Kingdom of Thailand · work sponsored

Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 12 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Thailand's standard employment route: a Non-Immigrant "B" visa from a Thai mission plus a separate work permit issued by the Department of Employment.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyVisa commonly issued for 90 days initially; work permit and stay extended in Thailand, typically year by year.
Processing time
Indicative only. The Thai mission and Department of Employment publish current timelines; the work permit is applied for after entry.
Government fees
Indicative only. Visa fees are set by the Thai mission and work-permit fees by the Department of Employment; confirm on the official pages.
Typical duration
Visa commonly issued for 90 days initially; work permit and stay extended in Thailand, typically year by year.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit for Kingdom of Thailand is a sponsor-led Thailand immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Thailand government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/thailand/non-immigrant-b-work#answer

What is the Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit in Kingdom of Thailand?

Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit is a sponsor-led Thailand route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only. Visa fees are set by the Thai mission and work-permit fees by the Department of Employment; confirm on the official pages; indicative processing time is Indicative only. The Thai mission and Department of Employment publish current timelines; the work permit is applied for after entry; typical duration is Visa commonly issued for 90 days initially; work permit and stay extended in Thailand, typically year by year. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Non-Immigrant "B" visa is the long-standing route for taking up employment in Thailand. The visa and the right to work are two separate authorisations: the Thai embassy or consulate issues the Non-B visa, and the Ministry of Labour Department of Employment issues the work permit after arrival. A Thai employer must support the application, and the company must meet registered-capital and Thai-employee-ratio conditions set by Thai law. Working without a valid work permit is an offence.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm the Thai employer can sponsor and meets the capital and Thai-employee-ratio rules.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather the employment contract, company documents and Ministry of Labour approval before applying.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply for the Non-B visa at a Thai embassy/consulate, then enter Thailand and file for the work permit with the Department of Employment.

  4. After approval

    Begin work only once the permit is issued, then extend the stay and permit on the official annual cycle.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Thailand. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit.

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Can I work in Thailand on a Non-B visa alone?+

No. The Non-B visa allows entry for employment purposes, but you may only work once the Department of Employment has issued your work permit. Working before the permit is granted is an offence.

Does this route lead to permanent residence?+

Not directly. The Non-B visa and work permit are renewed year by year. Thailand has a separate, limited permanent-residence process with its own long-residence and quota requirements; most work-permit holders do not convert automatically.

Can I move to Thailand on a work visa if I don't have a job offer yet?+

No. The Non-Immigrant "B" route requires a confirmed job offer from a Thai-registered employer that will support both the visa and the work permit, and having no supporting Thai employer is a common reason applications fail. You need to secure a sponsoring employer first; confirm the requirements on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs page.

Could my employer's size stop me getting a Thai work visa?+

It can. The employer must meet Thai registered-capital and Thai-to-foreign employee-ratio requirements, and an employer that does not meet these capital or ratio conditions is a common reason applications fail. Check the official requirements before relying on a small-company offer.

How long is the Non-B work visa valid at first, and how do I stay longer?+

The Non-B visa is commonly issued for 90 days initially. The work permit and stay are then extended inside Thailand, typically year by year, on the official annual cycle.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology