Thailand is a beautiful tropical country that has attracted more and more foreigners to stay and work. To work in Thailand legally as a foreigner, you need to have a work permit. This guide will delve into the Thai work permit, work visa as well as the process for getting a Thai work permit.
What Are Thai Work Visa & Work Permit?
In Thailand, a work visa and a work permit are two necessary documents that a foreigner has to obtain if he intends to work in the country. They are different and not interchangeable.
A work visa, issued by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General, is a Non-Immigrant visa and is required for foreigners who want to go to Thailand for work purposes. You need to get it from your home country in advance. With a work visa, you are allowed to enter Thailand. However, holding a work visa does not mean you can work in Thailand. You have to obtain a work permit, which is issued by the Ministry of Labor, to engage in work legally. The work permit contains a foreigner’s occupation or job description as well as the Thai company he is working with.
Thai Work Visa vs Destination Thailand Visa: What’s the Difference?
Apart from the Thai work visa, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which was newly announced in July 2024, also allows foreigners to work in Thailand. However, it is different from a work visa in terms of target applicants, validity, permitted period of stay, etc.
On the one hand, the DTV is available for foreign remote workers, digital nomads and freelancers. If you have obtained one, you can stay in Thailand for up to 180 days and the visa is valid for 5 years with multiple entries. On the other hand, a work visa, usually referred to as a Non-Immigrant B visa, generally permits foreigners to stay in Thailand for 90 days. Once obtained, it is valid for 1 year.
If you are a remote worker and want to experience working in a tropical land, the DTV is perfect for you as it is considered a Thailand remote work visa. If you have to work in Thailand as an employee or do business, you should apply for a Thai work visa.
Who Is Eligible for a Thai Work Visa?
There are different types of Thai work visas. The most common one is the Non-Immigrant B visa, which is issued to people who wish to work in Thailand. Check out the eligibility for a Non-Immigrant B visa (Thai work visa):
- You are not a Thai citizen.
- You apply for a work visa in your home country.
- You have a job offer from a Thai company.
- You intend to work as an employee or manage a business in Thailand.
- The visa includes foreigners who conduct business, attend conferences and participate in trainings or workshops in Thailand.
What Do I Need to Apply for Thailand Work Permit?
Once you have arrived in Thailand with a work visa, you should apply for a work permit within 90 days. Both the applicant and the company associating with the applicant are required to provide documents. See the following lists:
Documents Required for the Company
- Work Permit application form
- Company registration certificates
- List of shareholders
- VAT Certificate
- Corporate income tax fillings
- Financial statement
- Photocopy of the director’s passport and work permit with Signature affixed
- Office map and location
- Employment contract between the company and the foreign individual
Documents Required for the Work Visa Applicant
- Original valid passport
- Copies of every page of your passport, including both sides of the passport cover
- 6 photos of 2 x 2 inches
- Signed letter of employment
- Certificate of Education
- Recent medical certificate (updated within 6 months)
- Working address in Thailand
In case you are married to a Thai citizen, the following should be provided:
- Marriage certificate
- Your spouse’s identity card and registration number
How to Apply for a Thai Work Permit?
Once you decide to work in Thailand and have acquired relevant documents, you can start the process of getting a work permit. Here are steps:
Obtain a Thai work visa
As mentioned above, you need to get a Non-Immigrant B visa before you apply for a work permit. It is the first step towards a Thailand visa work permit. Make sure you are eligible and have submitted the proper documents to the Thai Embassy. Once they grant you a work visa, you can travel to Thailand and you have to apply for the work permit before your work visa expires.
Gather the necessary documents for a Thai work permit
Gather all the necessary documents we listed above. The documents required for a Thai work permit come from both your side and the company’s side. You need to work for a Thai company that meets the requirements of the Department of Labor.
Apply at the Department of Labor
After all the documents are prepared, you or the Thai company you work with can submit them to the Department of Labor. The location of the process may vary based on your job offer. If you are going to work in Bangkok, you should apply at the Department of Labor at Din Daeng. However, if you are going to base in other provinces, you should apply at that province’s Department of Labor. Please note that you must show up in person if you apply by yourself. If the company is promoted by the BOI (Board of Investment of Thailand), the work permit will need to be approved by the BOI system, and then it will be issued at the One-Stop Service Center.
Wait for the process
Usually, it takes 7 to 10 working days to process a work permit, but it also depends on where you will be based. For work permits issued in Bangkok, it takes about 7 working days while for those issued in Phuket, it may take up to 2 months.
Collect the work permit
You will receive a notification slip saying the date when your work permit can be collected once your documents are submitted. You should collect your work permit in person on that date whether it is applied by yourself or by the company you work with and remember to bring your original passport to receive the work permit stamp.
How to Prepare Visa Photo for Thai Work Permit Application?
Among the requirements for the foreign applicant, getting compliant visa photos for the work permit application is important. You can get them at a photo studio but it is more efficient and time-saving if you take the visa photo at home and convert it online. Follow these steps:
- Find a place with good natural lighting in your home. Then set up a tripod and fix your smartphone to it.
- Stand about 1 meter away from the camera and take a dozen photos. You should face the front with a neutral expression.
- Once you have a satisfying photo, upload it to AiPassportPhotos – an online visa photo converter. It will change your photo’s background and crop it to 2 x 2 inches automatically, making sure it will be accepted by the Department of Labor in Thailand. Plus, it is completely free to download.
- Go to a printing store with your digital photo template and have it printed out.
How Much Does the Thailand Work Visa Cost?
The cost of the Thailand work visa (Non-Immigranat B visa) depends on the number of entries. See the following table:
| Number of Entry | Cost |
| Single-entry | 2000 Thai Baht |
| Multiple-entry | 5000 Thai Baht |
Hong Long Is the Thai Work Visa Valid?
Different type of Non-Immigrant visa has different validity. The type of Thai work visa we talk about in this article, which is a Non-Immigrant B visa, is valid for 90 days. Foreigners who have arrived in Thailand need to apply for their work permits within the 90-day period. Once your work permit is approved, you can extend your work visa to 1 year.
Can I Extend My Thai Work Permit?
Yes. It is necessary to extend your Thai work permit before it expires. Both you and the company you work with need to make sure your visa is extended so that your work permit can be extended as well. You have to submit the same documents as you apply for the first time.
FAQ
How long does it take to get a work permit in Thailand?
Usually, it takes about 7 to 10 working days to process a work permit, but it may take up to 2 months if you do not apply in Bangkok.
Can I work in Thailand on a tourist visa?
No. A work visa also called a Non-Immigrant visa, is necessary for foreigners to work in Thailand.
Can you work in Thailand on a marriage visa?
It is possible to work in Thailand on a marriage visa because you are eligible to apply for a work permit. However, it depends on the application process and evaluation.
Is it easy to get a work visa in Thailand?
It can be tricky getting a work visa in Thailand because of the bureaucracy and requirements. You need to receive a job offer and the Thai company that hires you has to be eligible.
Can foreigners work in Thailand without a work permit?
No. All foreigners need to obtain a work permit to work legally in Thailand.
What is a smart visa in Thailand?
The smart visa is a visa category designed to attract high-skilled professionals, investors and entrepreneurs. There are 4 types of smart visas with different eligibility standards and requirements.
Conclusion
To make sure you can work in Thailand smoothly, both work visa and work permit applications need to be prepared carefully. First, you should decide whether you are applying for a Thailand remote worker visa or a Non-Immigrant B visa. Then, you can start gathering the documents required and go through the process as instructed. Good luck with your applications.
Dolores Xiao