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Thailand Work Permit and Non-B Visa — Complete Guide
Short answer first
Working legally in Thailand normally requires a Non-Immigrant B visa followed by a work permit, supported by employer documents proving the company can sponsor the role. After approval the holder must report their address every 90 days and renew the permit and extension of stay each year.
Overall timeline: 3–8 weeks from first review to permit in hand
Documents to prepare
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passport with a Non-B visa | Or the documents needed to convert status inside Thailand where eligible. | Required |
| Employer corporate documents | Company affidavit, VAT registration, financial statements, list of shareholders and social security filings. | Required |
| Employment contract and job description | Salary must meet the minimum for the nationality and role. | Required |
| Degree, transcript and reference letters | Translated and legalized where the officer requests it. | If available |
Step-by-step process
- Step 1: Eligibility review
Check company ratios, capital, salary and role against current requirements.
Timing: 1–2 days
- Step 2: Prepare the employer file
Assemble and certify corporate documents and supporting evidence.
Timing: 3–7 business days
- Step 3: Non-B visa
Applied for at a Thai embassy abroad or converted in Thailand where eligible.
Timing: 5–15 business days
- Step 4: Work permit application
Filed with the Department of Employment; collection in person.
Timing: 3–10 business days
- Step 5: Extension of stay and reporting
One-year extension at Immigration, then 90-day reporting throughout.
Timing: 1 day, then every 90 days
Pitfalls and how to avoid them
Advice from real cases
- Keep the job description consistent across the contract, permit and visa file.
- Renew early — the last weeks before expiry are the busiest at every office.
- Have degree documents legalized once and reuse them for renewals.
Prefer us to handle it?
- We advise the employer as well as the employee, so the company file is right the first time.
- Deadline tracking for renewals, extensions and 90-day reports.
- In-house translation and legalization for supporting documents.
Send scans for a free assessment — call 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Read next
- Thai version of this guide
- English knowledge hub
- English FAQ
- Playbook: Certified Document Translation
- Playbook: NAATI Translation for Australia
- Playbook: Notary Public (Notarial Services Attorney)
- Playbook: MFA Legalization / Apostille
- Playbook: Visa Applications Abroad
- Playbook: Police Clearance Certificate
- Playbook: Company Registration in Thailand
- Playbook: Marriage and Family Documents
- Playbook: Interpreter Services
- Playbook: Study Abroad Documents
- Playbook: Government Document Retrieval by Proxy
- Playbook: Expat Paperwork in Thailand
- Playbook: Corporate Accounting and Tax
We advise first, then do the work
We check employer eligibility and the job description first — capital, Thai-staff ratio, restricted occupations — before anything is filed.
- Free case assessment before you commit — send photos of your documents and we tell you what is actually needed.
- A team of licensed attorneys, notarial services attorneys and registered translators, with over 15 years of combined practice.
- We flag risks and alternatives in writing — including when the cheaper or faster route is the correct one.
- We stay with the case after delivery: if the receiving authority asks for more, we advise at no extra consulting fee.
Talk to an adviser: 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th