Non-Immigrant B
Work visa (Non-B) and work permit: two documents, not one
Verified against official sources on 12 October 2026.
Our fee
from 15,000 THB
Thailand Work Visa and Work Permit — key takeaways at a glance
- Validity
- Single entry: 90 days from issue. Multiple entry: 1 year.
- Stay per entry
- 90 days per entry, extended annually against the work permit.
- Government fee
- Visa: 2,000 THB (single) / 5,000 THB (multiple). Work permit: 3,000 THB/year.
- Financial requirement
- Set by the employer: the company must meet the 4:1 Thai-to-foreigner ratio and show 2 million THB in registered capital per foreign employee.
- Where to apply
- Visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad, or via e-Visa. Work permit at the Department of Employment in Thailand.
- Processing time
- Visa: 5 to 15 working days. Work permit: 7 to 30 working days after entry.
Who it is for: Anyone employed by a Thai-registered company, teaching at a Thai institution, or running a business registered in Thailand. The employer must sponsor both the visa and the work permit.
Who the Thailand Work Visa and Work Permit is designed for
A good fit
- You have a formal job offer from a Thai-registered company.
- You will teach at a school, university or language centre in Thailand.
- You are a director or shareholder running a Thai company.
- Your employer meets the 4:1 Thai-to-foreigner staffing ratio and the capital requirement.
Not for you if
- You work remotely for a company outside Thailand — you need a DTV, not a Non-B.
- You are a freelancer without a Thai entity — there is no employer to sponsor you.
- You want to start a business but have not yet registered it — register first, then apply.
- You earn under 50,000 THB/month — the minimum salary for most Western nationals.
Types of Thailand Work Visa and Work Permit
Thailand SMART Visa →
Highly skilled professionals, investors, executives and startup founders in the 13 targeted S-curve industries.
Thailand Investment Visa (IM/IB) →
Foreign investors and business owners who have invested or plan to invest in a Thai company or the Thai economy.
Thailand Work Visa for Teachers →
Foreign nationals with a job offer from a Thai school, university or language centre who need a work visa and permit.
Baseline requirements
Everything you need to file
Simple, transparent conditions. Every item can be met — we tell you which document to use.
A Thai employer willing to sponsor
The company must hold valid registration, meet the 4:1 ratio of Thai employees to foreigners, and show at least 2,000,000 THB in registered capital per foreign worker. BOI-promoted companies are exempt from the ratio.
Qualifications or experience matching the position
A degree in the relevant field, or documented work experience. Teaching positions require a degree and may require a teaching licence from the Teachers Council of Thailand.
Passport valid for at least 6 months
Employment contract or appointment letter
Signed by the employer, stating the position, salary and start date. The salary must meet the minimum threshold for your nationality.
THAILAND WORK VISA AND WORK PERMIT
Documents by applicant category
Prepare the documents that apply to your status.
For the Non-B visa (filed abroad)
- Passport with at least 6 months validity and blank pages
- Completed visa application form with a recent photograph
- Employment contract or letter of appointment from the Thai employer
- Company documents: registration, shareholder list, tax filings
- WP3 form (work permit application) pre-filed by the employer
For the work permit (filed inside Thailand)
- Original passport with valid Non-B visa stamp
- WP1 application form
- Medical certificate from a Thai hospital (not older than 3 months)
- Three 3×4 cm photographs taken within the last 6 months
- Degree certificate or transcript, notarised and apostilled
- Company registration, VAT certificate and employee list (Sor Kor 1)
Costs and fees
| Single-entry Non-B visa | 2,000 THB | Government fee |
| Multiple-entry Non-B visa | 5,000 THB | Government fee · Not available at all missions |
| Work permit (1 year) | 3,000 THB | Government fee |
| Annual extension of stay | 1,900 THB | Government fee |
| Medical certificate | 200–500 THB | Third-party |
| Document translation and notarisation | Varies | Third-party |
Government fees differ by country of application and change often. Verify with the mission you are applying at before you pay.
Documents: yours and ours
- National ID passport (copy or scan)
- Passport valid for at least 1 year
- Statement of available balance for the last 3 months, in English
- Digital photo: portrait orientation, light background
- The official consulate application form in English, error-free
- Flight and hotel bookings
- Certified translations of your documents
- Guarantee and sponsorship letters
The final list of documents is set by the specific mission you file at.
How we work together
You fill in a short questionnaire and hand over the basics of your case.
We assess the risk — past stamps, refusals, overstays — build the filing strategy and fix the final price with no hidden charges.
You collect the documents from our checklist — bank statement, certificates, photo, bookings.
We audit the documents: statement format, translations, dates, wording. You get corrections back.
You complete the e-Visa form under our supervision and pay the consular fee.
We run the process, track the status and help you answer any follow-up request from the consulate.
You enter Thailand.
We check the issued visa for consulate errors and give you border-crossing instructions.
Where the time goes
We pick the consulate with the lightest current load for your situation.
How to apply
Route 1 — from abroad (standard)
The employer prepares documents, you file at a Thai Embassy abroad, enter Thailand on the Non-B stamp, then apply for the work permit inside the country.
- 01Employer prepares WP3 and company documentsThe Thai company files the WP3 with the Department of Employment and receives a receipt to include in your visa application.
- 02Apply for Non-B visa at a Thai Embassy or via e-VisaSubmit the application with the employer documents, contract and WP3 receipt. Processing takes 5 to 15 working days depending on the mission.
- 03Enter Thailand on the Non-B visaYou have 90 days from the visa issue date to enter. The stamp gives you 90 days of stay.
- 04Apply for the work permit at the Department of EmploymentFile the WP1 with a medical certificate, photographs and notarised qualifications. Processing takes 7 to 30 working days. Do not start working before the permit is issued.
- 05Extend your stay annuallyBefore the 90-day stamp expires, apply for a one-year extension at Immigration. The extension is tied to the work permit: if the permit is cancelled, the extension falls away.
Route 2 — change of status inside Thailand
If you are already in Thailand on another visa type, you may be able to change to Non-B without leaving the country. Not all combinations are allowed.
- 01Check whether your current status allows a changeTourist visa exemption stamps and some short-stay categories cannot be changed to Non-B inside Thailand. Immigration may direct you to leave and apply abroad.
- 02Employer files the WP3 and change-of-status requestBoth are filed at Immigration simultaneously. Processing takes 2 to 4 weeks.
- 03Receive the Non-B stamp and apply for the work permitThe same WP1 process as Route 1. The work permit cannot be issued until the Non-B stamp is in your passport.
Which applicant are you?
Tick what you already have. The list changes with your category — so does what the mission will ask for.
Everyone
Your category
The visa and the permit — what each one does
Non-B visa (Immigration)
- Lets you enter Thailand for work purposes
- Issued by a Thai Embassy abroad or at Immigration
- Grants 90 days of stay per entry
- Does not authorise work by itself
Work permit (Ministry of Labour)
- Authorises you to work in a specific position for a specific employer
- Issued by the Department of Employment inside Thailand
- Valid for up to 2 years, renewable
- Must be returned within 15 days if you stop working
Common mistakes and refusal reasons
1. Starting work before the permit is issued
The most common and most expensive mistake. The Non-B stamp is not a work permit. Even if your permit application is pending, working without the physical document is an offence. The fine is 5,000 to 50,000 THB, plus potential deportation.
2. Forgetting to return the work permit when leaving a job
You must return the work permit to the Department of Employment within 15 days of leaving your employer. Failure to do so can block future applications.
3. Letting the visa extension lapse while the work permit is active
The visa and the permit are separate documents with separate expiry dates. If your visa extension expires while the work permit is still valid, you are in overstay.
4. Working outside the permitted job description
The work permit specifies your employer, location and position. Working in a different capacity or for a different entity — even within the same group — requires a new or amended permit.
5. Company does not meet the 4:1 ratio at renewal time
If staff changes bring the company below the ratio, your work permit renewal will be refused. The employer must maintain the ratio throughout the permit period, not only at application.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while my work permit application is being processed?
No. You may not work until the physical work permit is issued. Starting early is a criminal offence with fines and potential deportation. The only exception is BOI-promoted companies where a provisional work permit may be granted.
Can I change employers on the same Non-B visa?
You need a new work permit from the new employer. The visa itself does not change, but the new employer must meet the same ratio and capital requirements. There is no gap period — you should have the new permit before the old one is cancelled.
What is the difference between Non-B and Non-IB?
Non-IB is for investment-related activities: attending board meetings, managing investments. It does not permit employment. If you will be working as an employee, you need a Non-B.
Do digital nomads need a work visa?
If you work remotely for a company outside Thailand and do not earn income from a Thai entity, the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) is the correct route. A Non-B is for employment inside Thailand.
Is there a minimum company age to sponsor a foreigner?
No formal minimum age, but new companies are scrutinised more heavily. The company must demonstrate the capital requirement and the 4:1 ratio, which is harder for a company that just registered.
Can I be self-employed on a work visa?
Not directly. You must be employed by a Thai-registered entity. If you own the company, you are employed by it as a director, and the company must still meet the ratio and capital requirements.
Sources
- Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (business and working) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 12 October 2026
- Work permit — Ministry of Labour — Ministry of Labour of Thailand · checked 12 October 2026
- Immigration Bureau — extension of stay — Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police · checked 12 October 2026
- Thai e-Visa portal — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 12 October 2026
This page is informational and reflects the rules as verified on the date above. Thai visa rules change without notice and the final decision always rests with the Thai authorities. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.