Thailand Overhauls Non-Immigrant Visa System: 7 Categories

How to fill out TDAC Card- Step-by-Step 

Thailand has reorganized its non-immigrant visa categories, reducing the previous 17 types to just 7 simplified groups. This change takes effect August 31, 2025. The goal is to simplify visa applications while preserving existing eligibility and rights for travellers, expats, students, business people, retirees, and media professionals.

What’s Changing and Why

For many years, the Thai visa system had numerous overlapping non-immigrant visa categories. These created confusion among applicants, embassies, and immigration offices. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via its Department of Consular Affairs, decided to streamline the system to make it easier to understand and to reduce bureaucracy. Importantly, although the names of visa types have changed, the requirements and rights tied to them (what you need to apply, who qualifies, what you can do with your visa) remain largely the same.

The 7 New Visa Categories

Here’s how Thailand has grouped its non-immigrant visas now:

• F (Official): Diplomats, official missions, government and international organization agents.

• B (Business): Business visitors, investment, company assignments, trade. (Merges old B, B-A, IM, IB, EX types.)

• ED (Education): Students, teachers, researchers, those in academic or training programs. Consolidates ED, ED-A, R, R-A, RS.

• M (Mass Media): Journalists, film crews, media professionals working on projects in Thailand.

• O (Others): Broad group including retirees, dependents, family reunions, long-stay, etc. (O, O-A, O-X merged in.)

• L-A (Labour): Foreign workers employed in Thailand — this involves work permits and related permits.

• O / L-A Overlap: For people whose purpose straddles family/dependent plus work — a hybrid category when it's not purely one or the other.

Impact for Travellers & Expats

If you're planning to come to Thailand, here’s what this means for you:

• If you already hold a non-immigrant visa under the old categories, your status and rights remain valid. You’re not immediately affected beyond paperwork changes in future renewals or new applications.

• You’ll need to check which of the new categories best matches your reason for staying (work, education, retirement, media, etc.). What was once multiple visa types under ED, or B variants, are now grouped under one label.

• The documentation required is still similar: proof of purpose (business contract, school enrollment, media credentials, family status, etc.), passport validity, financial requirements, work permit if applicable.

• Processing should become clearer and faster as officials adjust to the new system.

What You Should Do Before Applying

• Visit the official Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Department of Consular Affairs website to see updated forms under the new visa categories.

• Determine which of the 7 new visa types applies to your stay (Official, Business, Education, Labour, Media, Others, or Overlap).

• Prepare your supporting documents in advance: proof of purpose, financial statements, invitation/contract etc., depending on your visa type.

• If you’re renewing or applying soon, be aware of any transition rules that may apply under the old visa type vs the new categories.

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Suggested Links

• Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Department of Consular Affairs https://www.mfa.go.th/en

• Thai Immigration Bureau https://immigration.go.th