Work Permit Thailand & Non-B Visa

Why working without a permit is risky

01
Inspections are more frequent.

Immigration and the police check for foreigners working without a permit — especially in tourism and food service.
02
You need the right company.

Registered capital and the number of Thai employees matter for a permit. We confirm the requirements for your case.
03
Nominee schemes are under pressure.

Since 2026, checks on Thai shareholders have been tightened. A permit held through a nominee company puts both the permit and the business at risk.

Source: Forvis Mazars; TCIJ

What you need to work legally

Key rules of Thailand's Department of Employment and Immigration Bureau. Checked on 17 October 2026.

Requirements change. We check them against official sources before every application.

A non-immigrant visa, not a tourist entry

Work permits are only issued to people staying in Thailand other than as tourists or in transit. For work, this is usually a Non-B visa.

Source: Foreign Workers Decree, s. 59
Company capital: 2 million THB per foreigner

A company registered in Thailand needs paid-up capital of at least 2 million THB: that allows one permit, plus one more for each further 2 million THB, up to 10. For large employers, such as those with 100+ Thai staff or 3 million THB+ of income tax paid last year, the number is set by need. If you are legally married to a Thai citizen and live together, the capital requirement is halved.

Source: Department of Employment Regulation B.E. 2568 (2025)
Visa extension: 4 Thai staff per foreigner

Immigration extends a Non-B for work by up to 1 year at a time. The conditions: paid-up capital of at least 2 million THB and a ratio of 1 foreigner to 4 permanent Thai employees. Representative offices, regional offices and branches of foreign companies need a 1 to 1 ratio and have no capital requirement.

Source: Immigration Bureau, Order 242/2566
A salary above the threshold

To extend a Non-B, Immigration also looks at your salary. The threshold depends on nationality: from 35,000 THB a month for citizens of Russia and most Asian countries; 45,000 THB for South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong; 50,000 THB for Western Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and Australia. For other countries, we confirm the threshold.

Source: Immigration Bureau, annex to Order 242/2566
A genuinely operating company

Immigration checks last year's audited financial statements, the withholding tax returns on salaries (PND 1) for the last 3 months listing you and your Thai staff, and photos of the office during working hours.

Source: Immigration Bureau, document list
An occupation that is not restricted

27 occupations are fully closed to foreigners, for example driving, hairdressing and beauty treatment, Thai massage, tour guiding, clerical and secretarial work, and legal services. If your profession requires a licence by law, you get it before applying for the permit.

Source: Thai Ministry of Labour, 2020
Good health and a clean record

You need a certificate from a Thai-licensed doctor confirming you have no prohibited diseases, such as active tuberculosis. A permit is refused if you were imprisoned for breaking immigration or foreign-worker law in the year before applying.

Source: Overview of the Foreign Workers Decree (BOI website, 2025)
Up to 2 years, renew in advance

By law, a permit is issued for the period requested, up to 2 years, and renewed for up to 2 years at a time. File the renewal before the permit expires, and you can keep working while it is being reviewed. Immigration extends a Non-B stay by up to 1 year, so we plan the permit and visa dates together.

Source: Foreign Workers Decree, ss. 59 and 67

Which case is yours

01
For your own company

You are a director or employee of your own Thai company.
Choose
02
For a Thai employer

A Thai company is hiring you.
Choose
03
For a team

Several foreigners in one company.
Choose
04
No company yet?

Start with company registration.
Learn more

The documents you will need

Non-B visa at a consulate

Application form and photo
Passport valid for at least 6 months
Approval from the Thai Ministry of Labour (form WP.3) or a BOI letter
From the employer: job offer, company registration certificate, list of shareholders, latest balance sheet, VAT registration

Work permit

Copy of your passport with the visa and entry stamp
Degree certificate, or a letter from a previous employer stating your position and length of service
Employer's employment certificate explaining why the position is not filled by a Thai national
Medical certificate from a Thai-licensed doctor
Professional licence, if required by law
3 photos, 3×4 cm
From the company: registration certificate showing the type of business; list of shareholders, a corporate tax return or proof of social security contributions

1-year Non-B extension

Form TM.7, copies of your passport and work permit
Employment certificate on the Immigration form (STM.1)
Company registration certificate and list of shareholders, certified within the last 6 months
Balance sheet and profit and loss statement for the last year
PND 1 returns for the last 3 months listing you and your Thai staff
Your PND 91 personal income tax return for last year (if any)
Business licence, if your type of business requires one
Map and colour photos of the office outside and inside, showing you, the director and Thai staff at work

The exact list depends on the consulate, the type of business and the immigration office. You can file the work permit application and its renewal online through the Department of Employment's e-WorkPermit system. We fill it in for you and check the package before filing.

Send documents for a check

Work permit prices

Approximate exchange rate

Non-B + work permit

Our fee

from 35,000 THB

Government fee (paid separately)

from 5,100 THB
- Company review: capital, Thai staff, documents
- Ministry of Labour approval (WP.3) for a consular visa, or a change of visa type in Thailand
- Document package for the Non-B visa
- Work permit application and support until it is issued
Timeline: 4–8 weeks
Choose this package
Most popular
Company + Non-B + work permit package

Our fee

from 60,000 THB
- Thai company registration
- Capital structure that meets the permit requirements
- Everything in the Non-B + work permit plan
Choose this package
Annual renewal

Our fee

35,000 THB

Government fee (paid separately)

1,900 THB (extension of stay) + from 3,100 THB (work permit)

Total

฿36,900
- Work permit renewal before it expires
- Non-B extension of stay for up to 1 year (TM.7)
- Collecting PND 1, PND 91, financial statements and office photos
- Reminders about deadlines and 90-day reports
Choose this package

Pay in stages

30% at the start, 70% after the result. Longer projects are paid by contract stages.

Guarantee

If an application is refused because of our mistake, we refund our fee in full. We guarantee the process, not the authority's decision.

20+ years in Thailand
2M THB paid-up capital per permit
1:4 foreigner to Thai staff ratio

We work with

Immigration Bureau
Department of Business Development (DBD)
Revenue Department
Ministry of Labour
Banks

Step 1

Request

Take the quiz or message us — we reply within 15 minutes.
Step 2

Case review and price

We check whether your company meets the requirements and give you a price.
Step 3

Documents

We prepare the package for the Non-B visa and the work permit.
Step 4

Filing and support

Some stages require you in person — we plan everything so you need to come as few times as possible.
Step 5

Result

Your Non-B visa and work permit. We remind you about renewal in advance.

Step 1 of 5 · Employer

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Confidential
Reply within 15 minutes
Price before we start

How we differ from a typical agent

Criterion	Sabai Legal	Typical agent
Price	Fixed, published on the site	"Message us and we'll quote"
Government fees	Shown as a separate line	Hidden in the total
Payment	In stages	100% upfront
Company structure	Legal, no nominees	Nominee shareholders
Response	15 minutes, 7 days a week	"On business days"
Case status	In a Telegram bot	Only by phone
Language with authorities	Thai, in person	Through an interpreter

Frequently asked questions

Can I work for a Thai company on a tourist visa or a DTV?

No. You need a Non-B visa and a work permit.

What are the requirements for the company?

Usually the registered capital and the number of Thai employees per foreigner are taken into account. The exact figures depend on the type of business — we check your company free of charge when you send a request.

How long is a work permit valid?

As a rule, up to one year with renewal; the term is tied to your visa. We remind you about renewal well in advance.

Can I get a permit if my company was set up through nominee shareholders?

That is a risk. We start with an audit of the structure — see our Company audit service.

Do I need to be in Thailand?

Some stages require you in person. We plan everything so you need to come as few times as possible.

I'm in Thailand on a visa exemption. Can I get a work permit straight away?

Not straight away. Permits are only issued to people who did not enter as tourists. First you need a Non-B visa: from a Thai consulate with Ministry of Labour approval or, in some cases, by changing your visa type at Immigration without leaving the country. A change of visa type is only possible with more than 15 days left on your permitted stay and no overstay; the government fee is 2,000 THB. A Non-B gives you up to 90 days on entry, and the permit is obtained within that time. We'll find the right route for your case.

What are the penalties for working without a permit?

For the foreigner: a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 THB and deportation once the fine is paid. For the employer: 10,000 to 100,000 THB per foreign worker. A repeat offence means up to 1 year in prison, a fine of 50,000 to 200,000 THB per person, or both, plus a 3-year ban on hiring foreigners.

How long does it take?

By law, no more than 15 working days may pass from filing the application to issuing the permit. The total time depends on whether you need a new Non-B visa and whether the company is ready. Our turnaround is 4–8 weeks.

What are my obligations once I have the permit?

Show the permit when officials ask for it. If you stay in Thailand for more than 90 days in a row, report your address to Immigration every 90 days, in person, by post or online. The employer notifies the Department of Employment within 15 days when a foreign employee starts or leaves. We keep track of the dates and reports.

Can I travel abroad on an extended Non-B?

Yes, but get a re-entry permit before you leave. Without it, your permission to stay ends when you leave Thailand. The government fee is 1,000 THB for a single and 3,800 THB for a multiple re-entry permit.