Business Visa in Thailand. If you plan to work, manage a company, teach, provide professional services, or carry out other business activities in Thailand, the Non-Immigrant B visa (commonly called the “business visa” or “Non-B”) is almost always the entry point. It’s the visa category used for hiring into Thai employers, for foreigners who will obtain Thai work permits, and for founders or long-term business visitors who need repeat access. Below is a practical, detail-forward guide that explains what the visa does (and does not do), eligibility and documentary requirements, the work-permit interaction, single vs. multiple-entry options, extensions and compliance traps to avoid.
What the Non-Immigrant B visa actually gives you
The Non-Immigrant B authorizes entry for business and employment purposes. Alone it does not permit employment — you still need a Thai work permit (and, for some jobs, Ministry of Labour approval) to start working legally. Consulates issue the visa to allow you to enter Thailand to apply for or receive a work permit, to attend business meetings, or to manage/establish a company; once you have a valid work permit you can also apply to extend your visa within Thailand to match the permit term. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration guidance frame the Non-B as the doorway to lawful employment rather than the final employment authorization.
Single-entry vs. multiple-entry Non-B — pick by travel pattern
-
Single-entry Non-B: typically valid for 90 days (check the consulate). You enter once and must obtain your work permit and, if eligible, a visa extension from Immigration in Thailand.
-
Multiple-entry Non-B: commonly issued with one-year validity for ongoing businesspeople, company executives, or foreign employees who travel frequently; each entry normally allows a 90-day stay and you must still obtain the work permit to lawfully work. Multiple-entry Non-B is convenient for regional executives and founders who will make repeated short trips while establishing operations. Consular practice on validity and per-entry stay varies by post so confirm locally.
Who issues the visa and the basic documentary checklist
Visas are issued by Thai embassies and consulates (and some posts now accept e-visa applications). The precise document list varies by mission, but the core items are consistent:
-
Completed visa application form and recent passport photos; passport with at least six months’ validity.
-
Cover/letter of request from the Thai employer or host describing the position, salary, contract period and visa type requested. Many missions require the employer to include company registration documents and a statement of authorized capital or paid-up capital. For company-sponsored applicants, posts commonly request a copy of company registration (DBD extract), shareholder list and company bank statement.
-
Proof of academic/professional qualifications and CV where the position requires specialist skills.
-
Financial evidence and an itinerary — consulates increasingly expect bank statements or solvency letters to show you won’t be an economic burden while in Thailand. Some posts publish minimum balances or thresholds.
-
For those applying to set up a company, additional incorporation documents and a business plan (and sometimes evidence of registered capital) are commonly requested.
Because requirements differ by country and post, check the issuing mission’s checklist and consider providing both originals and certified copies to speed processing. Many embassies publish post-specific guidance (for example, Manila, Kuala Lumpur and other regional posts maintain slightly different documentary lists).
The crucial link: work permit and visa extension
A Non-B holder who intends to work must obtain a Thai work permit from the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment. Employers typically prepare and file the work-permit package (company documents, employment contract, academic certificates, medical certificate from a Thai hospital, proof of social-security registration and relevant tax filings). Only after the work permit is granted can you apply at Immigration to have the Non-B visa extended to match the permit (commonly for one year, renewable as long as employment continues). Immigration and Labour requirements overlap, so employers normally handle the sequence (visa → arrival → work-permit filing → visa extension).
Note: Thailand has been modernizing and digitizing work-permit procedures; expect increasing use of online platforms and e-Work Permit systems in the near term, which will change some filing mechanics.
Employer and corporate requirements — what companies must show
Thai employers sponsoring foreign workers must be properly registered and often must show a minimum paid-up capital (some consulates and immigration rules reference THB 2 million or sectoral thresholds) and evidence of local employment levels. For skilled positions or company directors, embassies typically ask for the company’s DBD extract, list of shareholders, tax ID, VAT registration (if applicable) and proof the company can pay the offered salary. Where the employer is a new company, consulates want a convincing business plan and proof of capital. These documents substantiate the employer’s ability to hire and sponsor foreign talent.
Common pitfalls and compliance traps
-
Starting work without a permit. A Non-B alone is not a work permit — working before the permit is issued risks fines, deportation and bans. Employers and employees must coordinate timing.
-
Poorly documented employer files. Missing DBD extracts, incomplete shareholder lists, or inadequate salary evidence often lead consular queries or refusals. Prepare corporate packs early.
-
Assuming visa length equals work permit length. The visa is an immigration category; a separate work-permit approval determines your legal right to labor. Extension mechanics require both to align.
-
Ignoring local tax and social-security consequences. Employment in Thailand generates PAYE/withholding obligations, social-security registration for wage earners, and potential personal-income reporting — employers should engage payroll/tax specialists early.
Practical timeline and fees (typical sequence)
-
Apply for Non-B at the Thai embassy/consulate (processing times vary; e-visa posts may be faster).
-
Enter Thailand on Non-B (single entry) or make entries on multiple-entry visa.
-
Employer files work-permit application with the Department of Employment (documents, medical, etc.).
-
After work permit is issued, apply at Immigration for a visa extension to match (commonly one year).
-
Comply with ongoing requirements: 90-day reporting, visa/work-permit renewals, and employment-tax compliance.
Consular fees and local administrative fees vary by post and by whether an e-visa or in-person service is used. Budget for translation/legalization costs if you submit foreign documents and for medical/exam fees at Thai hospitals where required.
Practical tips for applicants and employers
-
Start with your issuing mission’s checklist and build a single “consular pack” with certified copies to save back-and-forth.
-
If you’re a founder or director, supply a robust business plan and evidence of paid-up capital; consulates review new-company applications more carefully.
-
Employers should appoint a local HR or immigration specialist to manage filings, social-security registration and 90-day reporting for foreign staff.
-
Keep originals of diplomas and professional certificates; the Labour Department often requires originals or certified copies during the permit process.