Thailand work permit.
Our experienced immigration team can assist with your Thailand work permit requirements. Quick, easy and affordable work permit application processing & renewals.
Requirements for Thai work permit.
Per foreign employee
2M THB in registered capital- Four Thai employees registered in social fund
- VAT registration
Other considerations
- The individual must have a valid, proper type, non-immigrant type visa to apply
- Some employment classes may require proof of educational qualifications
- A proper/formal/realistic working environment for all employees is required based on the registered objectives of the company
A proper work permit application should contain the following documents provided by the applicant (in English or Thai):
- A duly completed application form with amongst others the job description, a map showing the location of the workplace and an explanation of why the company hires a foreign employee
- A valid passport (including a signed copy of all pages) and:
- For non-permanent residents, a non-immigrant visa
- For permanent residents, a residence permit and alien book
- A signed English or Thai version of the Curriculum Vitae to proof the applicant’s educational qualifications
- A medical certificate not older than six month from a recognised hospital in Thailand stating his blood type and that the applicant is of good mental and physical health (does not suffer from leprosy, acute tuberculosis, elephantiasis, narcotic addiction or alcoholism)
- Six photographs
- A proxy to the person who is filing the application (it other than the applicant himself), including a 10 THB duty stamp
- A copy of additional licenses, if required
- In case the applicant is married to a Thai national, the following additional documents should be annexed to the request:
- The marriage certificate
- Spouse’s identity card and household registration
- A copy of every page of the applicant’s passport
The application has to be completed with certain corporate documents:
A duly completed application form with amongst others the job description, a map showing the location of the workplace and an explanation of why the company hires a foreign employee
- Shareholders List certified by the Commercial Registration Department
- Factory License, if any
- VAT Certificate
- Withholding Tax (in case the work permit is being renewed)
If the job is in Bangkok, the application should be done at the Ministry of Labor. If the job being applied for is not situated in Bangkok, the application should be filed at the province’s Department of Employment or at the province’s city hall.
Requirements to be fulfilled by Thai employers.
The Thai company hiring a foreigner needs to have the following characteristics:
- Registered in Thailand
- Having applied for a Tax ID and VAT registration
- Having a minimum paid up capital of 2M THB per foreign employee (3M THB for foreign employers)
- Having four Thai Employees per work permit
Having maximum ten work permits (BOI companies may be granted more)
The Foreign Business Act foresees some exemptions. Some occupations do not require a work permit:
- Members of the diplomatic corps or consular missions
- Representatives of member countries and officials of the United Nations and its specialised agencies
- Persons who perform duties on missions in the Kingdom under an agreement between the government of Thailand and a foreign government or international organisation
- Persons who enter the Kingdom for the performance of any duty or mission for the benefit of education, culture, arts, or sports
- Persons who have been received special permission from the Thai government
Other people may be granted special treatment because of the situation they are:
- Foreigners who enter the Kingdom temporarily – but in accordance with the immigration laws – to perform any work of any “urgent and essential nature” for a period not exceeding 15 days, may be exempted of the work permit for this period of time. They have to receive a written notification, signed by the foreigner and endorsed by his employer and accepted by the Director-General.
- Brought in to work under a BOI-promoted project (Investment Promotion Law), he can start working while his application for a work permit is still pending. He has to submit his application for a work permit within 30 days after the approval of the Board of Investment. The Labor Department will issue the work permit within seven days after receiving the notification that the BOI has approved this employee.
Some – 39 in total – occupations can however not be exercised by foreigners. It concerns, for example: labouring or agricultural work, wood carving, shop assistant, casting of Buddha images, auctioneer, cutting or polishing jewellery, shoe and hat making, tour guide of conducting guided tours, street vending, legal or litigation services, garment making, architectural work, haircutting or beauty treatment…
Timeframe for work permit application.
If all documents as stated above are in order, it takes the Labor Department only seven days to issue the work permit in Bangkok but almost two months in Phuket. Only after issuance of a work permit, an employee of a non-BOI company can start working. As mentioned above, an employee of a BOI company can start working as from the moment he applied for the work permit.
7 days
2 months
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