Thailand Non-B Visa for Teachers: School Packet, e-Visa, Arrival
School Sponsors. You File.
Stamp Then Permit
I've lived in Thailand for 20 years, and from our office in Ban Lum I tell incoming teachers the same thing: your Non-B visa is for entry, not the job itself. Your school sponsors you, you submit your e-Visa, and after you land you get your medical check and work permit. Fees and embassy steps change, so check that week. This is not legal advice.
01: Non-B Visa vs. Work Permit
Understanding the two separate legal instruments required to teach.
"In 20 years here, the most common confusion I hear from new arrivals is thinking their Non-B visa lets them walk straight into the classroom. The visa lets you through immigration. The work permit lets you teach. You must have both."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
1. Non-Immigrant B Visa
Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) via royal embassies and consulates abroad. It grants entry into the kingdom for 90 days under commercial/teaching status. It is not permission to commence working.
2. Digital Work Permit
Issued by the Department of Employment (DOE), Ministry of Labour. It lists your hiring school, campus location, and job title. Working without this document violates Thai labour regulations.
3. The Extension of Stay
Once your work permit and school documentation are verified, provincial immigration extends your initial 90-day Non-B stamp to cover the full duration of your employment contract.
02: What Your School Supplies, What You Supply
Both sides must have complete document sets before an e-Visa or conversion can proceed.
| Document | Supplied By | Specifications & Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Original Degree Certificate | Teacher | Original Bachelor's degree diploma. Keep unlaminated so seals remain visible. |
| University Transcripts | Teacher | Complete official academic transcripts confirming graduation conferral. |
| Criminal Record Check | Teacher | National police clearance from home country, issued within 6 months of filing. |
| School Invitation Letter | School | Official letter on school letterhead addressed to the relevant embassy or immigration office. |
| WP-3 Pre-Approval Letter | School | Department of Employment pre-approval letter sponsoring the foreign instructor. |
| Director ID & License Copies | School | Signed copies of the Thai school director's national ID card and school operational license. |
| Teaching Contract | Both | Official employment agreement detailing salary, teaching hours, and semester dates. |
Filing Your Non-B: Four Steps
From document gathering to work permit issuance in Thailand.
🛠️ How a Teacher Gets a Non-B Visa and Work Permit
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Get Your School's Papers
Your school sponsors you and gives you its papers, such as an invitation letter and WP-3 pre-approval. You gather your own: degree, transcripts, police clearance, passport and photos. Ask your school for its exact list.
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File the e-Visa and Print PDF
Use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa site, thaievisa.go.th, if your embassy takes e-Visas. Make an account, fill in the form, upload your documents and pay. Print the approval PDF and carry it.
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Register TDAC and Fly
File your Thailand Digital Arrival Card on tdac.immigration.go.th up to 3 days before you land. Keep your degree, transcripts and police clearance in your cabin bag.
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Medical Check, Then Work Permit
The visa is for entry. Your school handles the work permit, which is the job. Do a medical check in Thailand when your school asks, and go to the labour office when told.
At immigration control, hand your passport and printed e-Visa approval sheet to the officer. Ensure they stamp you in under Non-B status with a full 90-day permission to stay, rather than mistakenly stamping you as a visa-exempt tourist!
In-Country Conversion vs. The Laos Run
What happens when arriving on a tourist or visa exemption stamp.
In-Province Conversion
Certain provincial immigration offices allow converting a 30-day exemption or 60-day tourist visa to a Non-B inside Thailand (Form TM.86 or TM.87). This strictly requires at least 15 to 21 days remaining on your current stamp and an entirely complete school sponsorship dossier.
The Laos Consular Route
If your provincial office does not handle in-country conversions or your stamp duration is too short, teachers travel to the Royal Thai Consulate in Savannakhet or Embassy in Vientiane. See our complete DIY Laos Visa Run guide for transit and consular payment hours.
Non-B Visa Questions
What is the difference between a Non-B visa and a work permit?
A Non-B visa is for entry. A work permit is for the job, and it names your school. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a Non-B holder must be granted a work permit before starting work. So a teacher needs both, and your school handles the permit.
Can I change from visa exemption to a Non-B inside Thailand?
Sometimes. Some provincial immigration offices will do it if your school's papers are ready and you have enough days left on your stamp, but each office decides. If yours will not, teachers often go to a Thai consulate in Laos. Ask your school before you fly, and see our Laos visa run guides.
How does the e-Visa work?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs runs thaievisa.go.th. You make an account, fill in the form, upload your documents, pay the fee and wait. The approval comes by email as a PDF. We print it and carry it. Not every embassy takes e-Visas, so check yours.
Do I need to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
Most foreign visitors flying in need one, and the official site lists a few exceptions, such as airside transit. File it at tdac.immigration.go.th up to 3 days before you land. It is free. See our TDAC guide.
Can a non-native English speaker get a Non-B for teaching?
It is case by case, and the school decides. Some schools hire non-native speakers who have a Bachelor's degree and clear English, and some ask for a TOEIC or IELTS score.
Why carry my degree in my cabin bag?
Your school and the labour office may want to see the originals in person, and a lost checked bag can hold everything up. So we pack the degree, transcripts and police clearance in the cabin bag. Do not laminate them.
Matthew John
Co-Founder & Operations ManagerI'm Matthew, co-founder of Kids English Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and work from our office in Ban Lum, Sukhothai. Helping incoming teachers navigate arrival logistics, visas, and school onboarding with zero stress is what our team does every intake.
