If the company plans to expand in Thailand, it is essential to ensure that every employee obtains a Thai work visa and work permit to legally work and live in the country.
Types of Thai Work Visas
Main types of Thai work visas include:
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Business Visa)
Non-Immigrant BA Visa (Business Approval Visa)
Non-Immigrant IB Visa (Investment and Business Visa)
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Teaching)
Foreign nationals who hold a work visa but have not yet applied for a work permit must apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor within 90 days of arriving in Thailand. Foreigners working in Thailand must obtain a work permit before starting work, and the employer can fill out the application form on their behalf before they start working.
However, according to relevant regulations, a work permit is only issued after the foreigner enters Thailand under the Immigration Act, and must be collected in person by the applicant. Applicants entering Thailand on a business visa, if their company has obtained the Thailand Investment Promotion Certificate (BOI), can process their work permit at the One Stop Service Center (OSOS) of the Ministry of Labor, which has now been generally digitized as an electronic work permit.
Chinese citizens working in Thailand need to prepare the following documents:
Front page of passport or travel document
Please upload a photo of the applicant holding the passport information page
Applicant's signed declaration (can be downloaded during online system application)
Registration documents and business license of the Thai company
Work invitation letter issued by the Thai employer company with company seal and responsible person's signature (detailing applicant's information such as name, position, passport number, purpose of visit to Thailand, and duration of stay in Thailand) along with the identity card or passport information of the Thai company's signatory (must be a board member listed in the company registration documents, if not, a formal authorization letter is required); if the signatory is a non-Thai national, provide the signatory's passport front page, valid visa page, and Thai work permit
WP3: ("Employment Permit Record Document" issued by the Thai Ministry of Labor, necessary for the renewal of Non-B work visas and obtaining work permits)
Company profile of the Thai company
Provide a paid and airline-confirmed e-ticket from China to Thailand (if the ticket is not confirmed, the consulate has the right to refuse your visa application)
Upload the entry and exit records from the National Immigration Administration on the government service platform
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Business Visa)
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Business Visa) is issued to applicants who wish to enter Thailand for work or business. Foreigners wishing to work in Thailand must provide the following documents:
Passport or travel document with a validity of at least 6 months
Completed visa application form
Passport photo taken within the past 6 months (4 x 6 cm)
Sufficient proof of funds (20,000 THB per person, 40,000 THB per family)
Approval letter from the Ministry of Labor: To obtain this letter, the applicant's future employer in Thailand must submit the WP3 form to the Foreign Workers Administration Office of the Employment Department, phone: 02-2452745, or fax: 02-2452745
Company documents of the Thai employing company, such as:
Business registration and business license
List of shareholders
Company profile
Details of business operations
List of foreign employees specifying names, nationalities, and positions
Map indicating company location
Balance sheet, income tax, and business tax statements
VAT registration form
Proof of foreign tourist numbers (only for tourism businesses) or bank-issued proof of export transactions (only for export businesses)
Foreigners wishing to conduct business in Thailand must provide the following documents:
Passport or travel document with a validity of at least 6 months
Completed application form
Passport photo taken within the past 6 months (4 x 6 cm)
Sufficient proof of funds for the duration of stay in Thailand (20,000 THB per person, 40,000 THB per family)
Letter from the applicant's company detailing the applicant's position, years of work, salary, and purpose of visit to Thailand
Correspondence with Thai business partners
If the applicant is a sole proprietor, financial status proof is required
Invitation letter from Thai trade or related partners/companies
Company documents of Thai related partners/companies, such as:
Business registration and business license
List of shareholders
Company profile
Details of business operations
Map indicating company location
Most recent year's balance sheet, income tax, and business tax statements
VAT registration form
Copies of company documents must be signed by the board of directors or authorized general manager and stamped with the company seal
Supplementary documents may be requested if necessary; if required documents are missing, the applicant must provide a letter explaining why the document is missing
The applicant must endorse each page of the submitted document copies
Foreign language documents must be translated into Thai and notarized by a notary public or the applicant's diplomatic or consular mission
This type of visa holder is entitled to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days. An extension of stay can be applied for at the Immigration Office, and may be granted an extension of one year from the date of first entry into Thailand.
Non-Immigrant BA Visa (Business Approval Visa)
Non-Immigrant BA Visa (Business Visa) is available to eligible applicants. The applicant's investing or business-related company can apply for this visa on behalf of the applicant at the Immigration Office.
Once the application is approved, the Immigration Office will notify the relevant Thai Embassy or Consulate General through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the visa to the applicant. BA visa holders are allowed to stay in Thailand for one year from the date of first entry.
Non-Immigrant IB Visa (Investment and Business Visa)
Non-Immigrant IB Visa (Investment and Business Visa) is suitable for foreign nationals employed in investment projects overseen by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). These projects must contribute to Thailand in the following ways:
Promote exports
Increase employment
Utilize local raw materials
Involve various provinces in the projects
Encourage technology transfer to Thai nationals
Not hinder existing domestic businesses
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Teaching)
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Teaching) is issued to foreigners intending to teach at educational institutions below the university level in Thailand, requiring the following documents:
Passport or travel document with a validity of at least 6 months
Completed visa application form
Recent passport photo taken within the past 6 months (4 x 6 cm)
Admission notice from a Thai employment agency or school
Approval letter from government agencies such as the Office of the Private Education Commission, Office of the Basic Education Commission, etc.
Educational qualifications, such as diplomas or teaching certificates
School license or business registration, list of shareholders, and school profile
Applicant's resume
Proof of no criminal record from the police or equivalent proof, or a certification letter issued by an authorized agency in the applicant's home country (submission of such police proof is optional. If consular officers require the applicant to submit, the applicant must submit. This requirement has been in effect since May 2007)
Non-Immigrant O Visa
Spouses and family members (i.e., spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 20 years old) of employees going to work in Thailand are eligible to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa. Granted a stay of 90 days, but not exceeding 1 year.
Work Permit
A work permit (Work permit) refers to the situation where foreign nationals work or operate a company in Thailand, according to Thai law, the visa type needs to be changed to a work visa. After the change is completed, a work permit must be applied for, otherwise, it is not allowed to work in Thailand. Foreign nationals who hold a work visa but have not yet applied for a work permit must apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor within 90 days of arriving in Thailand. Foreigners working in Thailand must obtain a work permit before starting work, and the employer can fill out the application form on their behalf before they start working.
However, according to relevant regulations, a work permit is only issued after the foreigner enters Thailand under the Immigration Act, and must be collected in person by the applicant. Applicants entering Thailand on a business visa, if their company has obtained the Thailand Investment Promotion Certificate (BOI), can process their work permit at the One Stop Service Center (OSOS) of the Ministry of Labor, which has now been generally digitized as an electronic work permit.
The validity of the work permit is limited to the period allowed by the Immigration Act for the foreigner's non-immigrant visa to stay in Thailand. Therefore, the work permit will be renewed according to the extension and renewal of the visa. The work permit must be renewed annually within the validity period of the work permit, and then apply for a work visa or extension.
For foreigners holding a Thai residence permit, the work permit can be renewed annually. The Labor Department is specifically responsible for handling the renewal of work permits, and the initial validity period of the work permit is generally 1 year. The work permit must be renewed before it expires, otherwise, it will automatically become invalid.
It is quite special that, in general, a company can employ one foreigner for every 2 million THB of registered capital. In addition, a company can obtain up to 10 permits. Depending on the company's situation, there are mandatory requirements for the number of Thai employees per foreign employee, with a standard ratio of 4 Thai employees to 1 foreign employee.
The following documents are required to apply for a work permit:
A valid passport with a non-immigrant visa (must hold a business visa (NONB), not a tourist or transit visa)
For permanent residence, a valid passport, residence permit, and foreigner identity card are required
The applicant's educational qualifications and a recommendation letter from the original employer (detailed description of the applicant's past positions, responsibilities, performance, work location, and duration); if the documents are in English, they must be accompanied by a Thai translation and certified by the Thai Embassy or Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Recent medical certificate (not more than 6 months old)
3 photos of 3 cm x 4 cm (within 6 months)
Work permit application form. If the application form is not filled out by the applicant, a valid power of attorney in the prescribed format and a 10 baht tax stamp must be attached; copies of the identity cards of the employer and the authorized person (use the work permit if the employer is a foreigner)
When filling out the "Job Description" section of the application form, it is necessary to specify in detail what work the applicant will be engaged in, who the work involves, and what equipment and raw materials are needed for the work
If the job applied for requires approval and issuance of a license (document) under some special laws, a copy of that license (document) must also be attached (such as a teacher's certificate, doctor's medical license, journalist's certificate, etc.)
If the job application is not in Bangkok, the application form should be filled out at the Labor Office of the relevant province. If there is no such institution, it should be filled out at the city hall of that province;
Map of the workplace
Employment certificate or labor contract
Company registration certificate and shareholder list issued by the Business Development Department, copies of which must be dated within 6 months of the processing date. Or a business license issued under the 1999 law on foreign nationals operating companies in Thailand, and proof of foreign investment funds
VAT certificate copies (Phor.Por.01 and Phor.Por.20), if there is a change in the type of company business, it must be indicated (Phor.Por.09)
If the employer is a foreigner, the employer's work permit must be provided; if the employer does not work in Thailand and does not have a Thai work permit, the employer must provide an authorization letter, authorizing the director or relevant personnel to exercise the right to sign on behalf of the employer, and it must be notarized by a notary office and certified by the embassy
License issued by the relevant industry agency of the employer, such as factory license, hotel license, food and drug license, tourism industry license, etc.;
List of foreign and Thai employees and work permit numbers, organizational chart, geographical location map of the company
Recent proof of paid social security and current income materials, i.e., financial statements and Phor.Ngor.Dor.50 or the latest Thai (2023 edition) 100 Phor.Ngor.Dor.51 and Phor.Por.30
4 photos of the office location, including 1 photo clearly showing the company name, 1 photo showing the building in front of the office, and 2 photos of the office layout
Validity Period of Thai Work Visas
Non-immigrant visas (NON-B) are valid for 90 days, and once a work permit is obtained, it can be extended. BA visa holders are allowed to stay in Thailand for one year from the date of first entry.
In principle, the initial validity period of the work permit is 1 year.
Cost of Applying for a Thai Work Visa
Starting from July 15, 2024, the latest revised list of visa application fees for Chinese applicants at the Thai Embassy in China and various Consulates General in mainland China for visas to Thailand, the fee for a single-entry non-immigrant visa is 480 RMB, and for multiple entries (valid for 1 year) is 1200 RMB. Visa fees are non-refundable once paid.
All visa applications must be made through the Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa.
Processing Time for Thai Work Visas
The processing time for various types of Thai work visas may vary. If all documents are fully prepared, the visa approval process may take up to 8 weeks (calculated in working days), with no expedited service available. Therefore, it is recommended that employees plan ahead before applying for a work visa and prepare the necessary documents and information as early as possible. If the consular officer requests additional materials, the embassy will notify via the email reserved in the application. From the day after the first email sent by the staff, non-immigrant visas must supplement the materials within 10 working days as required.
Employers need to follow up on the progress of the work visa application in a timely manner and maintain communication with relevant departments to ensure that the submitted documents and information are accurate and complete, and provide any additional documents or information as required.
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