Work permit & long-term work visa
Thailand protects local employment closely. Working legally means holding two separate things — and one of them is not the visa.
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Thailand applies strict rules to the employment of foreign nationals, with the explicit aim of protecting jobs for locals. To work here legally you need both the right visa and a work permit — they are separate documents issued by different authorities, and holding one without the other is not enough.
The two documents you need
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Non-Immigrant B visa
The entry ticket — it does not permit you to work.
Issued by a Thai embassy or consulate abroad, this is the first step. On its own it does not allow you to work.
Single entry — valid 90 days, during which you must obtain the work permit and apply for an extension. Multiple entry (1 year) — allows entry and exit for a year, still with no automatic right to work. It is also available to entrepreneurs and investors who want to do business here without becoming an employee.
To obtain it you normally need a job offer or proof of business intent, an invitation from a Thai company, financial evidence such as bank statements, and whatever else your local embassy requires — this varies by country. Extensions are processed at the immigration office in Thailand.
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The work permit
Tied to one employer, one job title — change either and you reapply.
Issued by the Ministry of Labour through the Department of Employment, the work permit is what actually authorises you to work. It names the exact job title, the employer and your responsibilities.
It is normally valid for one year, or up to two years for BOI-supported companies, and can be extended where both company and employee still meet the conditions. Change employer and you must apply for a new permit — it does not travel with you.
Conditions: the employer must meet the legal criteria, you must hold a valid Non-Immigrant B visa, and the company must supply financial statements, tax returns and proof of VAT registration. A medical examination and a criminal record check from your home country are sometimes required.
Two ways to get there
As an employee of someone else's company, or through your own — with very different conditions.
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As an employee
The company must qualify before you can.
You take a job with a company authorised to employ foreign nationals. The restriction is on the employer: for each foreign worker the company must employ at least four Thai citizens, and must show a registered capital of at least 2 million THB per work permit plus proof of tax payments. Companies approved by the Board of Investment (BOI) may operate under different conditions.
You will need a valid passport, an employment contract, a health certificate, and company documents including registration and tax certificates.
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As a business owner
Owning the company does not let you work in it.
If you start your own business, the same permit requirement applies to you. The usual path: form the company with a Thai national holding at least 51% of shares (BOI-sponsored companies and certain other structures allow foreign majority control); rent commercial premises where the business is registered; employ at least four Thai citizens full-time with social security contributions paid; and after three months of employment apply for the work permit and then the long-term work visa.
For the formation process itself, the documents and the costs, see starting a company in Thailand.
Why it is worth doing properly
Compliance is what buys you a stable long-term presence.
The Thai authorities take work permits seriously, and the penalties for getting it wrong are severe — substantial fines and, in serious cases, deportation. The strictness has a clear purpose: making sure foreign workers do not displace Thai nationals and that foreign investors comply with local law.
Handled correctly, none of this is an obstacle. Thailand is genuinely open to foreign professionals and business owners; the paperwork is simply the price of a secure long-term position. Working with local specialists who deal with these offices routinely is the cheapest way to avoid the complications.
Need a work permit sorted?
Tell us your situation — employee or owner — and we will tell you exactly what your case requires.