Work Employment Visa In Thailand: Explained

Considering swapping your nine-to-five for a view of the Andaman Sea?

Not so fast! Working in Thailand legally requires some navigational skill through the visa labyrinth.

This guide is your roadmap to making it happen.

What Is Needed To Apply For Thailand?

For people wanting to pursue career opportunities in Thailand, they must apply for a non-immigrant visa and consequently a work permit.

This article will explain the types of work visas that are granted by the Thailand embassy. In addition, it will provide information about the process of applying for work visas and work permits in Thailand in detail.

What Are The Types Of Work Visas In Thailand

Thailand immigrationinitially offersa non-immigrant visa to its applicants. After entering Thailand applicants have to apply for a work permit within ninety days.

Common work visas for Thailand include:

Non-immigrant visa B: This visa is suitable for any foreigner who wants to work in Thailand or undertake any business ventures and startups. This visa is valid for 90 days upon entry but can be extended within Thailand.
Non-immigrant visa IB: This visa type is especially for foreign investors and it allows them to stay up to 1 year in Thailand with multiple entries.
Non-immigrant visa O: This type is for the experts andspecialists who are invited by the Thai government. This is much more suitable for residents or people who are dependent on Thai citizens.
Non-Immigrant M Visa: This type is for media-related people such as writers, journalists, film producers, etc. Only media-related people can apply for this visa.
Smart visa: This a new employment visa that is given to individuals having special skills and knowledge regarding digital technology, robotics, biotechnology, etc. All that can help Thailand’s economic growth and modernization. This visa allows a stay of up to 4 years.

How To Apply For A Work Visa In Thailand?

The process of applying for a work visa in Thailand has generally three steps that are to be followed accordingly.

Apply for a Thai Work Visa from an Embassy in your country.
Apply for a Thai Work Permit at the Department of Employment or Ministry of Labor, when you enter Thailand.
Apply for an Extension of Work Permit for a long-term stay in Thailand, at the Thai Immigration Bureau, within 90 days of entering Thailand.

Documents For Work Visa Requirements In Thailand

Non-immigrant visa B is themost suitable visa for any applicant who wishes to work in Thailand. Certain documents are required by the applicant for this purpose, which are as follows:

Passport of the applicant, with a validity of at least 6 months.
Complete and signed documents of work visa, containing correct information regarding all matters.
2 passport-size photos of the applicant, with white background. Pictures must be taken within the last 6 months.
Copy of Bank details and other assets as evidence of sufficient financial means to support the applicant’s stay in Thailand. (The applicant must have 20,000 Baht if traveling alone, and 40,000 Baht if traveling with family)
Police clearance certificate of the applicant is needed.
A copy of the confirmed ticket to Thailand of the applicant, to show the travel date.
A copy of the Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labor.
The Letter of Approval, the employer needs to contact the BOI or Ministry of Labor for this purpose.
The Letter of acceptance that is issued by the relevant Thai government agency or institution.
Copy of the Certificate of Educational Qualifications and degrees.
The location of the workplace of the applicant in Thailand.

Applicants having Thailand work visa get access to the public healthcare system through the Universal coverage scheme (UCS)of Thailand.

Can Family Members Of Work Visa Applicants Apply For Thailand?

The applicant can alsoapplyfor their family members in this visa category. The applicantmust provide proof of their financial stability if they wish to take their family along with them to Thailand.

Requirements For Work Permit In Thailand

A work permit allows theapplicant to work legally in Thailand. The process of work permit varies from region to region in Thailand. This means that the applicant must be approved by the particular province or region’s Employment Department.

To obtain a work permit, the applicant must work for a Thai company which isfulfilling the requirements of the Ministry of Labor inThailand. The requirements for this are as follows:

The company must have a registered capital of at least 2,000,000 Thai Baht.
The company must have paid income tax of at least 5,000,000 Thai Baht, especially in the last 3 years, to the revenue department of Thailand.
The company’s export business must have a foreign remittance of 3,000,000 Thai Baht, especially in the last year.
The company must have at the very least 50 Thai national employers.

Documents For Work Permit Requirements In Thailand

The applicant must submit certain documents to the Ministry of Labor in Thailand to get a work permit. The processing time for the work permit application is up to one week. The required documents for a work permit are as follows:

The Applicant’s passport, and copy of all pages of the passport.
Thai Work Visa document of the applicant containing the correct information.
A copy of the Applicant’s educational degrees and certificates.
Applicant’s Letter of Employment, stating the applicant’s salary, job position, and other work responsibilities.
Copies of all the relevant licenses and certificates of the applicant, if any.
Applicant’s CV/Resume.
3 pictures of the applicant (5 x 6 cm)
applicant’s proof of accommodation in Thailand.
Medical Certificate of the applicant proving their mental stability and good health. the medical certificate must be done after applying for a visa.
Copy of a Marriage Certificate is also needed if the applicant is married to a citizen of Thailand.
A list of the company’s shareholders, where the applicant got accepted for a job, is required.
VAT Certificate or VAT registration certificate is needed. This certificate confirms that the company or business the applicant is working for is legally and officially registered.
The company’s tax details to ensure that the company is paying its tax duly.
The employment contract between the company and the applicant is also an important document needed for a work permit.

The applicant must legalize the documents and translate them into Thai before submitting them. Moreover, the documents must bestamped with thecompany’s seal and signed by the managing directors of the company.

Fee Requirements For Work Visa In Thailand

The requirements for a Thailand work visa vary forsingle entry and multiple entries. Single entryallows astay of up to ninety days in Thailand and is valid for six months. While the multiple entry visa allows a stay for up to ninety days upon each entry and is valid for a year generally.

The fee for different entry visa types is as follows:

Single entry visa	2,000 Thai Baht
Multiple entry fee	5,000 Thai Baht

The work visa fee changes for different countries depending on the local currency and mode of payment. Payments can be done in cash or through bank transfers as is suitable for the applicant.

Fee Requirements For Work Permits In Thailand

The fee requirement for a Thai Work Permit depends on the time period of the permit. This means the duration for which the permit is granted.

The maximum duration of a Thai WorkPermit is basically one year. If the work contract of the applicant is for less than a year, then the time period of the work permit is accordingly given.

The work permit duration can be extended while in Thailand before the expiry of the current work permit which is usually for ninety days.

The fee for work permits according to their duration is as follows:

Work permit for up to three months	750 Thai Baht
Work permit for three to six months	1,500 Thai Baht
Work permit for six to twelve months	3,000 Thai Baht

Is Work Visa And Work Permit Different In Thailand?

The two phrases work visa and work permit are not to be used interchangeably. There are clear differences explained below:

Work Visa	Work Permit
Applied by applicants in home country	Applied for Thailand
Used for entry into Thailand	Used to obtain extended stay in Thailand

How Long Is Work Visa Valid?

A work visa only grants entry into Thailand and a temporary stay in Thailand which is usually up to ninety days or 3 months.

Mandatory 90 days immigration check-in:

It is mandatory for the applicant to enter Thailand within 90 days. This time period is called “90-day reporting” because the applicant has to report his Thai address to Thai immigration every 90 days.

Applicant must notify in person at the Thai immigration, 15 days before his expiry of 90-day permit or after 7 days of expiry.

The applicant who notifies later than the 90-day period is given a fine of 2000 Baht. The applicant who never notifies after the expiry of the 90-day permit is arrested and is fined 5000 Baht.

Can A Work Permit Be Extended?

A work permit can be extended before the expiry of the previous one. Applicants who want to stay for a longer period of time or the applicants who want to renew their work permit must request an extension of work permit, at the immigration bureau. This must be done within 90 days of entering Thailand.

Conclusion

You’ve made it through the intricate maze that is obtaining a work and employment visa in Thailand. Whether you’re a digital nomad, an entrepreneur, or an employee, you’re now armed with the knowledge to work legally in this tropical paradise.

Bon Voyage!

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