A Thai work permit is a document a foreigner needs to work in Thailand. It can be issued once you have the appropriate visa. Foreigners can either be on a Non-Immigrant B or a Non-Immigrant O visa.

A Thai work permit allows foreign nationals to work in Thailand as skilled professionals. A work permit is required to work legally in the Kingdom of Thailand. Once the work permit is received, the individual must work only with the company named in the Thai work permit, at the address in the work permit, and within the category of work listed. The duration of a Thai work permit typically matches the term of your contract.

What is needed to apply for a work permit in Thailand?

There are presently two preliminary requirements for people interested in working in Thailand.

1. Firstly, you must apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” visa from a Thai Embassy or a Thai Consulate in a neighboring country to Thailand or your home country. Typically, people enter Thailand on a 45-day visa exemption or a 60-day tourist visa. They then take the paperwork from their school and go to a Thai Embassy or a Thai Consulate in Laos, Vietnam, or Malaysia. Once you are a visa holder, you can move to the next stage of applying for a work permit in Thailand. Thai authorities generally have a lenient approach as long as the visa process is started.

2. Secondly, if working in regular schools, an application for a teacher’s license waiver from the Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT).

3. The teacher’s license waiver is not required for language schools, university demonstration schools, or Universities. Also, if you have a degree in Education, you could be eligible for a full five-year teacher’s license.

4. Lastly, applying for a work permit can begin once you have been approved for the above visa and the teacher’s license waiver or full five-year Thai teaching license.

To apply for the non-immigrant visa, foreign nationals will require the following:

• Passport with at least six months validity and two blank pages

• Two Passport photos

• Original copy of your bachelor’s degree

• Criminal background check

• The non-immigrant visa application fee (varies); however, it is typically 2,000 THB.

• Your school/employer will provide various documents.

Please note that each embassy or consulate can have different requirements in each country or region - check with your local embassy or consulate about their specific criteria before applying.

Thailand Visa Extensions

Thai visas are extendable at the Thai government's immigration office, not at the Thai Embassy or Consulate. All visa extensions cost 1,900 baht regardless of the type and duration.

A Tourist Visa is extendable for 30 days per single entry (60 days). It costs 1,900 baht and can be obtained at any immigration office nationwide.

A 30-day exempt stamp is extended for 30 days per entry. The cost is 1,900 baht and can be done at any immigration office nationwide.

A Non-Immigrant visa is extendable for a period not exceeding one year with the correct documents. Generally, the Immigration Office in the province where you reside is responsible for extensions of a non-immigrant visa.

Note: *An application for a Thai Non-Immigrant visa extension at the immigration bureau first requires the teacher's license and work permits to be acquired. Applying for a Thai Non-Immigrant visa extension is only possible if the foreign employee visits the immigration bureau in person, and a school/Thai company representative must accompany the foreign employee. Also, a Thailand business visa can only be done during the last 30 days of the initial 90-day visa. Once completed, a teacher will have their visa and work permit for the duration of their contract.

Note: Always dress appropriately and act politely and humbly when dealing with Thai immigration officers.

Thailand’s Teacher’s License

A Teacher’s License is required to teach in a Thai school, except for universities and private language schools. A teaching license is a 5-year license that looks much like a driving license.

The TCT, a Thai Government Department (Thailand Teachers Council), is responsible for issuing the Teacher’s License. Positions at top international schools often come with higher expectations, such as requiring demo lessons and proper work permits.

A full five-year teacher’s license is only issued if you have a degree in education or a PGCE or Teacher’s License from your home country. You must also complete a Thai culture course administered by an accredited provider before the TCT will issue you a teacher’s license.

If your Bachelor’s degree is not in education, the TCT can issue a 2-year temporary permission/waiver.

Applicants who wish to apply for the two-year waiver to teach without a full license must have a degree from a recognized university. The degree can be in any subject and does not have to be related to education.

In Thailand, if you do not hold a passport from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, or New Zealand, you must take a TOEIC test.

The TOEIC Test Score is needed to demonstrate your English Proficiency level. The TOEIC Test can be taken at centres across 160 countries, including Thailand. Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog//toeic-test-thailand to read more about the TOEIC Test in Thailand.

Note: *Your school or recruiter should submit the application to the TCT, and you should only be asked to provide and sign documents. The application cannot be submitted until the teacher has the initial 90-day Non-Immigrant B visa.

Understanding the Thai Non-Immigrant B Visa

Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog//understanding-thai-visa-categories-employment-document-process to learn more about the Thai Non-Immigrant B visa and other Thai visas.

What is a Non-Immigrant B Visa?

A Non-Immigrant B Visa is a crucial document for foreign teachers who wish to work in Thailand. This visa allows foreign nationals to engage in professional activities, including teaching, within the country. It serves as the foundation for obtaining a work permit and eventually securing a teaching license. Without a Non-Immigrant B Visa, foreign teachers cannot legally work in Thailand, making it an essential first step in the employment process.

Eligibility for a Non-Immigrant B Visa

To be eligible for a Non-Immigrant B Visa, foreign teachers must meet specific requirements. Firstly, they need to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution. Additionally, a TEFL/TESOL certification is often required to demonstrate proficiency in teaching English as a foreign language. A clean criminal record is also mandatory to ensure the safety and integrity of the educational environment. Furthermore, applicants must have a job offer from a Thai employer, which confirms their employment and outlines their qualifications for the teaching position. Meeting these criteria is essential for securing a Non-Immigrant B Visa and starting a teaching career in Thailand.

Applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa

Applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa involves several steps and requires careful preparation. Applicants must submit the necessary documents to the Thai embassy or consulate in their home country. The required documents typically include a valid passport, a completed visa application form, and passport-sized photos. Additionally, proof of employment, such as an employment contract or a letter from the employer, is necessary. Educational certificates, including the bachelor’s degree and TEFL/TESOL certification, must also be provided. A medical certificate, confirming the applicant’s health status, is another essential document. Once all the documents are gathered, they should be submitted to the Thai embassy or consulate, where the application will be processed.

Common Thai Immigration Issues

Staying up-to-date on visa provisions in Thailand is time-consuming, as any staffing management company or employer who hires foreign nationals can affirm. 

Failing to follow the correct procedure can lead to applications being rejected or the possibility of being fined.

Several typical immigration problems include

1. Wrong Stamp in Passport

2. Overlooking the Visa Activation Window

3. Misinterpreting the Expiration Date on the Visa

4. Failure to process the 90-day report 

5. Overstaying a Visa

6. Failure to Acquire a Re-Entry Permit

7. Termination of Employment

Wrong Stamp in Passport

Sometimes, inaccurately stamped passports can cause severe problems — mainly if they get overlooked. The visa holder will ultimately be held accountable for any inconsistencies in the passport, making it paramount to double-check everything after an immigration officer stamps a passport.

Overlooking the Visa Activation Window

When a visa is granted, it includes an enter-before date that is often mistaken for the visa's expiry date. Instead, this date denotes the visa holder's last day to enter the country. 

For most Non-Immigrant B visas, the entry before timespan is 90 days from the date the visa is issued. Not entering on or before this date means the visa has expired.

Misinterpreting the Expiration Date on the Visa

When a person acquires a new visa to Thailand, it will have an expiration date; this date represents the time span within which the person must enter Thailand. The visa timespan must not be confused with the visa's expiration date, which depends on the day the person enters the country and is typically a stamp in the passport. 

Failure to process the 90-day report

In Thailand, extended visas have a 90-day reporting clause. A foreign national must either report in person, via mail, or online every 90 days and inform immigration of their address, etc. Failure to complete the 90-day report will result in a 2,000 THB fine. 

Overstaying a Visa

If you overstay your visa in Thailand, you are mandated to pay a fine of 500 THB per day; however, the Thai Immigration Authority caps the fine at a maximum of 20,000 THB. Paying the penalty at the airport upon leaving the country is usually straightforward. 

However, overstaying a visa for more than 90 days can result in a year ban or more, depending on whether one hands oneself in or is apprehended for the offense.

Failure to Acquire a Re-Entry Permit

Single entry Non-Immigrant B visas held by teachers in Thailand only allow one entry. Exiting the country even on a weekend vacation invalidates the visa, which means that the teacher and employer will have to start the process again of acquiring a Non-Immigrant B visa, applying for a teacher's license and a work permit, and eventually extending the visa.

This can be avoided by applying for a single re-entry permit from an immigration office before leaving the country. Alternatively, teachers who plan to leave the country three or more times yearly can acquire multiple re-entry permits. The cost is 1,000 THB for a single re-entry permit and 3,800 THB for a multiple Thai re-entry permit.

Termination of Employment

There is effectively no grace period upon termination of an employment contract in Thailand. Technically, the teacher and employer must visit the immigration office and declare the end of the contract. 

Once the immigration has been informed, the teacher has 24 hours to exit the country. 

Some immigration offices will issue a seven-day extension for a fee of 1,900 baht.

The soundest advice for teachers entering Thailand is to be aware of and abide by the requirements for the visa, teacher's license, and work permit. 

Note: Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/teacher-training-program-thailand and learn how Kids English Thailand can help you find a teaching job and process your visa, teacher's license, and work permit. 

Cost of a Thai Work Permit

The cost for a Thai work permit varies according to the duration of the Thai work permit:

1. 100 Baht/form = Application Fee

2. 750 Baht = Thai work permit not longer than three months

3. 1,500 Baht = Thai work permit longer than three months but does not exceed six months

4. 3,000 Baht = Thai work permit longer than six months but does not exceed one year

Documents to Apply for a Thai Work Permit

1. Photos

2. Photocopies copies of your degree, transcripts, and any other certificates you may have

3. Photocopy of every page of your passport

4. School director's license

5. Map of school

6. Teaching schedule of the teacher

7. List of other work permit holders at the school

8. Teachers License

9. Medical Check

Note: *In Thailand, you must sign a photocopy of a document when you submit it. Failure to sign a photocopy will result in it not being accepted to support an application.

Medical Check for a Work Permit

A registered doctor in Thailand must complete and sign a generic form (see below).

The doctor is required to check/test for the following:

1. Leprosy

2. Tuberculosis

3. Elephantiasis

4. Drug Addiction

5. Alcoholism

6. Syphilis.

Note: Each Thai Province is different, and some teachers went to local clinics, paid 50 baht, and were in and out in ten minutes, while others went to a hospital, paid up to 1000 baht, and were required to give blood & urine. It all depends on your province and what the Labor Office requests. 

How long does it take to process a work permit?

The processing time for work permits in Thailand varies depending on the province. They usually take three to seven working days to issue.

Thailand work permits minimum salary requirement

Thailand has a daily minimum wage and limits salaries in government institutions. The salary for a foreign teacher varies depending on the teacher's school location, teaching hours, and qualifications.

Does a Thai work permit enable you to do all teaching work in any location?

Your work permit usually allows you to teach in the location written on the inside cover of the work permit.

However, it is possible to add other locations to a work permit book; for example, if you work in a public school during the day and then a language school in the evenings and weekends, a foreign national can get the second location added to the work permit. 

Work Permits Belong to the Employer, not the Employee.

Many foreign nationals presume that their work permit is a license to pursue employment anywhere in the country. However, that is not how it works.

The work permit is an official document that the Ministry of Labour grants to the employer rather than the employee. For teachers, the work permit is only valid for the school at which it was initially requested, and it belongs to the school.

Once the work permit has expired, the school has 15 days to return it to the Ministry of Labour, a government organization in Thailand. If a teacher stays in Thailand and finds new employment, the new employee will have to request a new work permit, and if the last one is not canceled, a new one will not be issued. 

Collecting the Thai Work Permit

Once the work permit is issued, the applicant will get a blue-colored book (see above) with their picture, information, and employment information. 

Once issued, you must visit the Ministry of Labor in person with your passport and sign the Thai work permit book in the presence of the Ministry of Labor Department staff. 

Extending a Thai Work Permit

A Thai Work Permit can be extended if you fulfill the essential requirements. The Ministry of Labor will use the same work permit and put a stamp on the second page. The renewal process is more accessible than the initial application. However, the documents required remain the same.

Guidelines for Extending a Work Permit

To extend a work permit, foreign teachers must follow these guidelines:

1. Ensure Validity: Verify that the work permit is still valid and has not expired. Extensions cannot be processed for expired permits.

2. Gather Documents: Collect all necessary documents, including the current work permit, passport, and proof of continued employment.

3. Submit to Authorities: Submit the documents to the immigration office or the Labour Office responsible for processing work permit extensions.

4. Pay the Fee: Pay the required extension fee, which varies depending on the duration of the extension requested.

5. Wait for Processing: The extension process typically takes a few days to a week. During this time, the authorities will review the application and extend the work permit accordingly.

Following these guidelines ensures a smooth renewal process, allowing foreign teachers to continue their employment in Thailand without interruption.

Punishment for Breaching Thai Work Permit Regulations

Once issued, a work permit holder must carry the permit with him/herself or keep it ready at the place of work at all times for presenting to the competent official or registrar.

Any work permit holder who violates or fails to comply with the preceding shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand THB.

A work permit holder shall engage and perform works only in the particular permitted category of work with the specific employer-permitted locality and conditions.

Any work permit holder who violates or fails to comply with the preceding shall be liable to a fine not exceeding four hundred thousand THB.

Before the work permit expiration, the holder shall submit a work permit renewal application to the register.

Any work permit holder who violates or fails to comply with the procedure and continues to engage in the work performance as specified in the permit without permission shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine from two thousand THB to one hundred thousand THB or both.

If it appears that a work permit holder violates the Management of Working Alien law or fails to comply with the specified conditions, the registrar shall have the power to revoke the work permit.

FAQ’s

Here are some common questions regarding Thai Work Permits and Thai Visas.

Can You Bring in Your Family Members?

Family members (i.e., spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 20 years old) are qualified to apply for a Thai Non-Immigrant O Visa. 

They can stay for 90 days and extend the visa to match the working family member's visa expiration date.

What are the Occupations in Thailand that are Excluded for Foreign Nationals?

There are 300+ occupations that foreign nationals are not permitted to do within Thailand. These include:

• Haircutting or beauty and cosmetic role.

• Basket weaving

• Taxi driver

• Plus many more

Can You Do Multiple Jobs in Thailand?

Yes, it is possible to add other locations to a work permit book; for example, if you work in a public school during the day and then a language school in the evenings and weekends, a foreign national can get the second location added to the work permit. 

Are there any Punishments for Working without a Thai Work Permit?

If a foreign national works in Thailand without a work permit, he/she risks imprisonment and a fine.

Also, the employer can be punished with imprisonment and a fine.

Is there an age limit for Thailand work permits?

Once you reach the age of 60, the Thai social security scheme ends, and typically, employment ends; however, some teachers older than 60 have been able to be employed.

Is there a social security scheme in Thailand?

Thailand does have a Social Security registration system that allows employees to access Social Security benefits.

How much is the work permit application?

Applying for the Thai Work Permit costs 100 THB. For up to 3 months, a work permit is 750 THB. For up to 6 months, a work permit is 1,500 THB, and for 6 months to one year, a work permit is 3,000 THB.

Related

1. Navigating Visa Runs in Vietnam: Essential Tips for a Smooth Experience

2. Understanding Thai Visas: A Comprehensive Guide for Your Adventure

3. Essential Guide to Obtaining a Thai Work Permit: Everything You Need to Know

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