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Reviewed April 2024
Thailand, located in Southeast Asia, is a popular tourist destination. It attracts visitors annually due to its rich culture, stunning beaches, delectable cuisine, and welcoming locals. Additionally, the country boasts a robust economy, offering numerous opportunities for foreigners interested in living and working there. However, if you intend to work in Thailand, it is essential to obtain the required work visa in advance. Tourist visas only permit short-term stays and do not authorize employment.
Please continue reading on Wego if you want to learn more about the requirements and application process for obtaining a work visa in Thailand in 2024.
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Thailand work visa 2024
A Thailand work visa is a form of non-immigrant visa which grants foreigners the ability to engage in employment or business activities within Thailand legally.
This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes:
- work in Thai companies or be on a paid internship
- work in Thai educational institutions
- conduct business, e.g. short-term business visits upon an invitation by Thai business counterparts
- invest in Thailand (through ownership of a condominium, deposit in a Thai bank, or Thai government bond, with face value not less than 3 million THB).
Book cheap flights to Thailand
Non-immigrant B visa (Business visa)
This work visa is the most frequently granted to foreigners employed in Thailand or those wanting to engage in business there. Applicants must apply for this visa from their home country, which typically permits a 90-day stay in Thailand. However, if the applicant possesses a work permit and a valid employment contract or business operation within Thailand, it can be extended up to one year.
Non-immigrant B-A visa (Business-Approved visa)
This work permit is typically provided to individuals who invest in a Thai business. The affiliated company within Thailand might help facilitate visa applications for foreign investors. The duration of validity for this visa is one year. However, obtaining this type of visa may be relatively uncommon and likely depends on the judgments made by either the embassy or consulate.
Non-immigrant IB visa (Investment and Business visa)
Suppose you have obtained the approval of the Board of Investment to engage in employment or investment activities in Thailand. In that case, you can apply for a Non-immigrant visa designated for approved business projects. Such projects must be involved in or bring benefit to Thailand in the following ways:
- export-promotion
- increasing employment
- utilising local raw materials
- projects engaging the provinces
- encouraging technology transfer to Thai nationals
- not hindering existing domestic businesses
Non-immigrant M visa (Mass Media Visa)
The Non-immigrant M visa, also known as the media visa, is a work permit for individuals from foreign countries who intend to be employed in Thailand’s media sector. This includes areas like television, film, and digital media platforms. Depending on the nature of the specific media-related tasks these foreigners will undertake during their work tenure, they may need authorization from relevant governing bodies before proceeding.
Smart visa
The Smart Visa is a new employment visa given to foreign individuals with special skills, knowledge, or experience in specific sectors considered essential for Thailand’s development. These sectors include digital technology, robotics, healthcare and wellness services, biotechnology, food technology, and more. Smart Visa holders receive several benefits, such as a more extended validity period of up to four years without needing a work permit or submitting 90-day reports. Furthermore, their spouses and children also enjoy specific privileges.
A smart visa is also one way to work in Thailand if you’re a digital nomad, to know more about its requirements and process, please refer to our article below
Thailand work visa requirements
Typically, it is the responsibility of employers to submit an application for a work permit, either before or after the foreign employee arrives in Thailand. Nonetheless, the employee must be present when obtaining the work permit.
Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand must provide the following documents:
- passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months
- completed visa application form
- recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months
- evidence of adequate finance (THB 20,000 per person and THB 40,000 per family)
- letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour
- to obtain this letter, the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3
- copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and alien income tax or Por Ngor Dor 91 (only in the case where the applicant has previously worked in Thailand)
- Corporate documents of hiring companies in Thailand, such as:
- business registration and business license
- list of shareholders
- company profile
- details of business operation
- list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities, and positions
- map indicating the location of the company
- balance sheet, statement of Income Tax, and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30 of the latest year)
- value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)
- document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism business only), or a document indicating export transactions issued by banks (for export business only)
Foreigners who wish to conduct business in Thailand must provide the following documents:
- passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months
- completed visa application form
- recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months
- evidence of adequate finance (THB 20,000 per person and THB 40,000 per family)
- letter from the applicant’s company indicating the applicant’s position, length of employment, salary, and purpose of visit(s) to Thailand
- documents showing correspondence with business partners in Thailand
- evidence of financial status in the case where the applicant is self-employed
- letter of invitation from trading or associated partners/companies in Thailand
- Corporate documents of hiring companies in Thailand, such as:
- business registration and business license
- list of shareholders
- company profile
- details of business operation
- list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities, and positions
- map indicating the location of the company
- balance sheet, statement of Income Tax, and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30 of the latest year)
- value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)
Copies of company records must be approved by either the Board of Directors or an authorized managing director. These copies should also have the official seal of the company attached.
Any other necessary documents may be requested as required. If a particular document is missing, the applicant should include a letter explaining its absence. Additionally, applicants must endorse every page of the provided copies with their signature. Foreign language documents must be translated into Thai and certified by notary organs or the diplomatic or consular office representing the applicant’s country.
If a foreigner will work as a school teacher below the university level:
- passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months
- completed visa application form
- recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months
- letter of acceptance from employing institute or school in Thailand
- letter of approval from government agencies such as the Office of the Private Education Commission and the Office of the Basic Education Commission
- evidence of educational qualification such as diplomas or teaching certificates
- school license or business registration, list of shareholders, and school profile
- applicant’s resume
- police certificate verifying that applicant has no criminal record or equivalents or letter issued by authorized agencies in the applicant’s country (optional)
If a foreigner will work as a journalist or reporter:
- passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months
- completed visa application form
- recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months
- letter of approval from the Press Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kingdom of Thailand; this can be obtained by sending the following documents to the Press Division in Thailand;
- an official letter from the applicant’s news agency introducing the journalist/reporter to the Director-General of the Information Department and confirming their appointment to work in Thailand
- journalist’s resume
- details of background, circulation, list of owner and editor(s) of the publication
If a foreigner will work as a part of a film production team:
- passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months
- completed visa application form
- recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months
- letter of approval from the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, and Kingdom of Thailand
- please contact the said officials to obtain this letter
If a foreigner is planning to conduct investment activities:
- passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months
- completed visa application form
- recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months
- letter from Thailand’s Board of Investment
- official letter certifying that applicant is employed in the company
Thailand work visa application process
Certain countries require nationals to apply for a visa only at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in their country of residence or at the designated Thai Embassy/Consulate-General. Travelers are advised to check with their nearest Thai embassy/consulate to determine if they meet the application requirements. To apply for a work visa in Thailand, here is the standard process:
- have a prospective employer in Thailand with the necessary documents
- the employer may apply for a work permit in advance at the Department of Employment
- submit your application at the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General
- pay the visa processing fee
- the application and supporting documents will be checked.
- if the applicant fails to submit all the required documents, their application may be rejected without a refund of the visa processing fee.
- collect your visa on the appointment date
Upon entering the Kingdom, applicants or their authorized representatives must request a work permit at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, and Ministry of Labour. The applicant must fulfill their income tax obligations as part of this process. When the individual’s affiliated company is located in other provinces within the country, they need to apply for a work permit at that province’s Employment Office.
Thailand work visa price
The cost of a work visa in Thailand depends on the type of work visa and the number of entries. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visa fees are as follows:
- Non-immigrant visas for single entry with three-month validity: TBH 2,000 (PKR 15,167)
- Non-immigrant visas for multiple entries with one-year validity: TBH 5,000 (PKR 37,918)
- Smart visa: TBH 10,000 per year (PKR 75,837)
Thailand work visa processing time
The processing time of a work visa in Thailand depends on the type of work visa and the workload of the embassy or consulate where the application is submitted. There may be a variation in processing times, ranging from 3-10 business days.
