How to Get a Work Permit
Information on how and where to apply to the authorities, and the paperwork required...
In order to get a work permit it is advisable to ask the employer to apply or to contact a professional who has relevant experience, as the application form is in Thai, the procedure is fairly complex and involves the assembly of a large amount of documentation. There are conditions on the type of business that is allowed to submit a work permit application, for example relating to the minimum paid up capital of the company. In general the company must employ at least four Thais for every foreigner whose work permit it sponsors.
There are two distinct procedures for obtaining a work permit:
- Application for a Non-Immigrant Visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside Thailand
- After arrival in Thailand, application for a Work Permit
Although it is possible to gain a Work Permit after arriving in Thailand with another type of Non-Immigrant Visa, the normal procedure is to hold a Non-Immigrant B Visa. (For further information on visas see below)
Definition of work
- There have
been some recent changes to the legal definition of work in
Thailand
Occupations exempted from the requirement to
hold a work permit
Those
in the following occupations do not need to apply for a Work Permit but must
contact the Department of Employment in order to gain an exemption:
- Diplomatic
employees
- Consular
employees
- United Nations
employees or representatives
- Servants of
the above
- Any work that
is deemed to be "urgent and essential" not taking longer than 15
days
- Employees
working as part of an agreement between the Thai government and other
governments or international organisations
- Official
persons in Thailand to promote education, culture, arts, or sports
- Those granted
specific exemption by the Thai government
Eligibility
In
order to apply for a Work Permit the applicant must be the holder of a
Non-Immigrant Visa. This can usually be granted by Thai Embassies or Consulates
outside of Thailand. It is generally easiest to get this visa from the embassy
or consulate in the home country.
The
Non-Immigrant Visa will only be issued after certain requirements have been
met.
- For those
undertaking any type of employment a Non-Immigrant B Visa is
typically necessary
- For those
undertaking volunteer work or seeking work a Non-Immigrant O Visa is
necessary
- For those
taking part in seminars, conferences or a training course a Non-Immigrant ED Visa is
required
Other
Visas are available. A complete list can be found at the UK Thai embassy website. In
the UK all visa applications must be submitted online.
Although
it is possible to gain a Work Permit after arriving in Thailand with other
types of Non-Immigrant Visa, the normal procedure is to hold a Non-Immigrant B
Visa.
It is
possible for the employer to make an application in advance of the employee's
arrival, but the Work Permit will only be issued to the applicant in person
after arrival in Thailand.
The
work permit will name the employer, state the activities that may be engaged in
and the location in which the duties may be performed. It will usually be
granted for one year only, backdated to the date of arrival in Thailand. Where
the employer is a company with Board of Investment privileges, the work permit
can be issued for up to two years.
Note: The
Work Permit expires when the Non-Immigrant B Visa expires. If this occurs, then
the applicant has to start the whole process of visa and work permit
application from the beginning. Check the date of expiry of the visa and make
sure it's renewed before the expiration date.
A
Work Permit is not
valid after its expiry date; it must be renewed before its
expiration. Any change in duties or transfer to another employer must be
applied for and approved in advance.
A
Work Permit is only
valid for a specific job with a specific company at a specific location.
If any of these changes, a transfer or new Work Permit has to be applied for.
Once issued a Work Permit must be kept at the place of employment ready for
inspection.
Documents needed for a work permit
application
It is
normally the employer's responsibility to submit the application for a Work
Permit. This can be done before the applicant has entered Thailand, although
the applicant will have to attend in person to collect it when the Work Permit
is issued.
If it
is necessary to lodge the application personally, it's advisable to check what
documents are required with the Department of Employment, before lodging a Work
Permit application. A professional company experienced in Work Permit
applications can also be very helpful in the whole process. Generally the
following documents must be produced when applying for a Work Permit.
- Non-permanent
residents:
Passport with a Non-Immigrant visa stamp
- Permanent
residents:
Passport, alien book and residence permit
- Educational
qualification certificate/s and resumé or CV. Often a recommendation or
reference letter/s issued by former employers with all details is also
required
- Licences: any relevant
licence or professional certificates
- Job
description:
This must be clearly set out on the application form, including among
other things, the type of work, its location and any materials to be used.
Extra pages to the application form can be submitted if required
- Medical
certificate issued in Thailand, not more than six months old. The
applicant must be of sound mind and not suffer from alcoholism, narcotic
addiction, leprosy, acute tuberculosis, elephantiasis or tertiary
syphilis. All applicants will be required to have a blood test for
tertiary syphilis
- Three passport
photographs 3 x 4 cm. It has been reported that applicants not wearing a
shirt and tie in the photo may be refused
- Applicants
married to a Thai should also provide the ID card of the spouse, marriage
certificate and any child's birth certificate
- Fee payable
Any
or all documents may need to be translated into Thai, especially if they are
written in any other language than Thai or English. Multiple copies of any or
all of these documents may be needed.
Where to apply
Applications
must be submitted to the Department of Employment in Bangkok or the One Stop
Service Center. For applications made outside of Bangkok it is necessary to
contact a Provincial Employment Office in the Province where the work will be
carried out.
- Department of
Employment
At: Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Mit Maitree Road, Dindaeng, Bangkok 10400
Tel: 1694
email
The One Stop Service Center is
only available for use by certain applicants. It is possible to be granted visa
extensions and work permits in one day in one location.
- One–Stop
Service Center for Visas and Work Permits
At: 18th Floor, Chamchuri Office Tower, 319 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: 02 209 1100
Fax: 02 209 1199
email
The
centre can give advice on registering a company, registering for corporate tax
and VAT, applying for a Foreign Business Act and other matters.
On approval
Once
the application has been approved it is necessary for the applicant to be
present at the Department Of Employment in order to collect their Work Permit.
The
Work Permit will only be valid for as long as was applied for on the
application form with a maximum length of one year backdated to the date of
arrival in Thailand. If the company is promoted by BOI however, the period is
two years.
It is
vitally important to remember that the Work Permit is only valid for as long as the holder's
visa is still valid.
It is
also necessary for a re-entry visa to be obtained if the holder of the Work
Permit is planning to travel out of Thailand. If a holder only has a single
entry visa and travels out of Thailand without a re-entry visa, a new
Non-Immigrant Visa and Work Permit will need to be applied for.
It is
possible to appeal to the Director General of the Ministry of Labour if a Work
Permit application is refused.
Renewal of a work permit
Renewal
of a Work Permit must to be applied for in advance of its expiration.
The visa can be extended in
Thailand at the Immigration Bureau but many additional documents have to be
submitted by the employer. Once the visa has been extended or renewed it is
then possible to renew the Work Permit. If the visa is not renewed
the Work Permit will not be renewed.
Termination of employment
If a
foreigner's employment ends, then the Work Permit must be returned to the
Ministry of Labour within seven days of termination for cancellation. In
addition, the foreigner must report to the Immigration Bureau who will then,
usually, cancel the visa and allow seven days to leave the country. It is
therefore wise to arrange to take another job, before resigning from current
employment.
Non-Immigrant B Visas (Business Visa)
This
type of Visa may be either single entry for three months or a multi-entry
12-month visa. The 12-month multi-entry visa only permits entry for a maximum
of 90 days at which time the holder must depart the country, but can return
using the same visa. A 12-month multi-entry visa can normally only be obtained
at the applicant's home country Thai Embassy or Consulate.
Once
a Work Permit has been applied for it is possible to extend the visa from
within Thailand, but the employer will have to provide many additional documents.
It is
very important to check with the Embassy or Consulate of application before
submitting an application as there will be different requirements. Generally
the following documents are required and possibly more:
- Passport valid
for at least six months after the date of entry
- Visa
application form
- Recent
passport-size photos
- Letter from
sponsoring company or a copy of the employer's company papers or an
existing Work Permit
- Self-Certification
Guarantee Form and/or evidence of sufficient funds (in some cases)
For
further information contact the Department of Immigration (the phone is
frequently busy).
- Bangkok Immigration Office (Immigration Bureau)
At: Chaengwattana Building B, No. 120, Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road, Tungsonghong Sub-District, Laksi District, Bangkok 10210
Tel: 1178 / 02 141 9889
Fax: 02 143 8228
For a map of the office location: map - Immigration
Bureau (for citizens of Laos, Cambodia and Myamar)
At: Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120