Instructions
Visa

Most countries require a passport and a visa for long-term residency and studying. Here, you can find information about applying for a student visa to Thailand, China and Indonesia.

The information given on this page is very general and it's only meant to be an aid for those who haven't previously applied for a visa. Please contact the embassy of your study abroad destination in your home country before applying for a visa. They will be able to provide you with the current prices and information about the application procedure.

Students must keep in mind that the visa procedures vary from country to country and sometimes even depending on the clerk at the embassy. AE recommends that students take care of visa-related matters before leaving for the destination, and if needed, update the visa at the study abroad destination once they are acquainted with the visa procedure.

If any special conditions arise, AE recommends contacting the embassy of the country in question, because the visa procedures are most often case-specific and may change quite often. The embassies help out with all matters in English.

Check the latest updates about applying for visas as well as the opening hours on the embassy websites or by calling the embassy directly. Embassies are open according to the public and religious holidays of the country they represent, as well as the holidays of the country they are located in.

When applying for a student visa, please keep in mind that a student visa only allows you to study in the target country, such as a tourist visa allows you to vacation in the country and a working visa allows you to work.

Students should read international news and possible travel updates regarding their study abroad destination.

Thailand

China

Indonesia

Thailand - Passport and Visa

A Thai tourist visa allows visitors to remain in the country for a maximum of 30 days. However, not all nationalities are granted the possibility of receiving a tourist visa upon arrival. Check the Thai embassy list, to see whether or not restrictions apply when traveling to Thailand from your home country. If you are eligible for a tourist visa upon arrival, you must have a valid passport for the duration of your trip. You will fill out an entry form on the flight to Thailand. If you plan on staying in the country for longer, you must acquire a visa from the Thai embassy in your home country. If you are staying in Thailand for over 30 days, your passport must be valid for at least six months after entering the country.

You can also find information about visas on Thailand's immigration bureau website.

Applying for a Student Visa, Thailand
Please check the latest news and information about visas before applying for a visa from the Royal Thai Embassy, where you can also get the required application forms and other information about the application procedure.

A Thai student visa is a Non-Immigrant Visa ED.

Required documents:
1) A passport, with at least one empty page for the visa. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months after arriving in Thailand. Please note this also when sending Asia Exchange your application and its attachments for the study abroad program.
2) A copy of the identification page of your passport
3) The filled out application form
4) Two passport-sized color photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm
5) A copy of your airline ticket or electronic ticket
6) The official letter of acceptance from the host university sent to you by AE.
7) A letter of recommendation from your home institution (the original, signed version) or, if you’ve already graduated, a verified copy of your degree certificate. Here is an example of a letter of recommendation. The recommendation letter can be informal and quite different from our example.

It will take at least four working days for the embassy to process your application after you bring it to them.

If you wish to send your visa application by mail, send it as a registered letter and remember to include the postage for the return envelope, which you should also send in with your application. Be sure to include sufficient postage for the return envelope to also be sent as a registered letter. Also remember to enclose your passport as the visa will be attached to it. The embassy does not accept liability for lost letters, if they have not been registered. If you are applying for a visa by mail, it will take at least four working days for the application to be processed after it has been received.

The price of the visa is based on its period of validity.

The following price examples are for visas acquired 2/2009:
- Non-immigrant, 3 months or less, 1 entry, 50 euros*
- Non-immigrant, 3 - 12 months, multiple entry, 120 euros*

The period of validity of the visa is determined by the length of the study period mentioned in the official acceptance letter (which may be longer than the length of the actual study program). If your stay in Thailand (i.e. the dates of your flights to and from the country) exceeds 3 months by even one day, you must apply for a longer visa with multiple entries. Also if you are planning to travel outside Thailand, you need to apply for the multiple entry visa.

If you intend on staying in Thailand after your studies, AE recommends planning possible trips to neighboring countries after the study program has ended. This way, for instance, if you have chosen a 3 month visa, you will receive a new entry permit and permission to stay in the country for 30 days when you re-enter Thailand.

A single-entry visa must be used (i.e. you must enter Thailand) within 90 days of the date it was issued. The multiple-entry visa must be used within a year of the date it was issued. Upon arrival, the immigration officials will stamp the date until which you are allowed to remain in the country in your passport. The date is based on your visa.

Within the first 90 days you need to validate your visa even though you would have acquired the one year visa. This can be done either in the immigration bureau or by visiting some neighboring country (when you return to Thailand you will get admission for a new 90 days period in Thailand).

The visa can only be paid for in cash either at the embassy, or by sending the required amount of money by mail.

Check your local embassy’s website for the opening hours and phone numbers.

In Thailand, visa procedures are taken care of at the Immigration Office in Bangkok (Soi Buan Phlu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel: (662) 287-3101-10), in Phuket (482 Phuket Road, A.Muang, Phuket 83000, Tel: (66) 076 221 905) or at another Immigration Office. AE always recommends that students acquire a visa beforehand from their home country’s Thai embassy.

If you already have a visa, you can get a new entry permit from the Immigration Office in Bangkok, Phuket or some other city. A new entry permit costs approximately 40 euros (11/2009) but remember to ask if there has been changes in the price when updating your visa. Also, the staff of your host university can help you with any visa-related questions.

You can find an example of a filled out visa application form here.

Example cases:

EXAMPLE 1: A student is participating in the 3 month study program at Prince of Songkla University and is going to remain in the country for the duration of the study program. There is a maximum of 90 days between entering the country and the return flight.
INTERPRETATION 1: The student can apply for a 3 month Non-Immigrant Visa ”ED”, which entitles the student to a 3 month residency permit.

EXAMPLE 2: A student is participating in the 3 month study program at Prince of Songkla University, but for some reason wasn’t able to acquire a visa in advance (AE doesn't recommend this option).
INTERPRETATION 2: Citizens of certain countries are allowed to visit Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa. This will enable the student to acquire a visa after arriving in Thailand. The visa should be acquired as soon as possible after arriving in the country, but within 30 days of arrival at the latest. A visa can be acquired from the Immigration Office in Bangkok or a Thai embassy in a neighboring country (e.g. Malaysia or Laos). The host university can help with the arrangements.

EXAMPLE 3: A student is participating in the 4 month study program at Siam University and is planning on traveling outside Thailand several times.
INTERPRETATION 3: The student must apply for a 12 month Non-Immigrant Visa ”ED”, which entitles the student to a 12 month residency permit. The visa allows multiple entries, so it is possible to travel to other countries several times during the study program or after.

EXAMPLE 4: A student is participating in the 3 month study program at Prince of Songkla University and is planning on traveling outside Thailand.
INTERPRETATION 4: The students must apply for a 12 month Non-Immigrant Visa ”ED”, which entitles the student to a residency permit which will be valid for the duration of the study program. The visa allows multiple entries, so the student can travel to other countries from Thailand several times during the study program or after it has ended.

In Thailand visa-related matters are taken care of at the Immigration Office in Bangkok (Soi Buan Phlu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel: (662) 287-3101-10), in Phuket (482 Phuket Road, A.Muang, Phuket 83000, Tel: (66) 076 221 905) or at the Immigration Office of other cities.

China - Passport and Visa

Citizens of most countries require a Chinese visa, which can be acquired at the Chinese embassy. Please check the latest details and prices from your local Chinese embassy’s website, where you will also be able to download a visa application form, before applying for your visa. Students are required to apply for a student visa.

Required documents (7/2011):
1) Filled out application form
2) One passport photo in color
3) A valid passport, which is valid for at least 6 months and has at least three empty pages
4) A copy of the first page of your passport
5) A copy of your airline ticket
6) The official letter of acceptance and JW-202 form (plus a copy of both documents)

The visa must be paid for in cash.

You must apply for the visa in person at your home country’s Chinese embassy. Some travel agencies also offer visa services where they will acquire the visa on your behalf for a small fee, so it’s one option worth looking into, if the embassy is located far away from where you live.

Check your home country’s Chinese embassy website for opening hours and phone numbers.

You can find an example of a filled out visa application here.

Indonesia - Passport and Visa

You can get the latest information about the Indonesian visa application procedure from your home country’s Indonesian embassy.

Citizens of most countries are required to obtain an Indonesian visa. You can acquire the visa from your home country’s Indonesian embassy.

Citizens of some countries may also be eligible for a 30-day visa-on-arrival (VoA) from certain airports e.g. Jakarta or Denpasar (Bali) and from some ports after arriving in the country. However, a VoA is only valid for 30 days, and it's not officially meant for studying and it can’t be changed for another type of visa after arriving in Indonesia.

Applying for a student visa, Indonesia

Please check the latest information from your home country’s Indonesian embassy before applying for a visa.

Student visa's type and lengthening

In Indonesia, student visa's type is Social Visit visa. The Indonesian Embassy grants single entry Social Visit visas for the purpose of studying in Indonesia. The maximum length of stay in Indonesia with a Social Visit visa is 60 days and the visa must be extended at the location in accordance with the instructions given by the host university. The visa can be extended for one month at a time and the cost has been a few dozen euros. If you leave the country while the visa is still valid, you must get a new visa e.g. from the country where you are returning to Indonesia from. Most Indonesian embassies only give out single-entry student visas.

Required documents:
1) A valid passport with at least one empty page for the visa (the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arriving in Indonesia)
2) A copy of the identification page of your passport
3) A filled out application form
4) Two passport photos in color, 4 x 6 cm
5) A copy of your airline ticket or electronic ticket
6) The official letter of acceptance from the host university
7) A receipt or a copy of the receipt for the paid visa fee

Often also an additional document prepared by the host university is requested by the embassies. This document is addressed to the embassy and it confirms that certain students are applying Social Visit visas from the embassy. This document is sent to the embassies by Asia Exchange or the host university. Sometimes the document is sent to the students as well.

Copy of your Airline Ticket

In some countries the Indonesian Embassy has required students to present a copy of an airline ticket that proves when they will be leaving the country. The flight has had to be from Indonesia to the student’s home country or e.g. from a country neighboring Indonesia. The date of the flight has not had to be during the first 60 days of the Social Visit visa, but flights after the end of the study program have also been accepted. If your return schedule is still unclear, you can buy affordable tickets, for example, from Air Asia. It is most often possible to change the dates of the flights for a moderate fee.

The Indonesian embassy recommends applying for a visa at least 14 days before leaving for Indonesia. AE recommends applying for a visa immediately after receiving the acceptance letter. Processing the visa application takes a few days. If your visa application is insufficient, the embassy will contact you and ask for the required information. However, make sure that your application has the required information and documents, especially if you’re in a hurry to get your application processed.

The visa must be used, i.e. you must arrive in Indonesia within 90 days after the visa has been issued.

If you want to send your visa application by mail, send it as a registered letter. Remember to enclose a return envelope and enough postage to pay for the letter to be sent back to you as a registered letter. Also remember to enclose your passport as the visa will be attached to it.

A Single Visit Visa costs approximately 40 euros* (December, 2009). The payment must be finalized before applying for a visa and the receipt of payment must be attached to the visa application.

Ask your home country’s Indonesian embassy for more information, exact prices and application forms.

You can find an example of a filled out visa application form here.

*The price examples are based on information given by the embassies of each country in Helsinki, Finland.