Cutting through the Red Tape
before Getting a Business Visa

Foreigners coming to Thailand on a B visa to do business with a Thai company normally need the following, though requirements may obviously vary:

• a letter from your company, describing your position and stating the purpose of your trip
• a document from a government agency or embassy certifying the purpose of travel
• an employment contract indicating the salary and qualifications of the applicant
• a letter of invitation from a Thai company or business association
• correspondence with business partners in Thailand
• the corporate paperwork of said Thai company (business registration, business license, shareholder list, company profile, details of business activity, VAT registration, tax balance sheet, and location map)

Your Thai Work Visa

A B-visa national who will be taking up gainful employment in Thailand needs a slightly different array of paperwork:

• a letter of approval from the Ministry of Labor (obtained by the Thai employer from the Office of Foreign Workers Administration)
• a letter of invitation from a Thai company allowed to employ foreigners
• employment contract
• CV, educational records, and references from previous employers
• the corporate paperwork of their employer in Thailand (business registration, business license, shareholder list, company profile, details of business activity, list of foreign staff, location map, tax balance sheet, alien income tax return, and VAT registration)

Please note that there are different regulations for each visa category and that requirements can change according to your nationality, the country you are applying from, and the purpose of your stay. For further details, please always contact the Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Most non-immigrant visas are initially valid for 90 days. Then you have to apply for a temporary work permit at the Department of Employment or the local Employment Office. You also need an extension of stay from the Office of Immigration Bureau or one of its local branches.

In most cases, the visa is then valid for up to one year but can be renewed. To apply for an extension or renewal of your visa, please get in touch with:

Immigration Division

Government Center B

ChaengwattanaSoi 7

Laksi

Bangkok 10210

To take care of visa and work permit issues in one go, please contact:

One-Stop Service Center

Chamchuri Square Tower, 18th floor

315, Phayathai Road

Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330