Thailand’s Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” (Business Visa)

For foreigners visiting Thailand employment purposes, a Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B”  (Business Visa) will likely be needed. Once a Non-Immigrant visa is granted, a foreigner can work in Thailand only after a work permit has been granted. Any foreigner who violates immigration law by taking up employment without a work permit or who violates Royal Decree B.E. 2522 (1979) which concerns the holding of employment in certain restricted professions or occupations, will face severe penalties if caught. Hence, it is strongly that foreigners moving to Thailand for employment purposes to consult with all relevant authorities before they leave.

To obtain the Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” Business Visa, the following documents will be needed:

• Passport or travel document that is valid for at least 6 months.
• Completed visa application form.
• Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
• Evidence of adequate finances - 20,000 Baht (US$588) per person and 40,000 Baht (US$1,176) per family.
• Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour. To obtain this, the prospective employer in Thailand must submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour (Phone:  02-2452745 or 02-2452745) or at the Provincial Employment Office in his or her respective province.
• Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and alien income tax or Por Ngor Dor 91 if applicable (in the cases where the applicant has previously worked in Thailand).
• Corporate documents of hiring company in Thailand. These documents may include:
  1) Business registration and business license.
  2) List of shareholders.
  3) Company profile.
  4) Details of business operation.
  5) List of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions.
  6) Map indicating the location of the company
  7) Balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30 of the latest year).
  8) Value-added tax registration (Por Por 20).
• Document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism businesses only) or documents that indicate export transactions issued by banks (for export businesses only).

Nationals of certain countries must apply for a visas only at Royal Thai Embassies or Royal Thai Consulate-Generals in their home or residence country (The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contains a directory of links to Thai embassies and consulates around the world). However and given the (often sudden) changes in Thailand’s visa policies and their complexity, foreigners again are strongly advised to consult with their respective embassy in Thailand and with the nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General before they make plans to visit Thailand for employment purposes.