I’ll be very clear, because this mistake costs people their stay every single month.
You can convert to a Non-Immigrant ED Visa inside Thailand, but only if you use the correct form and respect the 15-day rule. Ignore either one, and the Immigration Bureau will reject your Change of Visa Type without discussion.
I’ve watched students show up confident, documents ready, only to be turned away at the counter because they used the wrong form, or had 12 days left instead of 15. Immigration doesn’t bend on this.
Let me break it down properly.
What “In-Country ED Visa Conversion” Actually Means
“In-country conversion” means you do not leave Thailand. You switch your current status to ED at immigration.
This applies if you entered Thailand on:
- A tourist visa, or
- A Visa Exempt Entry
You’re not applying at an embassy. You’re applying directly to Thai immigration.
And this is where TM.86 vs TM.87 matters.
TM.86 vs TM.87: Use the Wrong One, Get Rejected
This is not optional. This is black-and-white.
If you entered with a Tourist Visa → TM.86 Form
TM.86 is for people who already hold a visa and want to change its category.
Typical examples:
- Tourist Visa (TR)
- Non-Immigrant O → ED (less common, but same logic)
If you’re on a tourist visa and submit TM.87 instead?
Rejected.
If you entered on the Visa Exempt Entry → TM.87 Form
TM.87 is for people who entered without a visa and received a short-term stamp.
This includes:
- 30-day visa exempt
- 60-day visa exempt (current standard for many nationalities)
If you’re visa-exempt and submit TM.86? Rejected.
Immigration won’t “switch it for you.” They’ll just slide your passport back.
The 15-Day Rule: The Hardest Deadline in the ED System
Now listen carefully.
You must have at least 15 days remaining on your current permission to stay on the day you apply.
Not 14.
Not “almost.”
Not “but my school said maybe.”
15 full days.
This rule applies to:
- TM.86 and
- TM.87
If you show up with fewer than 15 days left, immigration cannot accept the application.
What If You’re Under 15 Days?
You have two options:
- Extend your current stay first (usually 30 days, 1,900 THB), then apply
- Leave Thailand and apply from abroad
Most people choose option one, but they wait too long and miss it.
I tell students: If you’re on a 60-day stamp, start the process by day 40–45. Don’t wait.
How the Change of Visa Type Process Works (Realistic Version)
Here’s the clean, correct flow:
- Enroll in an approved school
- Get your acceptance documents ready
- Check your stamp, 15+ days remaining
- Go to the Immigration Bureau
- Submit TM.86 or TM.87 (correct one only)
- Pay a 2,000 THB conversion fee
- Wait for approval (usually 30–45 days)
- Receive a 90-day ED stamp
After that, you extend every 90 days with attendance reports.
Where People Mess This Up (Every Week)
I see the same mistakes again and again:
- Wrong form (TM.86 vs TM.87)
- Counting calendar days wrong
- Assuming immigration will “advise” them
- Applying too late because the school delayed the paperwork
- Thinking that an extension is automatic
Immigration officers are polite, but they’re strict. They follow the checklist, not your story.
Important Reality Check (Especially for Muay Thai)
Since 2024–2025, ED visas, especially for non-academic programs, are under heavy scrutiny.
That means:
- Attendance matters
- Schools are audited
- Fake programs are gone
- The history of visa runs hurts your chances
If your goal is flexibility, not structured study, the ED visa may not be the right tool anymore.
In many cases, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is now a cleaner option, but that’s a different discussion.
Final Takeaways (Save Yourself the Headache)
- Tourist Visa → TM.86
- Visa Exempt Entry → TM.87
- 15 days remaining is mandatory
- Immigration will reject late or incorrect applications
- Extend first if you’re cutting it close
- Start early, don’t wait for the last week
In-country conversion works. I see it approved all the time. But only for people who respect the rules and the timing.
This system doesn’t reward urgency. It rewards preparation.
FAQs: Mastering the TM.86 & TM.87 Conversion
1. “Kru, I entered on a 60-day Visa Exemption. Which form do I use?”
You use TM.87. Even though it’s a 60-day stay now, it is still a “Visa Exempt” entry (entry without a visa).
Using the TM.86 (which is for Tourist Visas) is the most common reason for instant rejection at the counter in 2026.
2. “What if I have exactly 15 days left? Is that safe?”
It is “legal,” but it is not “safe.”
If there is a single typo in your school’s MOE letter or your TM.30 isn’t updated, you will have to come back the next day. By then, you’ll have 14 days left, and you’ll be ineligible.
Day 20 is your real deadline.
3. “Can I convert to an ED Visa if I am currently on a DTV?”
No. As of 2026, the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) cannot be converted to an ED visa inside the country.
If you want to switch from DTV to ED, you must cancel your DTV, leave Thailand, and start fresh.
The TM.86/87 process is strictly for Tourist and Visa-Exempt entries.
4. “Do I need to show 500,000 THB for an in-country conversion?”
Surprisingly, no.
When converting inside Thailand, the financial requirements are usually much lower (often just 20,000 to 40,000 THB proof) compared to applying for a DTV or applying for an ED visa at an embassy abroad.
This makes in-country conversion very popular for students on a budget.
5. “Why does the conversion take 30–45 days?”
Immigration doesn’t just give you the visa; they put you on an “under consideration” period.
You’ll get a stamp that says you can stay while they verify your school’s MOE license and your attendance records.
You must return to the office on the date specified in your passport to get the actual 90-day ED stamp.
6. “What happens if my current stamp expires while I’m ‘Under Consideration’?”
You are safe. As long as you submitted the application while you had 15+ days left, the “Under Consideration” stamp protects you from overstay. You are legally allowed to stay until the decision is made.
7. “Can I travel outside Thailand while my conversion is ‘Under Consideration’?”
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
If you leave the country before the final ED stamp is placed in your passport, your application is automatically cancelled, and you lose your 2,000 THB fee.
You are “locked” in Thailand for those 30–45 days.
8. “I’m in Chiang Mai. Is the process the same as Bangkok?”
The forms are the same, but the “flavor” of the office is different. Chiang Mai Immigration is notoriously strict about the TM.30 (your address reporting).
If your landlord hasn’t reported you, they won’t even look at your TM.87. Check your TM.30 status before you go.
9. “Does the 2,000 THB fee include the 90-day extension?”
No.
The 2,000 THB is just for the “Change of Visa Type.” Once your first 90 days are up, you will have to pay another 1,900 THB for your first formal extension (Form TM.7).
10. “Can I use an agent to skip the 15-day rule?”
Some agents claim they can “fix” the dates. Do not do this.
In 2026, all entry and exit data will be linked to the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) system.
If your application date in the system is later than your 15-day window, it flags as an error. Stick to the legal timeline.
11. “My school says I need to go to a specific Immigration office. Why?”
In 2026, you must apply at the Immigration office that has jurisdiction over your school’s location, not where you live.
If you live in Pattaya but study at a school in Bangkok, you must go to Chaeng Watthana in Bangkok for the conversion.
12. “What’s the best thing to do if I have 10 days left and really want that ED visa?”
Leave immediately.
Go to Savannakhet or Vientiane. It is much faster and cheaper to apply at an embassy abroad than to try and “fight” an impossible deadline at a Thai immigration counter.
