Thailand visa – Work Permit

At this point, people consider Thailand a great destination for vacation and also an excellent option for work. For that reason, many foreigners come here to open businesses and to work in Thailand. So, being a very friendly country with ex-pats, Thailand allows people all over the world to apply for the Thailand Visa Work permit. Even more, foreign nationals planning to work in Thailand have to obtain a Non-Immigrant visa of Category “B”. Above all, this will allow them to enter the Kingdom and apply for a work visa.

So, within this article, you will find the most important steps for applying for a Thailand visa Work Permit, for a work permit extension in Thailand, and work permit renewal from Thailand.

What is a Thailand Visa Work Permit?

Thailand visa Work Permit is a non-immigrant “B” visa that allows foreigners to work in Thailand. As with any other Thai visa, a Work Visa is a permit to stay in Thailand for a certain period for a certain purpose, namely for engaging in business or for employment purposes.

Being a legal document, foreigners have to fulfill some requirements to obtain it. Foreigners are prohibited from engaging in any type of work in Thailand without possessing this visa. It determines the foreign national’s nature of work, current occupation, the length of his stay, job description, and other details about the company that hired them.

 Thailand Visa Work Permit is extendable and very useful for foreigners. Thus, a foreigner can apply easily for other types of Thai visas, for opening a bank account, and even for a driving license. Thailand’s work permit has a double meaning.

It serves as official proof of residence and as proof of employment status in Thailand at the same time. Taking into consideration these aspects, we can conclude that a work permit brings a lot of benefits to its holders. So, if you decide to start working in a country where the economy is booming, take the first steps in obtaining a Thailand visa work permit.

How to apply for it?

Applying for a Thailand work permit involves some requirements. First of all, a foreign national who has already established residence inside Thailand and is about to start employment within the country must fulfill these requirements.

The process consists of 3 important parts: the application, the preparation of the required documents for a work permit, and handing it. Below, we will discuss them thoroughly.

Work permit in Thailand – the application process

The application for a Work Permit is quite simple. You can apply online for a Work Permit, and then prepare the necessary documents. In case you are currently in Thailand, you can apply for the Thailand Visa at the immigration department. Once you fulfill these steps, all that remains is to submit your completed application form and the required documents. 

Additionally, you must pay the visa application fee. You can submit the application online on the website of the Thai Embassy or Consulate, or in person at one of its offices. After the application process, you have to wait for a decision. If you are found eligible for a Thailand work permit visa, you can proceed to the next step to obtain it. You will receive this answer within a few working days.

The preparation of the required documents

You don’t have time to lose. Once you get a positive answer from the Thai Embassy or Consulate, you have to move fast and prepare your documents for the Thailand Visa Work Permit. 

This is the paperwork needed for the Thailand Work Permit:

• Valid Passport;
• Visa Application Form;
• Passport photographs of you that are not older than 6 months;
• Departure card;
• Professional testimonials;
• Academic qualifications;
• Other certificates or licenses;
• A non-immigrant visa;
• Medical certificate that proves you don’t suffer from any prohibited diseases and you are apt for work;
• Letter of employment;
• Proof of residence in Thailand;
• Copies of additional licenses;
• Marriage certificate is you are married
• If you have a Thai national spouse, you must provide your spouse’s identity card and household registration.
• A copy of every page of the applicant’s passport.

Besides these personal documents, a work permit also requests the following documents from the employer:

– Company certificates;
– List of shareholders;
– Application of VAT;
– Financial statement;
– Employment agreement;
– Letter of employment that shows the position and the salary of the applicant;
– Withholding tax of the company;
– Social Security payment filing.

 The documents needed for a Thai Work visa may vary depending on the applicant’s country of origin. But certainly, a foreigner will need to provide various documents both personal and corporate documents. The approval generally lasts approximately 14 days.

Getting the Thailand Work Permit Visa

 Whether we talk about a Thailand Visa Work Permit, a work permit extension in Thailand, or a work permit renewal from Thailand, we must address the Labor Department. After receiving approval from this institution, the applicant needs to appear personally with their passport to sign the Thai Work Permit book.

If you are a foreigner interested in working in Thailand, take into consideration the following aspects:

– Before applying for a Thailand Visa Work permit, you will need a Non-immigrant visa to enter the country. This process may also take some time, therefore apply for this visa at least 30 days before you plan to travel to Thailand.

– The initial non-immigrant has a validity of 90 days. This means that you are allowed to stay in the country during its validity. Make sure that you fit in that period while getting the Work Permit, finding a job, or for work permit renewal in Thailand.

How to apply for a work permit renewal in Thailand?

Time flies by while working in Thailand. Within a blink, you already have finished a one-year contract. This means that you have to renew your work permit as soon as possible. If you want to extend your work contract or to sign a new contract with a new employer you have to announce the authorities and accomplish their legal requirements. Therefore you will have to present the work permit renewal form and the required paperwork at Thailand’s registrar’s office.

To renew your work permit in Thailand, you must first renew your duration of stay in Thailand. Otherwise, you won’t be able to apply for a work permit extension in Thailand, nor to legally stay in the country. Even on the last page of your work permit, you can observe that there is a notice with 4 rules and penalties.

 For the work permit renewal in Thailand, you will need the same documentation you first used when applying for a Thailand work permit visa. To apply for a Thai work permit, you must complete the work permit renewal form within or outside Thailand and send it to the Immigration Department, Thai Embassy, or Consulate. You also must send copies of your work permit, a recommendation letter from your employer, the company’s registration paper, and financial reports.

If you are interested in obtaining a work permit extension in Thailand that allows you a long-term stay, you must report to the Thai immigration police every 90 days. Holders of work permit extensions in Thailand with long validity have access to multiple entries for one year.

 What documents are needed for Work Permit renewal in Thailand?

To renew your work permit, you will need the following documents:
– the present work permit;
– non-immigrant visa;
– a copy of academic credentials;
– letter from Thailand’s government;
– a copy of your passport;
– medical certificate;
– document showing your working place;
– tax certificate that proves you are registered in Thailand and have paid your income tax;
– a copy of your NGO’s letter.

Depending on the kind of your work, you may need to bring some additional documents. In any case, make sure you apply for the work permit renewal or extension in Thailand before the expiry date of your non-immigrant visa.

Get help for obtaining a Thailand visa work permit, work permit extension, or renewal in Thailand

The procedure for obtaining a Thailand Visa Work Permit is not very complicated. But you may encounter problems if you don’t follow each step accordingly. If you are in a hurry and your visa is rejected, it might constitute a huge problem. Mostly, if your non-immigrant visa expires soon. 

The most common reasons why your visa permit application may be denied are supplying incorrect documents, not filling the visa application correctly, or violating visa conditions on a previous visit.

To be sure that your Thailand Work Permit, work permit extension in Thailand, or work permit renewal will be processed correctly, you better ask a local agency from Thailand to help you. J&E Concierge is an agency that provides services for foreign nationals who want to live, retire, work, study, or visit Thailand. 

You can contact our experienced consultants for advice. We will guide you along the way so you can be sure that you will obtain your Thailand Visa Work Permit.