Thai Work Permit Requirements

We work for the sake of our future, for the sake of our family, for our kids and as much as possible we want our work to be beneficial and legal, not the other way around.

Working in Thailand, or even in other countries, can be challenging but can be a great opportunity for most people. The opportunity includes self-growth, experience, knowledge, and training that one hopes to have in working in other countries.

Do you plan to work in Thailand? Are you already hired? If you are, then it is expected that you are here to seek guidance about how to obtain a Thai work permit and ask about what are the requirements needed to obtain one.

Thailand Work Permit

A Thai work permit is a legal document needed to work legally in Thailand. This records and keeps track of the personal and work details of a foreign employee in Thailand. If you work in a company in Thailand and you are not a Thai national, you need this.

Not having a Thai work permit as a foreign employee might create a serious offense in Thailand and face imprisonment or be fined.

Thai Work Permit Requirements

To be granted a Thai work permit, you, as a newly employed foreigner, and the company that hired you, have some obligations and paperwork to provide to the Ministry of Labour or Labor Department.

Requirements for the Newly Hired Foreign Employee:

It is important to note that the original documents you will be bringing must be signed copies and some Thai immigration authorities may ask for the following requirements to be translated into Thai:

Departure Card TM.6
Certificates or Licenses
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Non-Immigrant visa B
Passport with Signed Copies of Every Page
University or College Degree with transcripts
Medical Certificate issued in the last 30 days
3 photos (5×6 cm) taken in the last 6 months
Marriage certificate, if married to a Thai national

Requirements for the Foreign Employer or the Thai Company that hired you:

It is important to note that the company seal must be stamped on the following required documents below, and the managing directors and directors must sign beside it.

VAT filings Phor Phor 30
VAT certificate Phor Phor 20
Social Security payment filings
Withholding Tax form Phor Ngor Dor
Company Registration Department Certificate
Factory License (if applicable), issued by the Ministry of Industry’s Factory Department.
A list of the company’s shareholders, certified by the Commercial Registration Department
Position, job description, compensation, and contract period are all stated in the employment contract.

Applying for New Thai Work Permit

Obtaining Non-Immigrant Visa B

Keep in mind that before obtaining a Thai work permit, you must obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa B, to know more about it read here.

Obtaining a Non-Immigrant Visa cannot be obtained by just applying for this type of visa in the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulates.

To apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa B, you/your:

Must have been offered a job or hired by a company in Thailand.
Employer or the company that hired you must request that the applicant be granted a non-immigrant visa so that you can apply for a work permit on your behalf.
Employer or the company that hired you must have high confidence in your moral character and your respect for Thailand’s culture, as well as his or her compliance with the country’s laws.

Processing your Thai Work Permit after Obtaining a Non-Immigrant Visa B

After obtaining your Non-Immigrant (Work) Visa and arriving in Thailand, you or your employer must apply for a Thailand Work Permit at the Ministry of Labour.

To support the application, both you and your company must have the requirements listed above. You must apply for a work permit before your Non-Immigrant visa expires and you begin working.

After you file your application, the Ministry of Labour will manage your work permit. Following the approval of your application, you must return to the Ministry of Labour to obtain your work permit and complete the relevant paperwork.

Thai Work Permit Fees

The cost of a Thai work permit is determined by the length of the permit’s validity. The rates below will give you an idea of how much acquiring a Thai work permit and other services costs:

Thai work permit application form costs THB 100
3-month validity costs THB 750
3 to 6 months validity THB 1,500
6 to 12 months (1 year) validity THB 3,100
Renewal of Thai work permit costs THB 3,100
Replacement of a Thai work permit costs THB 500
Changing or Adding Job Description costs THB 1,000
Changing or Adding of Employer costs THB 3,000
Changing or Adding of place or location of work costs THB 1,000
Changing or Adding other Descriptions costs THB 150
Suspension of Thai work permit costs THB 100

After Receiving your Thai Work Permit

Assuming that you have already received your Thai work permit, what do you do with it?

Thailand has set rules for foreign employees and their obtained Thai work permits. After receiving a Thai work permit, keep in mind that you are obligated to:

Carry your Thai work permits with you at all times.
Only do the work that your Thai work permit authorizes.
File for a work permit extension before your Thai work permit expires.
Request a replacement if your Thai work permit is lost or damaged within 15 days.
Contact Thai authorities through the Employment Service Office if any changes to your Thai work permit.
Return your work permit if you resign from your job.

Offenses and their Equivalent Consequences

Working in Thailand without a Thai work permit is illegal and carries a penalty of either imprisonment or a fine.

Here are some of the offenses and the penalties that can be imposed as a result of them:

Offense	Equivalent Consequences
Working without a work permit	5 years in prison or; A fine ranging from THB 2,000 to THB 100,000 Or both.
Having a work permit but engaging work that are not stated on the permit	A fine of not more than THB 20,000
Having a work permit but not having it with you when the Thai police ask for it	A fine of not more than THB 10,000 Baht
Employers employing a foreigner who does not have a valid work permit	A fine of not more than THB 100,000 per person will be imposed.