🇹🇭 Thailand · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Foreigners need a non-immigrant visa plus a work permit to work in Thailand; the Immigration Bureau handles visas and the Department of Employment issues work permits. The LTR (Long-Term Resident) visa suits qualifying professionals and remote workers.
Foreigners need a non-immigrant visa plus a work permit to work in Thailand; the Immigration Bureau and Department of Employment handle these.
- Work requires a non-immigrant visa and a separate work permit.
- Work permits are tied to a specific employer and role.
- The Immigration Bureau and Department of Employment administer the process.
Step-by-step
- 1
Secure a job and confirm the route
Secure a job with a Thai employer; most workers use a Non-Immigrant B visa plus a work permit, while the SMART Visa and LTR visa suit skilled professionals and investors.
- 2
Obtain the Non-Immigrant B visa
Apply for the Non-Immigrant B visa at a Thai embassy with the employer’s documents; the company must meet capital and Thai-employee ratio requirements.
- 3
Enter Thailand
Enter Thailand on the Non-Immigrant B visa.
- 4
Apply for the work permit
The employer helps you apply for the work permit at the Ministry of Labour (Department of Employment) before you start work.
- 5
Extend the stay and do 90-day reporting
Extend the permitted stay at the Immigration Bureau and complete 90-day address reporting.
- 6
Renew and consider long-term options
Renew the visa and work permit annually; skilled workers may move to the SMART or LTR visa.
Checklist
- Job with a Thai employer + route confirmed (Non-B / SMART / LTR)
- Non-Immigrant B visa
- Company meets capital + Thai-employee ratio
- Work permit from the Ministry of Labour
- Stay extension at the Immigration Bureau
- 90-day address reporting
- Renewals tracked
- SMART/LTR upgrade considered
Official authorities
- Immigration Bureau
Immigration authority — visas and stay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both a visa and a work permit?
Yes — a non-immigrant (usually 'B') visa plus a work permit tied to your employer are both required to work legally.
What is the LTR visa?
The Long-Term Resident visa offers up to 10 years for qualifying wealthy or highly-skilled foreigners and remote workers, with a digital work permit.
Can I work on a tourist visa?
No — working on a tourist visa is not permitted; you need the correct visa and a work permit.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
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