Thai companies
- Registered as a juristic person in Thailand.
- Registered capital of at least 2 million THB per work permit.
- At least four Thai employees per foreign worker.
Work visa ≠ work permit
Qualifications & requirements
The work visa and the work permit are separate documents that cannot substitute for each other — and each side of the employment, employee and employer, has its own requirements to meet. Here is the full picture.
Work visa vs work permit at a glance
| Work visa (Non-B) | Work permit | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Permission to enter Thailand for work purposes | Permission to actually work in Thailand |
| Issued by | Thai embassies and consulates abroad | Ministry of Labour |
| When to obtain | Before entering Thailand | After entering Thailand |
| Initial validity | 90 days | 1 year, renewable |
A foreigner working legally in Thailand must hold both documents — neither one works alone.
Employer requirements
The Ministry examines the employer as closely as the employee. To sponsor a work permit:
Foreign companies
- Registered capital of at least 3 million THB per work permit.
- A foreign business licence under the Foreign Business Act, where applicable.
- BOI-promoted businesses follow their own separate criteria.
Personal requirements for the applicant
- Reside in Thailand, or hold temporary permission to enter under immigration law as a non-immigrant — not as a tourist or in transit.
- Possess knowledge, skills and experience appropriate to the job applied for.
- Be free of conditions that legally bar employment: severe leprosy, tuberculosis at a dangerous stage, elephantiasis at a symptomatic stage, severe drug addiction, chronic alcoholism, or stage-3 syphilis.
- No imprisonment for immigration-law or foreign-labour-law offences within the year before applying.
Why us?
Local expertise
Extensive knowledge of Thai immigration and labour laws, kept current as the rules change.
Personalised support
Tailored solutions for individual and business needs.
Efficiency & reliability
Rapid processing and a high success rate in permit approvals.
Dedicated service
Your needs prioritised for a worry-free application process.
Not sure whether you or your employer qualify?
Consult us for free, with no hidden charges — tell us the role, the employer and your background, and we will map you against the requirements.