Types of Visas You Can Apply for Thanks to a Work Permit in Thailand

If you are among the many foreigners who view Thailand as an ideal place to stay for the long term, then pursuing employment in this country stands as an excellent and practical choice. As you may already know, working in a foreign country requires a work permit. In order to get a work permit in Thailand, you must first have a valid work visa.

What is the difference between a work visa and a work permit? Aren’t they the same? And what type of work visa can I apply for? ManPower Group Thailand is here to answer your questions.

The Difference Between a Work Visa and a Work Permit

While work visas and work permits may be considered the same thing for some countries, Thailand follows a different approach. To legally work in Thailand, foreigners need to have both a work visa and a work permit. They are two separate documents and cannot be used interchangeably.

Work Visa

For foreigners to work in Thailand, they must apply for a work visa while outside of the country. There are different types of work visas available for foreign nationals to apply for a work permit once they enter the country, such as the Non-Immigrant B visa. On the other hand, if the foreigner is already in Thailand with a tourist visa, they must convert the tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa, valid for 90 days and can be extended once their work permit in Thailand has been issued.

Work Permit

As mentioned above, a work visa is required for foreigners to obtain a work permit. It is a legal document issued by the Ministry of Labor outlining the foreign employee’s occupation, position, and the employing company. It allows non-Thai citizens to work or legally establish a business in Thailand. Additionally, note that the work permit application process should be completed within ninety days before the applicant’s non-immigrant visa is expired to avoid having to re-enter the country.

The 5 Types of Work Visas in Thailand

Once you start the work visa application process, you might get overwhelmed by the many different types of visas offered by the Royal Thai Embassy. You must choose the type of visa that best suits your situation (working in Thailand, opening a business in Thailand, etc)and the work you will do.

Here are the five types of non-immigrant visas foreigners can apply for work or business-related purposes:

1. Non-immigrant B Visa (Business Visa)

Sometimes called “Non-Immigrant visa B,” it is the most common type of work visa issued for foreigners who want to work in a Thai company or conduct business in Thailand.

You can apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa from your home country, as it will allow you to stay in the country for up to ninety days. Th Once you have completed the application process for a work permit in Thailand, you can apply for a one-year Non-Immigrant B visa.

2. Non-Immigrant B-A Visa (Business Approved Visa)

This type of visa is granted to foreigners who invest in a business in Thailand. To get this visa, the associated company must assist in processing the visa on behalf of the foreign investor. However, a Non-Immigrant B-A visa is relatively uncommon, and the issuance depends on the discretion of the embassy or the consulate.

3. Non-Immigrant IB visa (Investment and Business Visa)

The non-immigrant IB visa is specifically issued to foreigners who intend to work for companies or projects promoted by the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI).

4. Non-Immigrant M visa (Media Visa)

Suppose you plan to work in the media industry in Thailand, whether in television, film, or online media. The Non-Immigrant M visa is the work visa you should apply for. Please note that further approvals from related authorities may be required to issue this type of visa, depending on the specific media work you will perform.

5. Non-Immigrant O Visa (Accompanying Family Members)

Should your family members or spouse come along with you to Thailand, they need to obtain a Non-Immigrant O visa. This type of visa is also granted to “retirees,” or applicants over the age of fifty, foreign nationals engaging in volunteer work, and those who are married to Thai citizens.

Acquiring one of the above-mentioned types of work visas will allow you to get a work permit in Thailand. However, apart from those visas, the kingdom also offers “smart visas” to drive the economy through innovation.

Smart Visa

The Smart Visa is a new visa program established with the goal of attracting talent and technologies with a view to further developing its “S-Curve” industries.

A Smart Visa is designed to attract highly-skilled employees, investors, executives, and startup entrepreneurs wishing to work or invest in targeted industries including: Next-Generation Automotive, Smart Electronics, Agriculture and Biotechnology, Automation and Robotics, Aviation and Logistics, Biofuels and Biochemicals, Medical Hub, Digital, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Human Resource Development in Science and Technology, Environmental Management and Renewable Energy, etc.

Smart Visas offer a range of benefits for foreign nationals, such as a four-year permission to stay in the country, one-year check-ins at immigration (instead of ninety days), work eligibility for spouses and children without the need for work permits, and no need for re-entry permits.

The process of obtaining a work visa and a work permit in Thailand can become overwhelming, thanks to the variety of available work visas. If things seem too complicated, getting support from a professional work permit service can make the experience easier.

ManpowerGroup Thailand’s Work Permit Service

ManpowerGroup Thailand offers a full range of work permit services in Thailand, including consulting, compiling, organizing, and expediting work permit and Non-B visa applications. We can also assist in obtaining Non-O visas for spouses and children of employees, as well as handling reports to immigration, re-entry permits for overseas travel, and application renewal.

With ManpowerGroup’s services, issues can be anticipated and solved to make the process as easy as possible.

To see more details of our work permit service, click here.

About ManpowerGroup Thailand

ManpowerGroup is the world’s leading workforce expert. We offer comprehensive services as a premier recruitment agency in Thailand, ranging from recruitment services, HR consultant services, payroll outsourcing, outplacement services, and more. With more than 20 years of experience providing services in Thailand, you can rest assured that our experts will offer solutions that help your organization transform in a fast-changing world of work.

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