Thailand · Jobs
Where to find jobs in Thailand — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Working in Thailand as a foreigner normally takes two documents from two different places: a non-immigrant visa, and a work permit issued by the Department of Employment. Before either matters, though, there is a prior question — certain occupations are reserved for Thai nationals, so the first thing to establish is whether your occupation is open at all. A third variable is the employer: businesses promoted by the investment board operate under eased conditions, so the same job at two companies can involve different processes.
Foreigners working in Thailand generally need a non-immigrant visa and a work permit issued by the Department of Employment (Ministry of Labour); certain occupations are reserved for Thai nationals. Hiring happens on commercial job boards and company sites, and the BOI offers eased conditions for promoted businesses. Confirm work-permit requirements before starting.
- Foreigners generally need a non-immigrant visa plus a work permit (Department of Employment).
- Certain occupations are reserved for Thai nationals.
- The BOI offers eased conditions for promoted businesses; confirm requirements before starting.
- 1
Check whether your occupation is reserved
Some occupations are set aside for Thai nationals, which closes them regardless of your qualifications or an employer's interest. Establish this first, because everything else is wasted effort if the occupation itself is closed.
- 2
Plan for a visa and a permit separately
The non-immigrant visa and the work permit are different documents from different authorities, obtained in a particular order. Treating them as one step is the most common way a start date slips.
- 3
Take the permit rules from the Department of Employment
The work permit is issued by the Department of Employment, which publishes the conditions and the process. Use it as the reference rather than a summary from an agent or an employer's HR.
- 4
Ask whether the employer is investment-board promoted
Businesses promoted by the investment board work under eased conditions, which can change the process and the timeline for you. It is a short question that can materially alter what the paperwork involves.
- 5
Confirm the permit before you start work
Beginning work before the permit is in place is a different situation from waiting a few weeks, and the consequences fall on you as well as the employer. Get confirmation rather than an assurance that it is in progress.
- Occupation checked against the reserved-occupation rules
- Non-immigrant visa and work permit treated as two documents
- Order of the two documents established
- Department of Employment used as the permit reference
- Employer asked whether it is investment-board promoted
- Permit confirmed in place, not merely in progress
- Start date set after the permit rather than before
- Department of Employment (Ministry of Labour)
Official work-permit authority.
Frequently asked questions
Are some jobs closed to foreigners in Thailand?
Yes, certain occupations are reserved for Thai nationals, which closes them regardless of qualifications or employer interest. Checking whether your occupation is on that footing is the first step, before visa or permit questions.
How many documents do I need to work in Thailand?
Normally two: a non-immigrant visa and a work permit from the Department of Employment. They come from different authorities and in a particular order, so treating them as one step is where timelines usually go wrong.
Does it matter if a Thai employer is investment-board promoted?
It can. Promoted businesses operate under eased conditions, which may change the process and timeline that apply to your hire. Asking early is cheap and can change what you plan for.
Government portals
- Royal Thai Government — Official portal of the Royal Thai Government
- Thai Immigration Bureau — Visas, 90-day reporting, and re-entry permits
- Revenue Department — Thai personal income tax and VAT
- Board of Investment (BOI) — Foreign-investment incentives and the LTR long-term visa