What is the difference between a Work Visa and a Work Permit?

People may wonder and confuse the name and how different between Visa-Business and Work Permit. Today we are going to answer the question of how these two things are related when foreigners must come to work in Thailand.

Non-Immigrant Visa-B or Visa Business.

Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand, must apply for a visa to work, Visa Non-B. For the first time, visa will be valid for 90 days. If foreigner wish to be granted for working visa for 1 year, he/she must have a work permit first, after that he/she will be able to extend for 1-year visa.

The procedures of applying for Visa-Business for working are as follows:

• Apply for Non-Immigrant Visa-B, if foreigner is still in his/her local country, he/she can apply at the Royal Thai Embassy for The Royal Thai Consulate in his/her home or residence country.
• If foreigner already entered to Thailand without Non-Immigrant Visa-B, he/she must change type of Visa to be Non-Immigrant Visa-B at The Immigration Bureau.

Required documents for applying "Change type of visa" for working.(Non-B)

The application must be submit more than 15 days before visa expiration and, in case of overstaying in Thailand,
application could not be submitted.

1. Form TM.86 for the foreigner, who has Tourist and Transit Visa and applies for Visa Status Alteration and
   applies for non-immigrant visa; or
2. Form TM.87 for the foreigner, who enters into Thailand without visa, but is allowed to stay in Thailand
   with a permit of stay for a period of 15 day, 30 days, 90 days and applies for non-immigrant visa.
   A copy of passport pages (for example, personal information page, last entries stamp, visa sticker and
   extension stamp (if any) and departure card (Form TM.6))
3. One of 4×6 cm. photograph or One of 2 inch size photograph.
4. Application fee of Baht 2,000
5. The Company’s letter explaining necessity of employing of foreigner and requesting for cooperation in
   obtaining Visa or Visa Status Alteration (please specify the company’s name, applicant’s name, job title,
   knowledge, skills, competency and reasons for Visa or Visa Status Alteration (NON-B)) (
   Subject: Visa or Visa Status Alteration / Attention: Immigration Commissioner)
6. An employment certification (the Labor Department’s application form)
7. A copy of the Company Certificate (certified by the Registrar not more than 6 months)
8. A copy of the Company registration certificate (Form Paw.Kor.0401)
9. A copy of the Value Added Tax (VAT) registration certificate (Form Paw.Por.20) and Memorandum of Association
   (Form Paw.Por.01) (List of Shareholders (Bor.Aor.Jor.5) certified by the Registrar not more than 6 months)
10. A copy of the latest financial statements. (certified by Ministry of Commerce or Revenue Department)
11. A copy of the Company income tax returns (Form Paw Ngor Dor.50) (certified by Ministry of Commerce or
    Revenue Department, together with the receipt)
12. A copy of the evidence of education and certificate of employment issued by the foreigner’s former employer
    (must be translated into Thai or English and certified by local or overseas Embassy or Consulate of the
    foreigner and by the Legalization Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand) (For more information,
    please call 0-2575-1056-9)
13. A copy of the list of withholding income tax of Thai employees (Form Paw Ngor Dor.1) (for the past 3 months,
    together with the attached list of all Thai employees, showing the first to the last names, and the receipt)
14. A cooperation letter from BOI (in the case of promotion by BOI), IEAT or PTT
15. Approximately 6 or 7 color photographs of the Company’s building, Company’s signname, environment of workplace
    where the employees are working, office desks or building or warehouse, which show the nature of work.
16. If the amount charged for water supply and electricity consumption is not shown in the revenue form in page 5,
    line 3 (Paw Ngor Dor.50), the lease agreement, water supply, electricity and telephone bills
    (for the past 3 months) must be presented.
17. Location map of the Company

Remarks

1. The Applicant must appear in person every time.
2. The Applicant must sign to certify on every page of the Applicant’s documents. The authorized signatory of the Company or Limited Partnership must sign to certify all corporate documents and have them stamped with the official company/limited partnership seal on every page.
3. To be convenient and for speedy service, the Applicant for visa or visa status alteration must arrange and submit
   a complete set of documents in propper order and must prepare the originals as proof. For more details, please visit our website at http://bangkok.immigration.go.th

Workpermit

Work permit will be issued to foreigner who enters to Thailand with the purpose of Operating a Business or Become to be
an Employee. In Thailand, foreigner who is granted for Non-Immigration Visa-B or Business Visa, he/she must apply for Work Permit. Otherwise, he/she will not be able to work in Thailand. In case of Marrigae Visa or Non-Immigrant Visa Non-O, he/she
can apply for Work Permit. Foreigner who already applied for Non-Immigrant Visa-B, but doesn't apply for Work Permit yet, foreigner must apply for Work Permit at The Ministry of Labour within 90 days after foreiner arrived Thailand according to the criteria of allowing temporary stay in the Kingdom.

Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand must provide the following documents:

1. Completed visa application form.(WP.1 for new applicant) or (WP.3 for renewal)
2. Recent passport-sized photograph (3 x 4 cm.) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
3. Medical certificate (not a forbidden disease) (not more than 6 months).
4. Personal resume, Evidence of educational qaulification, and work certificate.
5. Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months.
6. Non-B Visa (Before validity date 45-60 days) and Work Permit (in case of renewal).
7. Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour. To obtain this letter, the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel. 02-2452745, or at the Provincial Employment Office in his or her respective province.
8. Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and alien income tax or Por Ngor Dor 91 (only in the case where applicant has previously worked in Thailand).
9. Corporate documents of hiring company in Thailand.
10. Documents for consideration by type of business or employer.
11. Application Fee (depends on each category).

Conclusion: Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand with a Visa Non-B must apply for a Bor Tor. 32 from Thailand first which takes about 7-14 days to process. After that, continue applying for Visa Non-B at Royal Thai Embassy in his/her local country.
In case of foreigner already granted for Visa Non-B, he/she must apply for Work Permit in Thailand. He/she can apply for Work Permit at Department of Employment, The Ministry of Labour where the company of his/her employer located within 15-20 days.
Therefore, Work Visa or Non-Immigrant Visa-B and Work Permit are different, but both are very important for foreigner who wish to work in Thailand with legally.

Related Articles

• Q&A about Non-Immigrant Visa B
• Q&A about Work permit
• How to apply for a Visa Non-B and Work Permit? What forms do I need?

Thank you for the information from

• www.immigration.go.th

工作签证和工作許可证是一样的嗎？

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