Visa for English Teacher

REQUIREMENT

Visa regulation of Thailand concerning the visa applicant from English native speaking countries who wishes to apply for an appropriate visa to work as an English teacher in Thailand both on employment basis and voluntary basis as follows:

Documents Required:

- On Employment Basis:

The applicant must apply for non-immigrant visa, Type “B” at the Royal Thai Embassy. The applicant is required to submit:

> A certified copy of the applicant’s educational certificate;

> Original criminal record clearance/ original police clearance certificate from the Department of Home Affairs;

> Official recommendation letter from the education institution in Thailand to the Embassy; and

> Information of the contract or term of employment of the applicant in Thailand.

If the applicant has appropriate qualification, the Embassy will issue a non-immigrant visa, type “B”, single entry with three months validity to the applicant. The visa will allow the applicant to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 90 days.
 

Upon the applicant’s arrival in Thailand, the employer (the educational institution) is responsible for applying for a teacher license from the Ministry of Education. The employer also has the responsibility to apply for a work permit on behalf of the applicant at the Ministry of Labour.

Kindly be informed that to qualify for a teacher license, the Ministry of Education of Thailand usually requires the applicant to have: 1) a Bachelor’s Degree and 2)a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certification. The permit is usually issued within 7 working days.
 

After being granted teacher license and work permit, the applicant is required to submit teacher license, work permit, employment contract and employment certificate to the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok in order to apply for visa extension to cover the term of employment.
 

- On Voluntary Basis

The applicant must apply for a non-immigrant visa, type “O”, single entry at the Royal Thai Embassy. The applicant is required to submit:
 

> An official recommendation letter from the organization in Thailand to the Embassy; and

> Information on the term of voluntary work of the applicant in Thailand.

If the applicant has appropriate qualification, the Embassy will issue a non-immigrant visa, type “O”, single entry with three month validity to the applicant. The visa will allow the applicant to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 90 days. In case the applicant wishes to extend the duration of stay in Thailand, the applicant is required to apply for an extension of stay with the Immigration Bureau in Thailand by enclosing an official introduction letter of the Organization in Thailand.
 

Please be informed that a foreigner who is holding a Thai tourist visa is not permitted to work as an English teacher in Thailand, even on a voluntary basis.

 

VALIDITY OF A VISA :

Single-entry and multiple-entry visas are valid for three months.

VALIDITY OF A STAY :

The holders of this type of visa are usually granted a period of stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days unless otherwise instructed by the Office of Immigration Bureau of the Kingdom of Thailand.