Education records for study and work visas
Degree certificates, transcripts, enrolment letters and offers of admission — used both for student visas and for work visas that require proof of qualifications.
Education records are institutional documents rather than civil-registration records, so the chain begins with the original or an institution-certified copy. Many Thai universities issue English degree certificates and transcripts themselves, which is the cleanest route and avoids mistranslated programme terminology.
When the institution issues Thai only, the documents need a translation with a certificate of accuracy, and the terminology must mirror the institution's own usage — degree name, field of study, grading scale and credit system. Foreign credential-evaluation bodies map those terms onto their national qualification frameworks, so an inaccurate rendering can distort the evaluation.
For student visas, embassies typically require the destination institution's offer or enrolment letter alongside financial and accommodation evidence. For work visas requiring proof of qualifications — including Thai work-permit applications under Department of Employment rules — legalised degree certificates and transcripts serve as the supporting evidence.
Foreign-issued education records intended for use in Thailand must first be certified in the issuing country and by that country's embassy in Thailand, or by the Royal Thai Embassy abroad, before being translated into Thai and legalised at the Department of Consular Affairs.
Thailand still uses the traditional legalisation chain. The 1961 Hague Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, after the deposit of its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 (source: HCCH). Until then, visa supporting documents must still pass through the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy.
Supporting-document requirements vary by visa category, nationality and the embassy or consulate receiving the file, and they change over time. Always check the current checklist published by the receiving authority before you start.
Documents in this family
- Degree certificate or diploma
- Academic transcript
- Enrolment or graduation certificate
- Offer or acceptance letter from the destination institution
- Language test results, where the institution or embassy requires them
- Course and contact-hour certificate for short programmes
Order of steps
- Obtain originals or institution-certified copies, in English where available
- Translate the Thai-language items using the institution's own terminology
- Certify the institutional signatory where the destination requires it
- Legalise at the Department of Consular Affairs
- Legalise at the destination embassy and submit with the application
Preparation checklist
- Degree and field names in the translation match the institution's wording
- The transcript shows the full grading scale and credit system
- The graduate's name matches the passport spelling
- Copies of the originals accompany every translation
- Confirm whether the destination requires documents sent directly by the institution
Frequently asked questions
My university issued an English transcript — do I still need a translation?
No, because the issuer produced it in English. If the destination requires legalisation, it still passes through the Department of Consular Affairs and then the embassy.
Do I have to present the original degree certificate?
Consular officers compare against the original, so the original must be shown. Whether the certification is placed on a copy or on the translation depends on the format you need and the destination's rule.
I graduated abroad and want to use the degree in Thailand. What is the route?
Certify it under the issuing country's system, then have it certified by that country's embassy in Thailand or by the Royal Thai Embassy abroad, then translate into Thai and legalise at the Department of Consular Affairs.
Do student visas also need financial evidence?
Usually yes — embassies assess both academic readiness and the ability to fund the stay. The exact requirement depends on the destination.
Visa approval rests solely with the embassy, consulate or immigration authority. For a review of your document set, send scans to our team by phone, LINE or email.