Work Permit in Thailand

Thai nationals do not require any documentation in order to be employed in Thailand. All they need to do is produce their Thai ID card. Foreigners, on the other hand, can be employed here in skilled or professional positions but they need to obtain a work permit to do so.

A Thai work permit allows a foreigner to be employed in Thailand, without it foreigners are not allowed to perform any type of work in the country. There can be severe consequences for working without a permit, including a fine and possible imprisonment or deportation.

Securing a work permit depends partly on the hiring company's registered capital. A Thai business wishing to employee a foreigner must have:

Paid-up registered capital of at least two million baht
A foreign company doing business in Thailand is permitted one foreign employee per three million baht brought into the country.
A ratio of four Thai employees for every foreign employee must be maintained as well.

Additionally, a well-written job description is a major factor in the Labor Department's consideration of a work permit application. It must show that the skills required for the job are ones not likely to be found among Thai applicants. Otherwise, it is unlikely that the application will be approved.

A valid non-immigration visa is required before a work permit application can be initiated. In most cases this type of visa must be obtained outside of Thailand, prior to arrival. There is a maximum of 10 permits allowed per company.

Board Of Investment

Businesses operating under the Board of Investment promotion are allowed certain exceptions on the number of work permits that can be granted by a company working on one of its sponsored projects. The ratio of Thai employees to foreign employees is also relaxed by the BOI.

Juslaws & Consult

Juslaws & Consult lawyers are knowledgeable and experienced in helping prepare the type of job description that will meet with Labor Department approval. Professional assistance in all stages of the work permit application process can be a major benefit in ensuring success.

Our staff can also assist in preparing the application and supporting documentation. For an applicant already in Thailand on another type of visa, a trip to a nearby country will be required to apply for a non-immigrant visa at a Thai embassy or consulate.

The typical amount of time required for approval for a company having two million baht of registered capital is around seven business days in Bangkok. This can take considerably longer in Phuket. Our staff can assist with applications in both locations.

Companies operating under BOI promotion are provided much quicker processing times for extension of stay and work permit processing times at Bangkok's One Stop Service Center.

Summary

Work Permits are only required by Foreigners wanted to work legally in Thailand. Juslaws & Consult can assist employers with this sometimes complex task. If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Work Permits
in Thailand