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Re-entry Permit

For ED Visa students travelling abroad

Re-entry Permit: travel abroad and keep your ED Visa

Going home for a holiday or taking a short trip? Before you leave Thailand, you need a re-entry permit. Without one, your ED Visa ends the moment you leave the country, and you would have to apply for a new visa from abroad.

Please note: re-entry permits are issued only by the Immigration Bureau. Fees, office hours and counter locations can change, so please check before you go.
Fee
1,000 THB
Single re-entry, cash only
Where
Immigration
Chaeng Watthana or the airport
Form
TM.8
+ one 4 × 6 cm photo
When
Before you fly
Cannot be done after you leave
Section 1 of 6

Why you need it

Your ED Visa and each extension let you stay in Thailand, but they do not let you leave and come back. A re-entry permit keeps your current permission to stay active while you are away.

If you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit, your ED Visa is cancelled. A re-entry permit cannot be arranged after you have left, so you would need to start the visa process again from outside Thailand.
  • A re-entry permit does not add any days. It only protects the time you already have.
  • It ends when your current visa or extension ends.
Section 2 of 6

Tell the school first

  1. 1
    Share your travel plan
    Tell our admin team your departure date, return date and the reason for your trip, as early as you can.
  2. 2
    Collect your travel documents
    We prepare your student confirmation letter, travel confirmation letter, Ministry of Education letter, school documents and class photos.
  3. 3
    Check your dates
    Make sure you return before your current visa or extension ends. If your extension is due while you are away, talk to us before you book.
Section 3 of 6

What to bring

For Immigration
  • Your passport (the original)
  • TM.8 form, completed and signed (available at Immigration)
  • One recent photo, 4 × 6 cm, taken within the last 6 months
  • Signed copies of your passport photo page, current ED Visa or extension stamp, and latest entry stamp
  • 1,000 THB in cash for a single re-entry permit
From the school
  • Student confirmation letter
  • Travel confirmation letter
  • Ministry of Education letter and school documents
  • Class photos

Keep these with you when you travel. Officers may ask to see them when you come back.

Section 4 of 6

Where to apply

Option A: Immigration office (recommended)

Chaeng Watthana Immigration, Government Complex, Bangkok.

  • Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (lunch break 12:00 – 1:00 PM)
  • Apply a few days or weeks before you fly
  • Usually 30–60 minutes, longer at busy times
Option B: At the airport, on the day

Suvarnabhumi: re-entry counter in the departure hall, after security and before passport control. Don Mueang: in the international departure area after security.

  • Open every day, for any flight time
  • Queues can be long, so arrive at least 3 hours before your flight
Our tip: apply at the Immigration office before your trip if you can. It is calmer, and you will not risk missing your flight.
Section 5 of 6

When you come back

  1. 1
    Check your entry stamp at the airport
    Show your re-entry permit at passport control. Before you leave the desk, check that your stamp keeps your ED Visa permission, not a visa-exempt tourist stamp.
    If the stamp looks wrong, ask the officer to correct it right there.
  2. 2
    Update your TM30
    Ask your landlord, condo office or hotel to file a new TM30 after every trip abroad.
  3. 3
    Send us a photo of your new entry stamp
    This helps us keep your records and next steps up to date.
  4. 4
    Note your new 90-day date
    Your 90-day count restarts from the day you re-enter Thailand. How 90-day reporting works
Section 6 of 6

Questions students ask

Which re-entry permit should I get?
Please get a single re-entry permit for each trip. Your re-entry permit ends every time your visa is extended, so a new single permit before each trip is the simplest and safest choice.
I got a new extension. Is my old re-entry permit still valid?
No. A re-entry permit ends when the visa or extension it was issued for ends. After each extension, get a new re-entry permit before your next trip abroad.
Can I apply online?
Not at the moment. You apply in person at the Immigration office or at the airport before departure.
I already left without one. What now?
Contact our admin team straight away. Your ED Visa will have ended, and we will explain the options for applying again from abroad.
Does a visa run or a short day trip need one too?
Yes. Any time you leave Thailand, even for one day or by land, you need a re-entry permit to keep your ED Visa.

Planning a trip?

Tell our friendly admin team your dates and we will prepare your travel documents.

Contact us Student Visa Info
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