Thailand's student visa gray market is completely unworkable now! Non-degree study abroad will be fully monitored under real-name system.

On May 25, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand, Karun, issued a notice announcing that the government has officially implemented the "Management Measures for Non-Degree Programs for Foreign Students in Thai Higher Education Institutions 2025," which tightens the regulation of short-term courses and student visas, specifically targeting the gray behavior of "nominal studying, actually working."

This new regulation, led by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand, will officially take effect from May 14, 2025. The core objective is to cooperate with the Immigration Bureau to strictly check overstaying and illegal employment.

Key points of the new regulation are as follows:

Courses must be qualified: All non-degree courses must clearly define the teaching staff, learning outcomes, and teaching capabilities.

Detailed course registration required: Schools must register the course structure, language of instruction, teaching format (offline ≥60%), and duration (≤180 days) with the Ministry of Education.

Study visas not exceeding 180 days: Schools must apply for a stay permit for students and issue a proof of enrollment, which expires at the end of the course.

Attendance and full tracking of learning: Universities must submit monthly reports, recording attendance, dropout, graduation status, etc., with real-time control by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Violation will result in cancellation of enrollment qualifications: Once a school is found to cooperate with illegal visa activities, it will be reported and face revocation of course qualifications.

Karun emphasized, "We must eliminate the practice of hanging student status while actually working, and enhance Thailand's credibility in the global education system."

This means that the gray production route of coming to Thailand for 'jungle fighting' through fake studying has been essentially cut off. Those wishing to stay legally can only face higher costs and stricter visa regulations.