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Getting a Thailand Work Permit
The application procedure
Ok, so you have either been lucky enough to have been offered a job by a prospective employer, or you and your partner/friend are starting up a business in Thailand and you need to be able to work ‘legally’ for them.
First off, as long as you have the required Non Immigrant ‘B’ (for Business) visa, then I will move onto the perils and pitfalls of obtaining a work permit to enable you to actually be able to ‘do something and earn an income’ whilst enjoying your time in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Required paperwork for a Thai work permit
Below is a list of the papers that are generally required from any potential employee to start an application for a work permit:
a. Photocopy of the main identification/picture page (this is the page with your photo and passport number)
b. Your non-immigrant ‘B’ visa (It may be worth taking a couple of copies as well just in case)
c. Photocopy of the passport page with your current visa entrance stamp
d. Photocopy of your entry / departure card (TM6)
e. A doctor's medical certificate stating you that are in good health (this can be arranged quickly in Udon Thani / Nong Khai and should cost less than 100 baht and you may not be required to sit any actual physical examination
f. Two 4 x 5cm colour photos (this is the photo size used by most photo shops throughout Thailand for Visas, not the Passport photo size which is very different)
g. Two to Five Thousand baht (depending on the area and field you are working in, along with the length of your work permit)
h. Photocopy of your degree, resume or curriculum vitae - sometimes they require it be certified by your country's embassy (this means taking your degree etc. to your own embassy in Thailand, probably Bangkok), declaring it is a true and original document and then paying a certification fee
i. All of the original paperwork stated above
j. Additionally, your employer/business partner will be required to submit tax and legal documents concerning the nature of their business and employees.
When you have gathered all of the above together, there will be a number of forms to complete, all available from your local Government Labour Office and online from the Government website, http://www.doe.go.th – location of the labour office in Udon Thani is Pracha Uthit Road, Udon Thani Map Ref: N8 and Nong Khai is inside the Government Office Buildings located on Nong Khai Map Ref: H7.
Once all the forms have been completed, return them to your local Government Labour Office along with the free, and fingers crossed, you should now be in possession of your work permit.
Here are a few more tips and guidelines to help smooth the process along:
a. The job description is often the most important factor in the approval or denial process of a work permit. Unless the applicant’s job description necessitates skills that a Thai is not likely to have, then the application will probably not be approved.
b. Once you submit the documents for a work permit, you must not let your visa expire. The Labour Office Department’s system tracks the non immigrant ‘B’ visa you presented on your application to the work permit paperwork. Even if you have a double or multiple entry visa, you can’t leave the country again without invalidating your work permit papers. If you do have to leave the country and return on the same visa, you must get a reentry permit from your nearest Immigration office in Udon or Nong Khai. If you can’t get your work permit application approved prior to your visa expiring, then you may have to get your visa extended. You can get an ``under consideration'' extension of up to three.
