Getting Your Visa

When you start at Unity you will need to have the following documents to start your visa process:

1. Passport with validity not less than 12 months

2. Recent photographs
   - 6 photos size 3x4cm
   - 6 photos 4x5.5cm

3. Copy of Bachelors Diploma and transcripts in English

4. Background check from home country 

5. New requirement for Non-Native English Speakers: TOEIC or English proficiency test 

   • Thailand recognizes the following countries as N.S and do NOT need a TOEIC: America, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland

Once settled in Chiang Mai eventually we will need the following: 

1. Resident Report (TM 30)  once you move into a place in Thailand.

2. Thai Background Check
   (HR will give you the document and info on how to do when it's ready)

Please note that once hired the following are responsibilities of the teacher, NOT the HR department:

• Bringing the required documents to the visa department and following up with them about the visa process 

• Keeping track of when your passport expires

• Keeping up with 90 day reports 

• Getting a Re-Entry permit before leaving the country

• Bringing your passport to Visa for updates if new stamps/visas are added 

If you are NNES, to get your Non-B you are required to show a TOEIC score of 600+. If you do not have a TOEIC, please refer to the below information

The test center is CPA located in Chiang Mai close to the old city. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/hTjtFKEDEZacKFQ19

You can find information here on how to sign up and what to bring (Make sure to select EN on top right navigation to change to English language:

https://cpathailand.co.th/test-reservation/d2-2-toeicl_r-public-test/

I will highlight the main details below:

Test reservations must be made at least 1 working day in advance of the required test date.  Reservations may be made by calling CALL CENTER, Monday-Saturday between 08.00 A.M.- 04.30 P.M. (Reservations by Email are not accepted.)

• Chiangmai Test Center: 0-5324-1273 to 5

Test Cancellation or Postponement must be made by calling CPA CALL CENTER, 08:00 A.M. – 04:30 P.M at least 1 working day (not including Public Holidays) prior to the scheduled test date. Otherwise, Test Takers will have an administrative charge (Penalty Fee) of 500 Baht added to their next test fee.

How much will it cost?

The test will cost 2000 Baht

What do I need to bring on test day?

You only need to bring your passport to the test center

When will results be available?

According to the website, 8 working days after taking the test

This is taken from the CPA site linked above, I do not have personal experience with the TOEIC test

If you come to thailand on a 30-day tourist visa 

• Bring the listed above documents to the visa department 

• Complete your Thai background check (This takes up to 4 weeks and you cannot get the Non-B visa until the background check comes back clear) (Cost: 100 THB)

• Documents are submitted to the MOE (Ministry of Education), allow 2-3 weeks

• Once background check and MOE documents are ready the visa department will notify HR for you to collect your packet of documents to take to Laos 

• Make an appointment with the Laos embassy and follow steps below in "Getting your Non-Immigrant B Visa: Laos"

• Once you have your Non-B visa which is valid for 3 months, the visa department will work towards preparing your documents to obtain your work permit 

• Important: When you get back from Laos, please bring your updated passport to the visa office!

• HR will email you asking you to provide the visa department with a medical check (Cost ~300 Baht) from a local hospital and passport photos (6 photos size 3x4cm, 6 photos 4x5.5cm)

• HR will email you to set up a time to go to the work permit office with a visa officer

• The visa department will then prepare your documents for you to take to Chiang Mai Immigration to extend this to a 1 year visa (Cost: 1,900 THB)

• Important: Bring your updated passport/work permit to the visa department so they have it on file! 

You are good for one year!

What to Bring to the Embassy 

• • Make an appointment before you go to Laos!
    https://thaivisavientiane.com/

  • Packet given to you by the school

  • Visa Application 

  • 2 passport sized photos (3.5 x 4.5)

  • Copies of exit stamp from leaving Thailand/Entry to Laos

  • 2,000 Baht - they will only allow you to get a “single-entry” visa 

Visa Application Form

• • You can fill this out at the embassy or print it from the website OR
    HR will have copies printed so it can be filled out ahead of time and we can answer any questions

  • Teachers highly recommend filling the form out before going as it may be hard to find and fill out last minute.

  • Clarification for sections:

    • Duration of stay in Thailand: 1 year

    • Number of entries: 1

    • Address in Laos: Know your hotel address where you are staying in Laos

    • Address Country of Residence: Your address in home country

    • Proposed Address Thailand: Know your address where you are living in Thailand

    • Guarantor in Thailand: Kylee Agrelius, +66-52-135061 (Phone number for Unity not Kylee’s personal number)

    • Guarantor in Laos: Put hotel name and number 

What days to go/How long will it take? 

• • It will take 48 hours to process your visa

  • The appointment you get to apply for the visa and for picking up the visa are NOT confirmed times (no appointment confirmation at the bottom of the email) and instead are 'time ranges'. Aim to go as early as possible for drop off/pickup as you'll have to queue. 

  • Visa application hours:
    09.00 – 12.00 hours, Monday – Friday (except Thai & Lao official holidays)

  • Visa collection hours:
    13.30 – 16.00 hours, 2 days after submitting the application, e.g. Monday submission, Wednesday collection; Friday submission, Tuesday collection
    Pickup is very easy and fast (around 10 minutes)

Entering Laos by bus 

• • You can take an overnight bus from Chiang Mai to Nong Khai which is next to the Laos border, Friendship Bridge 1. The trip will take about 11 hours and is the cheapest option. This website is commonly used to book tickets.

  • When you get to Nong Khai bus station, there will be taxi's/tuktuk's that can take you to the Thai-Laos border (around a 10 minute journey) for around 100 baht.

  • When you arrive at the border, you will need to fill out your departure card and get stamped out of Thailand. Then, you will pay 35 baht for a bus that will take you across the bridge to the Laos side. Once you get off the bus, you must fill out a form for your entry visa. 

  • As of July 2023, you will need to pay 1,700 baht for the Laos entry visa. You will also need 2 passport-sized photos for the application.

  • Extra notes:

    • SIM cards and Laos Kip are available at the shops when you cross through

    • There will be plenty of taxi's/tuktuk's around that can you into the town of Vientiane, for around 300 baht

Entering Laos by plane (Faster and easier option)

There are flights from Chiang Mai to Vientiane, however, they are more expensive due to it being an international flight. If you want a cheaper option, you can always fly from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen, or from Chiang Mai to Udon Thani. Once there you can take a bus or taxi to Nong Khai. 

• • • Khon Kaen to Nong Khai - About a 2 hour and 30-minute drive

    • Udon Thani to Nong Khai - About a 1-hour drive.  

• • There is a visa on arrival but will have to wait in long queue at airport

  • OR Apply for E-Visa before leaving and make sure it’s approved:
    https://laoevisa.gov.la/index

    • Only eligible If you are a national of one of the European Union countries, Canada, USA or Australia

  • Can get SIM card and exchange money at the airport

Advice from previous teachers

• • Arrive the day before your appointment

  • Check the estimated time at the bottom of your appointment email and come slightly before that time 

    • If you miss your appointment you can’t apply for another 30 days

  • Photocopy shop at the embassy is closed. To make a copy there are people on the street nearby that offer this service

  • Best taxi service App: InDrive (widely used in Vientiane)  or  LOCA Laos Ride Hailing and Taxi (You can add an international card to avoid cash payment)

  • THB is widely accepted but it's better to pay in KIP for costs and to avoid confusion as your change will often be given in KIP. I used a place called Khamsy Money Changer to exchange THB to KIP and was happy with the services.

  • Nella DeSanto gave a great guide as well to Laos: Click here to check it out!

Location

• • Embassy of Thailand

  • 021 21 415 335

  • https://maps.app.goo.gl/EyBH7xtwncTAdBVbA?g_st=ic

Vientiane Website

• •  https://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/

  • Check the holidays on this website to make sure it will be open on the day you go

  • Application form 

What else todo in Laos?

• •  Visit the night market!

  •  Buddha Park (about 45mins bus outside the city)  

    1. Entry Fee: 40.000KIP 

    2. Bus Fee: 8.000KIP per person

If you do not want to leave Thailand you can pay for an agent to get your Non-B at Chiang Mai Immigration office for 20,000 Baht

In order to do this you will have to have your Bachelors degree certified at you countries Embassy

• Not all embassy's in Thailand offer this service and you may need someone to do it in your home country and get it certified and mailed to you

Acquiring a Non-B Visa while you are in Thailand takes about around month to process. If you are on a tourist visa that is about to expire it will mean you will have to do a border run. A border run is when you cross the border by land instead of plane to get a new tourist visa stamp for 30-60 days (depending on passport). This process can take a full day or 2 but can be done over a weekend as well. 

I recommend taking the early morning bus and arriving there in the afternoon. Once you arrive to the bus station you will need to take a tuk-tuk or songtaew to the Chiang Khong Border checkpoint or Thai- Laos Friendship bridge. 

According to the latest update from Thai Immigration for border run process,  if you plan to arrange the visa run by yourself and have a few days visit in the country, you are required to stay out of Thailand at least 2 nights, then you will cross the border and return with a Free visa. You can then catch a bus back to Chiangmai, or you can rent a car for a more pleasant trip!

If you don't want to spend 2 nights and only have very short time to finish the procedure, we would recommend you joining Border Run Service Companies and making the trip in one day which you can find companies from google sites and will need to make prior booking, for more precise details please contact the companies directly, some companies also have 2 choices: one day trip and stay 2 nights in Laos.

Here are some companies contact & website:

1. Chiangmai Visa Run: 

https://chiangmaivisarun.com

Contact Number: 093-2642726 (K. Ear)

2. Chiangmai Border Run:

https://chiangmaiborderrun.com

Contact Number: 0612986974, 0931318546 

3. Chiangmai-Border Run

https://chiangmai-borderrun.com

Warning: 

When you have your Non-B, if you leave Thailand without getting a re-entry permit your visa will be cancelled and you will have to do the process all over again.

Visit the Immigration Page to learn more about how to get the Re-Entry Permit