When preparing to expand into Thailand, many organizations will aim to bring in part of their workforce from abroad to assist with the setup and expansion. To do this, every foreign employee will need to obtain a Thailand work visa.
Thailand’s visa system can be complex, with the Thai language, unique laws, and complicated admin all presenting potential barriers and delays.
At Horizons, we are experts in foreign expansion and provide a wide range of specialized Thailand work visa services, immigration support, and outsourcing, giving your organization everything necessary to expand into Thailand with the help of the best global talent.
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Requirements for Thailand work visas
As an employer, both you and your employees will need to meet a number of requirements in order to obtain work visas for Thailand. The main basic requirements for employers are having sufficient funds, registering an entity in Thailand, and proving that you have four Thai employees to every foreign employee. There are some exceptions to these rules, such as being recognized by the Thai Board of Investment, but the majority of employers will need to meet these requirements.
Your prospective employees will also need to meet some basic requirements, such as:
- Valid passport
- Job offer
- Application form and fees
- Proof of work experience/qualifications
Different types of Thai work visas
Foreign employees wanting to work legally in Thailand will need two important documents: a work permit and a non-immigrant visa. There are various types of non-immigrant visas, but the vast majority of employees will need a Category B non-immigrant visa, which incorporates many different areas of work.
Once your employee has their Category B visa, they will need to apply for a work permit to commence employment in Thailand.
How to get a Thailand work permit
When your employee has their non-immigrant visa and has traveled to the country, they will usually need to apply for their work permit through the Ministry of Labor, located in the capital city of Bangkok.
When the employee has submitted their application, along with any necessary supporting documents, it will be processed and a decision will be made in anywhere from a few days to several weeks. When they have been approved, they can work for the duration of the permit, which can be extended if needed.
Other considerations
If any of your employees need to bring along family members, such as spouses or dependent children, they can be included through the employer sponsorship. Details of each family member should be provided well in advance of the move to avoid any chance of delays.
How can Horizons help with your Thailand work visas?
Horizons helps organizations of all kinds successfully expand into Thailand, and we are experts in obtaining work visas for foreign employees. Our Thailand work visa specialists offer reliable advice and tailored outsourcing services to support you through Thailand’s complex immigration process quickly and efficiently. We can ensure that you and your valued employees are fully compliant with Thailand’s strict immigration and employment regulations, save you time and money, and provide answers to any questions you may have about the process.
We also provide wide-ranging outsourcing solutions covering recruitment, payroll, HR, administration, and more to help your business start trading in Thailand as efficiently as possible, even if you don’t have an established entity in the country.
