Thailand Work Visa & Work Permit Information for Job Seekers 

To work in Thailand you need to apply for a non-immigrant visa. The non-immigrant visa can also be referred to as a Thailand work visa. However, a non-immigrant visa is not sufficient to work in Thailand. The country requires foreigners to apply for a work permit. A work permit will state the position, job description, and your current job role in the Thai company. You can receive the Thailand work permit in 7 business days. The Ministry of Labor Office will process this application. If you are planning to work in Thailand, you can read this blog to get all information regarding the Thailand work visa, and work permit application.

Thailand Work Visa Basics 

The Thailand non-immigrant visa (Category B) is the Thailand work visa. This is the visa you need to apply to work in Thailand.  However, this visa is not sufficient to work in the country. As mentioned above, you need to apply for a work permit and request an extension of stay. All foreigners except Thai citizens will have to follow the following process:

• First, apply for a Thai work visa  (Category B of non-immigrant visas) from an Embassy or Consulate in the home country.
• Next, visit the Department of Employment in Thailand to apply for a Thai work permit 
• Lastly, visit the Thai immigration Bureau to get an extension of the stay permit 

Note: After obtaining the work permit you cannot work in prohibited occupations in the country. You also need to have a work permit at all times during working hours. This is because the immigration officers can visit your workplace and ask you to show your work permit. If you don’t have the permit with you, you will be fined.

Types of Thailand Work Visas

The Thailand Work Visa or non-immigrant visa B are of different types. They are:

• Category B (Business Visa): Given to those who want to work or conduct business in the country 
• Non-Immigrant Visa category “B-A”: These visas are called business-approved visas and are issued by the  Immigration Bureau in Bangkok to conduct business or to invest in a business in Thailand 
• Non-Immigrant Visa Category “IB”: These visas are called investment and business visas and are given out to foreigners who have to work on investment projects under the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI)
•   Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” : This visa is called a teaching visa, and is given to foreigners who want to teach in a school in Thailand (below the university level

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Thailand Work Visa Documentation Requirements 

The Thailand work visa documentation requirements are as follows:

• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months, and has 2 blank pages. Those applying for a 1-year visa must have a passport that is valid for a minimum period of 18 months 
• A Thailand visa application form. You can download the same or visit in person at a Thailand embassy or consulate.
• A passport-size photograph with a white background, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm dimensions, and taken within the last 6 months 
• Provide proof of sufficient funds. The minimum balance needed to work in Thailand is 20,000 Thai Baht if you are travelling alone. Those who are travelling as a family need a minimum balance of 40,000 Thai Baht.
• Apart from that you need to submit a police clearance certificate
• Letter of Approval from the Thailand Ministry of Labour. The employer is responsible for applying for an approval request.
• Those working as school teachers (at the pre-university level) need a letter of acceptance from an educational institution in Thailand, a letter of approval from a relevant Thai government agency, and a school’s license or business registration with the school’s profile, and the list of stockholders

Steps to Get a Thailand Work Visa

The application for a Thailand work visa needs to be sent to the diplomatic mission of Thailand (consulate or embassy) in the home country or a neighbouring country. Follow the steps below to get a Thailand work visa

• First, contact the Thailand embassy or consulate to apply for a non-immigrant visa. You can also visit their official website to learn about the working days, opening hours and the preferred method of Thai visa fee payment.
• Gather the required documents, and submit the same. You can submit it either in person or online 
• Lastly, wait for the visa application processing.
• Once, your visa application is approved collect the passport. When a visa is approved you can enter the country within the time provided in your visa application.
• Note: Those who are on a Tourist visa can change their visa to the B category. However, your application has less chance of being approved.

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Thailand Work Visa Fees 

The Thailand work Visa Fees are as follows. The fees can slightly vary depending on the country you are applying from.

Particulars	Fees
Single-entry work visa	2,000 Thai Baht (about USD 65)
Multiple-entry	5,000 Thai Baht (about USD 164)

Learn about the cost of living in Thailand for Foreigners 

Thailand Work Permit Basics 

After applying for a Thailand work visa, you need to apply for a Thailand work permit. To receive a Thailand work permit you will have to apply for a company that fulfils the following conditions-

• The company must have at least a capital investment of 2,000,000 Thai Baht. and must have paid the income tax of 5,000,000 Thai Baht to the revenue department in the last 3 years
• Must be an export business that has a foreign remittance of a minimum of 3,000,000 Thai Baht in the past year
• Moreover, the company must employ a minimum of 50 Thai nationals, and must only hire 1 foreign worker per 50 nationals or hire 1 foreign national per every 2,000,000 Thai Baht.
• You can work for a specific employer. If you want to change your employer or the office address of the company you want to work for has changed you need to notify the same to the Ministry of Labour 

Thailand Work Permit Documentation Requirements  

The following are the Thailand work permit requirements 

• You must have a Thai work visa and a passport 
• Your academic degrees and certificates, and other relevant certificates and licenses
• Letter of employment or work contract, CV/resume, and photographs 
• Proof of accommodation in Thailand 
• Health certificate 
• Provide a marriage certificate if you are married to a Thai citizen 
• Additional documents such as the company certificate, VAT certificate, Company withholding Tax, etc
• Translate all the documents into Thai  

Application Process for a Thai Work Permit 

The Thai work permit application process details are as follows. You need to apply for a work permit after obtaining a Thailand work visa

• You or your employer can file for the permit at the Ministry of Labour 
• Gather the necessary documents, and apply for the permit before starting work
• Wait for 7 days for the permit to be processed 
• Visit the Ministry of Labour after obtaining the permit to complete the formalities 
• Keep the work permit all times. The immigration officers can visit the office, and you will be asked to show your work permit. If you don’t have your work permit you can be fined for the same.
• You can receive a Thai work permit for 1 year. If you fulfil the requirements, you can apply for a work permit extension

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Fees for a Thai Work Permit

Apart from paying the Thailand work visa fees, you need to pay for the work permit. The work permit fees are as follows:

Particulars	Fees
Work Permit for 3 months	750 Thai Baht
Work Permit for 3-6 months	1,500 Thai Baht
Work Permit for 6-12 months	3,000 Thai Baht

Thai Work Visa Extension 

After you obtain a Thai work permit you are allowed to work. However, to stay in Thailand for a long duration you need to apply for a visa extension at the Immigration Bureau. This extension must be applied before the current visa expires. That is, within 90 days of entering the country. The visa extension is given for 1 year from the date of entry into the country. 

After this extension period expires, you can reapply for an extension for 1 more year. Like this, you can apply for a work visa extension for 3 years. After staying in Thailand for 3 years you can apply for permanent residency.  

Getting a Thai Re-Entry Permit

Apart from getting your Thailand work visa, you need to apply for a re-entry permit. A re-entry permit must be acquired to leave Thailand without getting your visa validity expired.  Those who haven’t applied for a Thailand re-entry permit will will have to apply for a new visa when re-entering the country.

90-Day Mandatory Check In 

Anyone staying in Thailand for more than 3 months must report their presence. The report has to be sent to Thailand’s Immigration Department every 90 days. You can report your presence in the following centres 15 days before the exact date.

• At the nearest  Immigration Office (email)
• At the nearest  Immigration Office (in person)
• Immigration Department’s electronic system (online)

FAQs

We hope you now understand all about Thailand work visa. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!

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