Phuket reviews foreign student visa process to support regional education hub goal

Phuket officials are reviewing the documentation and procedures used to support foreign students applying for Non-Immigrant ED visas, as the province works towards becoming an international education hub for the region.

Deputy Phuket Governor Ramadan Haji-awa chaired a meeting on 24 August 2026 at Phuket Provincial Hall to exchange information and discuss ways to improve the process. Participants included Phuket Provincial Education Officer Panna Phromwichian, the Phuket Association of Non-Formal Private Schools, representatives of non-formal private schools and other relevant agencies.

The meeting addressed revisions to regulations, criteria and documentation procedures for foreign students. Officials said the changes had increased the workload and the detail required when checking information. Participants discussed how government agencies, education providers and the private sector could improve coordination, data links and procedures while ensuring compliance with the law and making the process more convenient for schools and students.

Haji-awa said Phuket needed to manage education services in line with applicable laws, regulations and criteria while responding to the continued arrival of foreign students. In the short term, the province will focus on improving coordination, building a shared understanding of required procedures and documents, and closely monitoring cases to make services run more smoothly.

In the longer term, Phuket plans to establish a joint working mechanism involving the relevant sectors to study, improve and develop procedures suited to the province’s circumstances and capacity.

The deputy governor said an efficient, transparent and accessible support system would help build confidence among schools, foreign students and other stakeholders. He assigned the agencies involved to integrate their work, with the process to be carried out in accordance with the law and good governance principles.