| All foreign nationals who work in Thailand are | | | | Administration which is under the Thailand |
| required to possess a work permit at all time. A | | | | Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour |
| Thai Work permit is a blue booklet which | | | | for a Thai work permit. |
| authorizes a foreign national to work in Thailand. | | | | But first, it must be proven that he/she met the |
| Specified therein are information in connection | | | | qualifications provided by the Thai law. He/ she |
| with his/her employment such as the company, | | | | must be legally residing or permitted to |
| position, location of office and the corresponding | | | | temporarily stay in Thailand and is both physically |
| validity period. The Thailand Department of Labor | | | | and mentally healthy. Persons suffering from |
| is the governmental agency responsible for issuing | | | | tuberculosis, syphilis, leprosy, elephantiasis, drug |
| this type of permit. | | | | addiction and alcoholism are strictly prohibited |
| If the foreign national is presently outside Thailand, | | | | from having a work permit in Thailand. |
| the process application for Thai work permit may | | | | This permit may only be issued if the applicant will |
| be divided into two phases. | | | | be engaged in an occupation which matches his |
| First Phase: Non-Immigrant Thailand Visa Category | | | | her education and skill. Furthermore, there are 39 |
| "B" | | | | reserved occupations for Thais. These |
| The foreign national, as a prerequisite to applying | | | | occupations are provided in Royal decree B.E. |
| for a Thai work permit, is required to have a | | | | 2522 and violation thereof is punishable by up to |
| Non-Immigrant Visa category "B" or Thailand | | | | five years imprisonment and/or fine of 2,000 to |
| business visa. It may either be for a single entry | | | | 10,000 THB. |
| with three months validity or multiple entries with | | | | The application for Thai work permit has to be |
| one year validity which is issued by the Royal Thai | | | | accompanied by the following requirements: |
| Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate. | | | | - Recent photograph taken within the last six |
| The documents essential for the Thailand visa | | | | months (best taken with suit and tie) |
| application are as follows: | | | | - Certificate duly signed the Thai employer stating |
| - Passport or travel document with at least | | | | the need to employ a foreigner |
| twelve months validity | | | | - Applicant's education certificate and job |
| - Thai Visa Application form | | | | experience record |
| - Recent passport-sized photograph | | | | - Medical certificate issued within the last six |
| - Proof of adequate finance of 20,000.00 THB per | | | | month reflecting that he is free from any of the |
| person and 40,000.00 THB per family | | | | prohibited diseases |
| - Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour | | | | - Passport and Certificate of Permanent |
| (it is called a WP2) | | | | Residence and Certificate of Alien |
| - Thai Company Registration paperwork of hiring | | | | - Map of location of company or enterprise |
| company in Thailand (such as the Thai business | | | | In most cases if the application is approved, it shall |
| registration, certificate and all the financial | | | | be issued with a maximum of one year validity. |
| documents) | | | | The validity period may be shorter if the |
| - Copy of previous Thai work permit and alien | | | | requested period is no longer than a year. The |
| income tax (if applicable) | | | | Thai government has introduced a new two year |
| Second Phase: Thai Work Permit | | | | work permit. It is available to certain Thai |
| Upon approval of the application for the | | | | companies who meet the financial requirements |
| non-immigrant Thailand visa "B", the next step is | | | | for company revenue. |
| to request before the Office of Foreign Workers | | | | |