Thai Work Visa

The first thing to do before booking flights or making any firm plans is to apply for a working visa in Thailand. This is done from your home country by heading to the Consulate or Embassy for Thailand. It is classed as a Category B Non-Immigrant Visa. To apply, your passport needs to be valid for at least six more months and have two blank visa pages. If you intend to apply for a more extended one-year visa, your passport must be valid for 18 months. You will need to complete the application form, which can be downloaded from the website or collected from the embassy. The other requirements are standard, including police clearance and proof of financial stability (20,000 to 40,000 Thai baht deepening on your circumstance). You also need a Letter of Approval from the Thailand Ministry of Labour – which your employer applies for on your behalf. 

Thailand Work Permit 

To qualify for a work permit, your employer has to meet certain conditions that can be found online, including already employing at least 50 Thai nationals. There are limits on how many non-citizens each company is allowed to employ, based on registered capital and the fact they may have one foreign employee per 50 local employees. The application process is long, and you must present evidence of your work visa, passport, and proof of things like accommodation, work contract, salary and qualifications. There are further requirements if your spouse is a Thai national, including your marriage certificate. Any documents you submit must have been legalised in your home country and translated into Thai. A work permit can be issued for 3, 6 or 12 months and can potentially be extended. 

Extension of Stay 

Once your work visa and permits are approved, you are then required to apply for an extension of stay, which is done via the Immigration Bureau. This has to be done within 90 days of entering the country. If approved, you will be given a further 12-month extension backdated to the date you initially entered the country. You will need to continue to complete the renewal process every year if you wish to remain in the country. Still, after the third year, you become eligible to apply for the permanent residence permit. Finally, if you want to go on holiday or return home during your time in Thailand, you need to obtain a re-entry permit, or you will not be allowed back in. 

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