Kingdom of Thailand · work sponsored
Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 12 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 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.
- 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
- ✓A confirmed job offer from a Thai-registered employer that will support the visa and work permit.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- ✓Employer meets Thai registered-capital and Thai-to-foreign employee-ratio requirements.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- ✓Passport valid for the period required by the Thai mission, plus the required financial evidence.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- ✓A work permit obtained from the Department of Employment before starting work.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
Common blockers
- !No supporting Thai employer.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- !Employer does not meet the capital or Thai-employee-ratio conditions.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- !Starting work before the work permit is issued.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- !Incomplete employer documentation (registration, financials, tax records).Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Passport and visa application form with photograph.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- ·Employment contract or letter of employment from the Thai company.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- ·Ministry of Labour approval / employer-submitted work-permit paperwork.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
- ·Company documents: business registration, financial statements and tax records.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the Thai employer can sponsor and meets the capital and Thai-employee-ratio rules.
Build the evidence pack
Gather the employment contract, company documents and Ministry of Labour approval before applying.
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.
After approval
Begin work only once the permit is issued, then extend the stay and permit on the official annual cycle.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorUse 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.
Find a regulated advisor in ThailandHow 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