Thailand Work Permit

A Thai work permit is issued by the Department of Employment and requires a matching Non-Immigrant B visa plus a compliant employer. Documents are prepared on both sides — company records and personal qualifications — and the permit is normally issued within about 7–10 business days once the file is complete and the visa status is correct.
Who needs this
- Foreign nationals starting employment with a Thai company
- Employers sponsoring foreign staff who must satisfy capital and staffing ratios
- Existing permit holders changing employer, position or work location
Documents to prepare
- Passport with a valid Non-Immigrant B visaTourist and visa-exempt entries cannot be converted at the work permit stage
- Degree certificate and transcriptsTranslated and legalised where issued outside Thailand
- Employment references or experience certificatesSupporting the qualification for the specific position
- Company registration documents and financial statementsRecent copies certified by an authorised director
- Medical certificate and photographsIssued to the current Department of Employment specification
Step-by-step process
- 1. Check eligibility and employer complianceConfirm registered capital, Thai-to-foreign staffing ratio and that the role is not on the restricted occupations list.Handled by: Employer + our team · Typical time: 1–3 business days
- 2. Secure the correct visa statusObtain or convert to a Non-Immigrant B visa before lodging the permit application.Handled by: Applicant · Typical time: 3–10 business days
- 3. Prepare and legalise qualificationsForeign degrees and references translated and legalised so the Department of Employment can accept them.Handled by: Our team · Typical time: 3–7 business days
- 4. Lodge and collect the permitThe complete file is submitted and the permit book collected on approval.Handled by: Our team · Typical time: 7–10 business days
Overall timing
From a standing start, allow 3–6 weeks including visa steps and document legalisation. Renewals for an unchanged role and employer are considerably faster.
Advice from our team
- Align the job title on the permit with the actual duties — mismatches cause problems at renewal and inspection
- Keep the 90-day reporting and visa extension calendar together with the permit dates
- Legalise foreign qualifications before arrival where possible; it is slower to arrange afterwards
Things to watch out for
- Working before the permit is issued is an offence for both employee and employer
- Changing employer requires a new permit, not an amendment
- Some occupations remain reserved for Thai nationals and cannot be permitted at all
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while the application is pending?
No. Work may only begin after the permit is issued.
Can I hold one permit for two employers?
No. Each employer requires its own permit, though multiple work locations can be listed for the same employer.
Do I need my degree legalised?
Foreign qualifications generally need translation and legalisation before the Department of Employment will accept them.
What happens if I resign?
The permit must be cancelled and your visa status adjusted; a new employer must file a fresh application.
Let our team handle the whole process
Prefer not to run the paperwork yourself? Our team can handle the whole chain — document review, translation, notarisation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation, embassy steps and courier delivery of the originals. Tell us the destination country and the authority that will receive the file, and we will map out the exact steps and realistic timing for your case before any work starts.
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Related service: Thailand visaKey facts at a glance — End-to-end certification and translation
- Indicative price
- Contact us for a quote — a firm quote is always given before work starts
- Turnaround
- 1–7 business days by document type and receiving authority
- What you receive
- Properly certified documents plus guidance on the next filing step
- Service coverage
- Nationwide Thailand — courier and fully online intake, no in-person visit required.
Figures above are indicative ranges; the final quote depends on page count, language pair and receiving authority.
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