Foreign nationals who wish to work in Thailand must obtain the appropriate visa and work permit. While there are various types of visas available, the most common ones for employment purposes are the Non-Immigrant Visa (Type B) and the Work Permit.
Upon arrival in Thailand, holders of the Non-Immigrant Visa (Type B) must apply for a work permit within 90 days to legalize their employment status.
Once the work permit is approved, it is usually valid for one year and can be renewed annually.
To comply with Thai immigration laws and regulations in case of business necessity, the business and the foreigner should have the following criteria:
- The foreigner must have non-immigrant visa
- The foreigner must have an income consistent with the Income table**
- The business must have a registered paid-up capital not less than 2 million Baht
- The business must have a ratio of 1 foreigner to 4 Thai permanent employees
| NATIONALITY | MINIMUM SALARY |
|---|---|
| European except Russian, Australian, Canadian, American, Japanese | THB 50,000 |
| Korean, Singaporean, Taiwanese, Hongkongese | THB 45,000 |
| Asian, South American, Eastern European, Northern American, Mexico, Turkey, Russian, South African | THB 35,000 |
| African, Cambodian, Myanmar, Laos | THB 25,000 |