What is a Thailand Work Permit and is Non-B required?

The Work Permit (issued by the Ministry of Labour) authorises a foreign national to work in Thailand. It must be paired with a Non-Immigrant B visa, and the employer must be a qualifying Thai company, BOI entity, or representative office. THB 35,000 all-in.

Thailand Work Permit & Non-B Visa Service

ประเด็นสำคัญที่ต้องรู้

Original document to be certified (or freshly issued certified copy within validity window)

1. Send scanned copies of source documents to us via LINE/email for free initial review.

Standard turnaround: 5-7 business days from receipt of complete originals.

Originals out of validity window — many destinations require documents issued within 3-6 months. Confirm with the destination authority first.

คำถามที่พบบ่อย

How long does it take?

Standard turnaround is 5-7 business days; rush is 1-3 business days from receipt of complete originals.

What is included in the fee?

Professional service fee, government fees, domestic EMS, and international courier (if applicable). Everything is itemized in the quote.

Do I have to visit the office?

No — send by EMS, or we can arrange a Bangkok pickup. Final documents can be couriered worldwide.

Will the result be accepted abroad?

Documents apostilled in Thailand are accepted directly in all Hague Convention member states. Non-member states need a further embassy legalization step.

Thailand Work Permit Application

Our Thailand Work Permit Application service covers every step end-to-end: initial eligibility consultation, source-document review, certified translation, liaison with the relevant Thai government office, and international courier dispatch. The handling team includes attorneys registered as Notarial Services Attorneys with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, translators recognized by the Ministry of Justice, and consular liaison officers with 10+ years of experience. Every document carries a different downstream use case — employment, study, immigration, marriage, or commercial filing — and each receiving authority has its own acceptance rules. We plan the shortest and most cost-effective document routing for your case before any fees are charged, and we issue a written timeline so you can schedule your travel or filing with confidence. Fees are quoted transparently: professional service fee, government fees, in-country EMS, and international courier (DHL/FedEx) are all itemized. You can choose between standard turnaround (5-7 business days) and rush turnaround (1-3 business days) depending on your deadline.

Service Overview

Our Thailand Work Permit Application service covers every step end-to-end: initial eligibility consultation, source-document review, certified translation, liaison with the relevant Thai government office, and international courier dispatch. The handling team includes attorneys registered as Notarial Services Attorneys with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, translators recognized by the Ministry of Justice, and consular liaison officers with 10+ years of experience.
Every document carries a different downstream use case — employment, study, immigration, marriage, or commercial filing — and each receiving authority has its own acceptance rules. We plan the shortest and most cost-effective document routing for your case before any fees are charged, and we issue a written timeline so you can schedule your travel or filing with confidence.
Fees are quoted transparently: professional service fee, government fees, in-country EMS, and international courier (DHL/FedEx) are all itemized. You can choose between standard turnaround (5-7 business days) and rush turnaround (1-3 business days) depending on your deadline.

Documents Required

Original document to be certified (or freshly issued certified copy within validity window)
Copy of national ID or passport, signed and dated as a true copy
Power of attorney (if a representative will handle it) with a 30 THB revenue stamp
Destination details: country, receiving authority, purpose, and required deadline

Step-by-Step Process

1. Send scanned copies of source documents to us via LINE/email for free initial review.
2. Our team confirms eligibility, issues a written quote and a guaranteed turnaround.
3. You deliver originals to our office (or book a Bangkok pickup) and pay a 50% deposit.
4. We translate, certify, and submit to the relevant Thai authority in sequence.
5. Final documents are scanned and emailed for your review before physical dispatch.
6. We ship by EMS domestically and DHL/FedEx internationally, with tracking numbers.

Timeline & Fees

Standard turnaround: 5-7 business days from receipt of complete originals.
Rush turnaround: 1-3 business days (rush surcharge applies).
Government fees are charged at official rates with no markup.
Domestic EMS at Thailand Post rates; international DHL/FedEx at actual weight-based rates.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Originals out of validity window — many destinations require documents issued within 3-6 months. Confirm with the destination authority first.
Name mismatch between document and passport — embassies reject these. Correct it at the district office before translating.
Using a translator without an official seal — MFA and embassies will not accept it; you'll restart the chain.
Skipping MFA legalization before the embassy step — wastes multiple trips and weeks of time.

FAQ

How long does it take?: Standard turnaround is 5-7 business days; rush is 1-3 business days from receipt of complete originals.
What is included in the fee?: Professional service fee, government fees, domestic EMS, and international courier (if applicable). Everything is itemized in the quote.
Do I have to visit the office?: No — send by EMS, or we can arrange a Bangkok pickup. Final documents can be couriered worldwide.
Will the result be accepted abroad?: Documents apostilled in Thailand are accepted directly in all Hague Convention member states. Non-member states need a further embassy legalization step.

Thailand Work Permit — Practitioner Guide for Foreigners & Employers

Editorial photograph of a Thai work permit blue book — Editorial illustration (AI-generated, editorially reviewed — no real persons or brand logos depicted).

Regulatory & Standards Citations

Royal Decree — Royal Decree Concerning Management of Foreign Workers' Employment B.E. 2560 (2017) and amendments [source]
กระทรวงแรงงาน — กฎกระทรวงกำหนดงานที่ห้ามคนต่างด้าวทำ [source]

Common Pitfalls (From Field Experience)

Starting work before WP issuance is illegal and triggers fines plus deportation risk.
WP that doesn't match the actual role/location is invalid.

Decision Tree

ถือ Non-B / SMART / LTR อยู่แล้ว?: Yes → ยื่น WP ตามช่องทาง visa เดิม; No → ขอ Non-B ก่อน แล้วยื่น WP

Options Compared

Option	Best for	Timeline	Cost (THB)
Standard WP (Non-B)	จ้างงานทั่วไป	7–14 วันทำการ	3,000–6,000 (ราชการ) + ค่าบริการ
SMART Visa WP-exempt	ผู้เชี่ยวชาญ / นักลงทุน	20–30 วัน	10,000+ (ราชการ)

How it works — Thailand Work Permit & Non-B Visa

Employer eligibility

Verify paid-up capital, Thai-foreign ratio, VAT registration, and financials.

Non-B at embassy

Issue invitation letter from the Thai company; apply for a 90-day Single-Entry Non-B.

Enter Thailand + WP filing

Enter within 90 days; file WP at Department of Employment; gov fee THB 3,100 for 2 years.

Visa extension

Convert to 1-year Multiple Re-Entry Non-B at Immigration.

90-day reporting

Mandatory every 90 days — we handle the first year free.

Frequently asked questions

What are the minimum employer requirements?

Thai company with paid-up capital ≥ THB 2M per foreign hire, 4:1 Thai-to-foreign employee ratio, and the foreign hire must hold a Non-B visa.

How is BOI different?

BOI waives the 4:1 ratio and THB 2M capital rule and uses Single-Window approval (~7 days).

All-in cost?

THB 35,000 per employee (incl. THB 3,100 government fee for a 2-year WP). Covers Non-B at the embassy through to WP issuance.