All About Thai Visa And Work Permit Thailand

On the new website of the Sanet Group, the German Consultancy in Thailand for international companies, you will find all information regarding your Thai visa and your work permit Thailand.

While the Sanet website provides detailed information about the terms and rights associated with each visa type for Thailand, below we provide an outline of the main features of the Thai system for visas and work permits in Thailand.

Visiting Thailand as a tourist is very easy for EU citizens and people from many other countries. You will receive a stay permit for up to two months without difficulty upon arrival. There are no applications to fill out and no forms to sign. Of course, you are not allowed to work during such a visit.

For business travel, a NON-B business visa must be applied for at a Thai embassy or consulate before departure. The visa is usually initially issued for three months. It allows, for example, customer visits, visits to trade fairs, as well as lectures and trips to explore the market. The standard business visa does not allow you to take up employment directly in Thailand.

To get a retirement visa Thailand, you must be at least 50 years old, have a monthly income of 65,000 THB and a bank account holding 800,000 THB. You also need to have a medical insurance policy.

But be aware: from 2024, you will have to pay tax on your income in Thailand. As a pensioner with a Thai retirement visa, you are of course not allowed to work in Thailand.

Foreigners who, for example, are married to a Thai wife or have a child in Thailand and wish to support their family members in their living expenses will receive a so-called “NON-O” visa. This visa can also be used to take up employment in Thailand. Family members of foreign holders of a Thai work permit can also receive such a Thai visa but are then not allowed to work.

Caution is advised when considering the much-publicized Thai Elite Visa. This is issued by a private company that cooperates with the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It is therefore a tourist visa. It is available for between 25,000 and 150,000 US dollars. It does not alone entitle the holder to work, but it does provide discounts on tourist offers and assistance with entry and visa extensions. Furthermore, there are also some specific types such as the LTR Visa (Long Term Resident), the Smart Visa and, for example, the Investor Visa.

The conditions for obtaining such a Thai visa and the associated rights are very extensive and are described in great detail on the website of Sanet Legal, the German law firm with its visa service in Thailand.

Finally, there is the Thai Permanent Resident Visa (PR Visa). It is issued for an unlimited period of time. However, only a small, predetermined number of applicants from each country are granted this visa each year. The application process often takes years and involves extensive vetting of the applicant and a language test.

For Employment in Thailand, you must obtain a visa which authorizes you to work. Once you have this visa, your employer may apply for a Thai work permit.

It is important to know that in Thailand, the term “work” refers to any professional activity that requires mental or physical effort. It does not matter whether you get paid for it or not. So even providing free and voluntary support to friends or acquaintances in their business is not legally allowed without a work permit.

Among these is the NON-B business visa for the purpose of taking up employment. This must be applied for outside of Thailand. Numerous documents from the future employer and, of course, an employment contract must be submitted. The NON-O visa for supporting family members is also valid for taking up employment in Thailand.

As a rule, the employer must prove that paid-up liability capital of approximately USD 60,000 is available for each foreign employee and that at least four employees are employed per foreigner. Moreover, there is an extensive list of professions that are reserved exclusively for Thai employees. Foreigners cannot be granted a work permit for these professions.

The Thai “Board of Investment (BOI)” can also issue a work permit for Thailand for investors, their employees or for particularly promoted talents.

Detailed information on all topics covered in this report can be found on the Sanet Group's websites for Thai visas and Thai work permits, and the Group also offers a visa service for Thailand. There you are also welcome to make an appointment for a free initial consultation with a German lawyer in Thailand.