Thailand answers, visas
How do you get a work visa and a work permit in Thailand?
Do you need a visa to work in Thailand?
Yes, and a visa alone is not enough: the work permit is what lets you work. Thai law defines work as "engaging in any occupation, whether or not the person has an employer" (Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Foreigners, as amended in 2018, quoted by ThaiLawOnline).
The steps, in order
- A Thai employer files form WP.3 at the Department of Employment and sends you the approval letter.
- You apply for the Non-Immigrant B visa at the Thai embassy for your country. London asks for the company's business licence and profile, a letter confirming the employment, the WP.3 approval, proof of UK or Irish residence and bank statements.
- You enter Thailand and apply for the work permit at the Ministry of Labour: normally 7 working days, says the London embassy, and through the e-Work Permit system since 13 October 2025, says Aniday, a recruitment firm.
- You renew every year, filing 30 to 45 days before expiry (Issa Compass).
What it costs and how long it takes
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Immigrant B, single entry | 60 GBP, valid 3 months, stay of up to 90 days | Royal Thai Embassy in London |
| Non-Immigrant B, multiple entries | 150 GBP, valid 1 year | Royal Thai Embassy in London |
| Work permit, one year | 100 THB to apply, 3,000 THB for the permit | Aniday |
| Whole process | 4 to 8 weeks | Aniday, an estimate |
What the employer has to show
We found no official page in English that publishes the thresholds: these come from two commercial sources. Aniday and Issa Compass both give four Thai employees and 2,000,000 THB of capital per foreign worker for a standard Thai company. The permit is tied to one employer (Issa Compass), and companies promoted by the Board of Investment follow a faster track (Aniday). Have the employer confirm with the Department of Employment.
Where the DTV and remote work fit
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| A job with a Thai employer, or Thai clients | Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit |
| Remote work for clients outside Thailand | The DTV, which is not a work permit |
| A visa exemption or tourist visa | No permission to work |
Our complete DTV guide covers the remote route, and six myths about working remotely in Thailand covers the grey area on tourist entries.
If you work without a permit
ThaiLawOnline lists a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 THB, deportation, and a two-year bar on a new work permit.
Compare every route in the Thailand visa options guide or run visa check. Checklists differ and labour rules change, so have a licensed Thai immigration lawyer confirm your file before you resign at home.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy in London, Non-Immigrant visas (category B purposes, documents for employment including the WP.3 approval letter from the Ministry of Labour, single entry visa valid 3 months, stay of up to 90 days, work permit applied for at the Ministry of Labour after arrival, normally 7 working days), accessed .
- Royal Thai Embassy in London, visa fees (Non-Immigrant single entry 60 GBP with 3 months validity and up to 90 days, multiple entries 150 GBP with 1 year validity), accessed .
- Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo, Non-Immigrant visa for work and business (Ministry of Labour approval through form WP3 obtained by the employer, employment contract, stay not exceeding 90 days on arrival), accessed .
- ThaiLawOnline, Thailand work permit violations, updated 27 September 2026 (definition of work under the Royal Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Foreigners B.E. 2560 as amended in 2018, fine of 5,000 to 50,000 THB, deportation, two-year bar, DTV allows no local income), accessed .
- Aniday, Thailand work permit 2026, verified 7 September 2026 (four Thai employees and 2,000,000 THB of capital per foreigner, e-Work Permit system since 13 October 2025, fees of 100 THB and 3,000 THB, 4 to 8 weeks, faster track for BOI companies, DTV cannot support a work permit), accessed .
- Issa Compass, how to legally hire foreign employees in Thailand (2,000,000 THB of capital and four Thai employees per foreign hire, permit tied to one employer, renewal filed 30 to 45 days before expiry), accessed .
Facts in this answer last verified .
Read the full guide
- Which Thai visa fits you in 2026: 30-day exemption, tourist visa, DTV, LTR, ED, retirement and Privilege
Thailand visa options in 2026: a 30-day exemption, a 60-day tourist visa, the DTV, LTR, retirement, ED and Privilege, compared by fee, stay and work rights.
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