Visa and Work Permit
As you need both a Thai Work Visa and Thai Work Permit, to work in Thailand. What do they each achieve to make this happen?
Visa’s & Work Permits
Before you decide to come and work in Thailand, it would be advantageous for you to know about all the fundamentals and requirements of getting a work visa and then a work permit, to ensure you can enjoy your life in Thailand while staying compliant to their regulations in this areas. Ake & Associates accounting services in Phuket, Khok Kloi and Khao Lak, can guide you in navigating you through the whole process, successfully.
As you need both a Thai Work Visa and Thai Work Permit, to work in Thailand. What do they each achieve to make this happen?
A Work Visa is required for all non-Thai citizens who intend to work in Thailand and should be applied from their home countries. There are different types of visas that allow foreign nationals to later apply for a work permit once they entered Thailand, such as the Non-Immigrant B visa, Thai marriage visas, etc. The work visa is issued by the Royal Thai Embassy, or the Consulate and the official visa document will be present on your passport.
The eligibility requirements for you as the employee filing for a work visa in Thailand include:
- Valid passport with at least six months before expiration, along with two blank pages. One-year visas will require a valid passport with at least 18 months before expiration.
- Completed and signed work visa application form.
- Passport-sized photo taken within the last six months.
- 20,000 Thai Baht for individuals traveling to Thailand and 40,000 Thai Baht for families. This is considered proof of financial means during your stay.
- Clearance certificate from the police
- Letter of approval issued by the Thailand Ministry of Labour. The employer, will be responsible for submitting the request for the letter to the Office of Foreign Workers Administration.
A Work Permit is to be obtained once the foreigner has entered Thailand with a work visa as mentioned above. It is a legal document issued by the Ministry of Labour outlining the foreign employee’s occupation, position, and the hiring company. This permit allows non-Thai citizens to legally engage in work or start a business in Thailand.
Ake & Associates accounting services in Phuket, Khok Kloi and Khao Lak can assist you and your employer, for filing your work permit and meeting all the government legal requirements for a successful completion. Please find our detailed process below:
Work Permit Application Process in Thailand
Once all the documents are prepared, we will need to submit the work permit application documents at the Ministry of Labour.
However, if your company is promoted by BOI, the work permit will firstly need to be requested through the BOI system for approval, then the work permit will be issued at the One-Stop Service Center. Please call Ake & Associates accounting services in Phuket, Khok Kloi and Khao Lak for further information and help in this area.
Step 1: Apply for an Appropriate Non-immigrant Visa
As previously mentioned, to be eligible for a work permit, a foreign professional must first possess a non-immigrant visa that will allow a non-Thai citizen to work in Thailand. The visa can be applied at the Thai Embassy in the foreigner’s home country prior to entering the Kingdom. If the foreigner is already in Thailand with a tourist visa, he/she must convert the tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa. This type of visa is valid for 90 days and can be extended once the work permit has been issued.
The required documents to apply for a non-immigrant visa may vary depending on each embassy’s conditions. Below are the general documents that will be necessary.
- Non-immigrant visa application form
- A job offer from an entity in Thailand
- Original passport with at least 6 months of validity
- Employment contract between the company and the foreign employee
- Letter of invitation from the hiring company stating the job details
- Other documents requested by the embassy or the consulate
Step 2: Apply for Work Permit
The work permit application process should be completed within 90 days before the applicant’s non-immigrant visa is expired. The official work permit booklet will be issued by the Department of Labor to foreign employees. Both the hiring company and the foreign employee must meet the qualification prescribed by the Labor Department to be considered for a work permit.
For an application that meets certain requirements or is submitted under a BOI promoted company, it can be processed at the One-Stop Service Center for one-day approval.
Step 3: Work Permit Approval
Once all of the application documents are filed, the applicant will receive a notification slip stating the date when the permit can be collected. On the collection day, the foreign applicant must be present with the original passport to receive the work permit stamp from the Labor Department.
The process usually takes 7-10 business days if submitted in Bangkok. In the case of an application issued in Phuket, it may take up to 2 months.
It is important to note that the work permit will only be valid for a maximum length of one year and will need to be extended. The case will be different for a BOI-promoted company.
After the work permit is obtained, the foreign employee must process the visa extension from 90 days to at least one year.
Work Permit Restrictions and Obligations
Foreigners who have received a work permit are only allowed to work for the company and within the roles stated in the permit. Working outside the scope of the permit may result in punishment, such as imprisonment and a fine.
Furthermore, maintaining a work permit comes with obligations.
Income Tax Filing
The foreign employee must obtain a personal tax identification number from the Revenue Department. The process is simple and can be completed in one day with the proper documents. With the tax ID, the foreign employee will be able to file his/her annual income tax.
90-Day Notification
Every expatriate who is permitted to stay in Thailand for the long term is obligated to report his/her current residence to the immigration office every 90 days. This can be done in person at the Thai immigration office, by mail, or with the help of an agent.
Re-entry Permit
If the foreigner holds a single-entry visa and desires to leave and re-enter Thailand, he/she must first apply for a re-entry permit. The visa is directly associated with the work permit. Therefore, if the foreigner leaves the country and causes the visa to be void, it will affect the work permit. The application for the single or multiple re-entry permit can be processed at the immigration office or the immigration desk at the airport.
Termination, Changes, and Renewal of Work Permit
Termination of Work Permit
Once the employment comes to an end, the termination shall be reported to the Labor Department for the cancellation of the work permit and visa. The foreigner is usually given an extension of stay for seven days to leave Thailand.
Changing Jobs
If the foreign employee wishes to change jobs while staying in Thailand, he/she must agree on the resignation date with the current company which is when the company will process the cancellation of the work permit. In the meantime, the new employer must prepare the documents for the new work permit application and the extension of stay. If the permission to stay in Thailand expires before the documents get submitted to the Immigration Office, the foreigner will have to leave the country in order to apply for a new non-immigrant visa and work permit.
Renewal of Work Permit
The work permit must be extended or renewed before the expiration date. The foreign employee and the hiring company must ensure that the employee’s visa is extended first in order to renew the work permit. The required documentation is the same as the ones submitted for the initial work permit application.
There are also various other visa’s in Thailand that Ake & Associates accounting services in Phuket, Khok Kloi and Khao Lak can help you obtain, Please contact our offices for a consultation.
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