Work Visa
in Thailand.

SALARY PAYMENT IN Thai baht (THB, ฿)

CONTRACT LANGUAGES Thai / English

PAYROLL TAX 5.2% – 6%

PAYROLL CYCLE Monthly

TIME TO HIRE 12 hours

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Thailand

Types of work visas in Thailand

A Thailand work visa is mandatory for all non-Thai citizens wishing to undertake any sort of work in Thailand. Before a foreigner can book their move to Thailand, they will need to meet the eligibility requirements for one of the six available Non-Immigrant work visas. The types of Non-Immigrant Visas include:

Non-Immigrant B Type Visa/Business Visa

This visa for foreigners who will be working as an employee or looking to undertake business in the Thai Kingdom. This visa is only granted for up to 90 days to allow for a foreigner to apply for a work permit to stay longer.

Non-Immigrant B-A Type Visa/Business Approved Visa

This visa is for foreign investors looking to invest in businesses in Thailand. The Thai company that is to accept the investment can help the foreign investor with their application.

Non-Immigrant BI Type Visa/Investment and Business Visa

This visa is only granted to foreigners eligible to work for companies or projects approved and promoted by the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI).

Non-Immigrant M Visa/Media Visa

This visa is for foreigners who intend to work within the Thai media industry, whether that be for television, film of online media.

Non-Immigrant O Visa/Accompanying Family Member Visa

This visa is predominantly for family members accompanying the foreigner granted one of the other non-immigrant visa types. It can be granted for foreigners undertaking volunteer work, retirees or for spouses as well.

Smart Visa

This visa is a new type of visa on offer to foreigners who have a specific professional skill-set, are start-up entrepreneurs, foreign investors or executives. Family member of approved Smart Visa holders can also apply for this visa. This is the only visa that allows for a foreigner to work in Thailand without having to apply for a work permit.

Thailand Work Permit

A Thai work permit can only be obtained after a foreigner has entered on an approved Non-Immigrant Work Visa. It is possible though for an employer to start the application process prior to the foreigner entering the country. A work permit is an official document granted by the Ministry of Labor (MOL), which outlines specific details about the foreigner and their employment. Not every business is eligible to offer foreigners work permits.

Required documents for a work visa in Thailand

Each Non-Immigrant Visa requires different types of documents that a foreigner needs to provide to be approved. Some of the documents required include:

A filled out Non-Immigrant Visa application
The official job offer
A valid Passport
A signed employment contract
A letter of invitation from the employer or Thai Entity
Evidence of financial means which can start at 20,000 Baht
Copy of health insurance for a minimum of 1 year period
Copy of round trip flights

The embassy or consulate may also request further or less documentation to support your application depending on the visa type being applied for. When it comes to applying for a Thai Work Permit, both the employer and the foreign national will need to prepare further documentation to be prepare their Work permit after they arrive in Thailand. Some of these documents include:

From the employer, company or Thai entity

Filled out work permit application form
Business or company registration certificate that shows the list of shareholders
VAT certificate and past corporate VAT filings
A filled out social security form
The employment contract between the employer and employee

From the foreign national

Passport
Copies of approved Non-Immigrant Visa
Copies of educational certificates
Recent medical certificate proving health status
3x4cm photos taken within the last 6 months

Any copies need to notarized and potentially translated into Thai language.

Process to get a work visa in Thailand

Application procedure to get a work visa in Thailand

All Non-Immigrant work visas are applied for at the nearest Thai embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country or where they legally reside. The standard application fee starts at 2000 Baht for a single-entry visa or 5000 Baht for a multiple entry visa. When it comes to applying for the Thai Work Permit after arrival, a foreign nationals will need to ensure they meet certain qualifications before submitting their documents. These include:

Have an appropriate non-immigrant visa
Prove that the employment in Thailand is legitimate
Have valid educational qualifications and work experience for the industry
Be in relatively good health

The documents provided should back up the required qualifications. The work permit needs to be applied for within 90 days of arriving in Thailand. All documents are to be lodged by the foreign national and the employer to the Ministry of Labor.

Getting a work visa when the employee is based outside of Thailand

A Non-Immigrant work visa can only be applied for outside the Kingdom of Thailand in the foreign national’s home country or where they are a legal resident.

Special notes about work visas in Thailand

There are specific industries that foreign nationals are prohibited from working or investing in. They fall under three categories and include roles that the Thailand government believe are most suitable for locals or Thai citizens only.

Hiring in Thailand, Made Easy

Your business can easily hire employees in Thailand without opening a local entity. We handle local employment law, complex tax regulations, and international payroll in 180+ countries worldwide. All you need to do is focus on your business.

FAQs

Can Thailand work visa holders bring their family members?

A Non-Immigrant work visa holder can bring their family members as long as they are eligible and also apply for a non-immigrant visa type.

How long will it take to get a work visa in Thailand?

Depending on the country that a non-immigrant work visa is applied from, a visa cam be approved in as little as 2 business days.

How long can I stay in Thailand on a work visa?

On a Non-Immigration Work visa, a foreign national can only stay in Thailand for 90 days unless a valid work permit is applied for.

Can a global employer of record provide a work visa in Thailand?Accordion Title

As a global employer of record, Horizons can offer services such as:

Labor contract drafting
Onboarding
Employment admin management including monthly tax report
Annual tax report

If an employer wants to include extra private health insurance for an employee in Thailand, Horizons can organise this.

Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

"As a seed-stage, London-based startup, we were initially hesitant to expand internationally due to the administrative workload involved. Horizons took the headache out of the process, allowing us to hire a team of software engineers in Germany."

Gabor SzedlakCo-founder & COO at MindLabs (UK)

"I truly appreciated the thoroughness and the professionalism of Horizons personnel while we hired internationally with them. They were knowledgable on all subject matters pertaining to international employment."

Gary PaskyVP Software Development, PICS ITech (USA)

"On deciding to begin commercial activities in Asia Pacific, we needed a provider to handle the employment and remuneration of our workforce. With Horizons the result was fast, efficient, and fit-for-purpose. We recommend Horizons as an EOR provider.”

Chris MorrellManaging Director, Schaeffler Group (Germany)

"The collaboration with the Horizons team is excellent. Both our local employee as well as our HQ in Germany are more than pleased with the support provided and the simplicity of the service. We can highly recommend the Horizons solution to anyone."

Christoph EngelbertCo-Founder & CTO, Clevabit (Germany)

"We needed an EOR that could provide expert support for payroll in APAC. We are pleased with Horizons’ expertise and the fact that they are flexible, responsive, and easily accessible from Belgium. They were able to provide services within the short timeline we required."

Katia FlamandHuman Resources, Devian Chemicals (Belgium)

Work Visa
in Thailand.

Types of work visas in Thailand

Thailand Work Permit

Required documents for a work visa in Thailand

Process to get a work visa in Thailand

Application procedure to get a work visa in Thailand

Getting a work visa when the employee is based outside of Thailand

Special notes about work visas in Thailand

Hiring in Thailand, Made Easy

FAQs

Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

180+

100+

24x5

130+

180+

100+

24x5

130+

The Global Workforce Payment Platform

What to expect when you connect with Horizons

Work Visa in Thailand.

Types of work visas in Thailand

Thailand Work Permit

Required documents for a work visa in Thailand

Process to get a work visa in Thailand

Application procedure to get a work visa in Thailand

Getting a work visa when the employee is based outside of Thailand

Special notes about work visas in Thailand

Hiring in Thailand, Made Easy

FAQs

Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

180+

100+

24x5

130+

180+

100+

24x5

130+

The Global Workforce Payment Platform

What to expect when you connect with Horizons

Work Visa
in Thailand.