 27 Apr 2026

   New visa fees at the Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates-General in India: Non-Immigrant single entry INR 7,000 (New Delhi's July 2024 ED Plus checklist listed INR 5,000). Source: newdelhi.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

3. 15 Oct 2026

   Kathmandu embassy clarification: three months of bank statements, 7–10 working days for complete applications, and applicants should stay in the country while processing. Source: kathmandu.thaiembassy.org (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Extension-of-stay fee, 90-day reporting and re-entry permit rules — check with Thailand’s Immigration Bureau.
• Exact amount of funds Indian applicants must show – New Delhi's checklists ask for bank statements without a figure; the MFA's THB 20,000 figure comes from a page last updated in 2022.
• Whether the Kathmandu fee is still NPR 10,000 (2022 table) and whether Kathmandu issues ED Plus visas.
• Whether the ED Plus one-year stay after graduation can be applied for from India or Nepal — other Thai embassies list it; ask the embassy in New Delhi or Kathmandu.
• Tuition and living costs – no official national figure found; check the university.

Official sources for Thailand

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Thai e-Visa – Studying Visas (Non-Immigrant ED)student_visa · Documents for bachelor's or higher; single entry, 3 months
2. 2Thai MFA – Issuance of Visastudent_visa · ED purposes, THB 2,000 fee, THB 20,000 funds, 1-year extension
3. 3Thai MFA – General informationwork · No work on any visa without a work permit
4. 4Thai MFA – Q&A on Thai visapost_study · Working needs Non-B visa + work permit
5. 5Royal Thai Embassy New Delhi – Visaembassy_india · e-Visa from 1 Jan 2025; INR 7,000 non-immigrant single; checklists
6. 6Royal Thai Embassy New Delhi – updated fees (from 27 Apr 2026)fee · INR fee table (image)
7. 7Royal Thai Embassy New Delhi – ED Plus checklist (Google Drive)embassy_india · ED Plus documents, 6-month bank statement
8. 8Royal Thai Embassy Kathmandu – Visa general informationembassy_nepal · e-Visa from 1 Jan 2025, manager's cheque, legalisation
9. 9Royal Thai Embassy Kathmandu – Visa Feesfee · NPR 10,000 non-immigrant single (effective 1 Oct 2022)
10. 10Royal Thai Embassy Kathmandu – Non-Immigrant EDstudent_visa · THB 20,000 balance, police clearance
11. 11Royal Thai Embassy Kathmandu – Visa announcement (15 Oct 2026)changes · 3-month statements, 7–10 working days
12. 12Royal Thai Embassy Budapest – ED and ED Pluspost_study · ED Plus: 1 year after graduation
13. 13Royal Thai Embassy London – NON-ED PLUSpost_study · ED Plus extension by university; 1 year after graduation