Thailand Visas - Muay Thai and Longer Term Stay

[moranpearl17]

I was recently on the Los Angeles area, Thai Consulate's website regarding visas (down the street from my house) and wow! You can get a tourist's visa but it is best not to put to "Study Muay Thai" as that requires approval. Kind of discouraging to read. Any pointers?

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

I was recently on the Los Angeles area, Thai Consulate's website regarding visas (down the street from my house) and wow! You can get a tourist's visa but it is best not to put to "Study Muay Thai" as that requires approval. Kind of discouraging to read. Any pointers?

 

Not having seen the the site I'm guessing that they are talking about an ED Visa (not a tourist visa), in reference to Muay Thai study. There was a time before 5 years ago, when you could apply for an ED Visa and use study of Muay Thai as your education, but that option was closed down with the exception of only a select few. As far as I understand only Master Toddy's in Bangkok and WKO in Pattaya are the only two government recognized ED Visa options for the study of Muay Thai. Almost all other commonly used ED visas occur through the study of Thai Language, and can be arranged through schools here in Thailand. Many long term Muay Thai students are also Thai Language students, achieving their visa through that language study.

From what I recall, in terms of tourist visas, you can automatically get a 30 day tourist visa upon arrival by plane (and try to extend those with "visa runs" by bus to Thai Consulates in Burma/Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, etc); or you can arrange a 6 month tourist visa through the Thai Consulate in your home country.

The other longer term visa option is through teaching English. Emma wrote a very thorough post on what is involved in teaching English in Thailand.