Siam Legal International

Thailand Work Permit

Work in Thailand pertains to the act of rendering physical energy and utilizing knowledge irrespective of acquiring wages and benefits. Under this context, it may be inferred that volunteerism can be considered as "work.". Obviously, working in Thailand requires a work permit. In order to apply for a Thailand working permit, you must have a non-immigrant visa. Moreover, your company or employer must sponsor you. Individual applications are not entertained. Also, note must be taken that working permits are valid only for your sponsoring company. If you have plans of working for multiple companies, then you must secure individual permits from each company or employer.

Requirements

Valid passport and non-immigrant visa
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing your educational background and employment history
Medical certificate from a Thailand physician stating that you are psychologically fit and free from diseases such as leprosy, elephantiasis, tuberculosis and substance abuse
Black and white pictures taken 6 months before the application. Photos older than 6 months are not allowed
For professions that require licenses such as teachers, lawyers, doctors and similar others, a photocopy of the license must be submitted
In cases where the applicant is married to a Thai national, copies of the following documents must be presented:
- Marriage certificate
- Passport
- Birth certificates of children
- Household registration
- Spouse identity card

Thai work permit exemptions

Exempted from the processes of obtaining work permits are the following:

Diplomatic corps members
Consular mission members
United Nations (UN) representatives
Black and white pictures taken 6 months before the application. Photos older than 6 months are not allowed
Individuals who are privately working for the above-mentioned entities
Individuals designated to perform missions as long as their stay is governed by the agreement between Thailand and another foreign government or international agency
Individuals who are performing missions in the name of education, arts, sports and culture
Individuals that are specially granted by Thailand to perform specific missions in the country
Urgent and essential work - Aliens or foreigners assigned to perform "urgent and essential work" do not need a working permit. Nonetheless, their entry is still governed by Thailand's immigration law. They are allowed to stay for fifteen (15) days only. Also, prior to the start of their work, a written notice, duly signed and endorsed by their employer should be submitted to the Director-General.
Investment promotion - Aliens covered by the Investment Promotion Law are not completely exempt from obtaining work permits. A work permit is still required to be presented to the Board of Investment within thirty (30) days. The only difference is, these workers can work while the application process is ongoing.

Penalties

Acquiring a Thailand work permit entails major responsibilities. Otherwise, one may incur some penalties which include:

A fine of not more than 1,000 bahtfor failure to carry the work permit during working hours.
An imprisonment of not more than one (1) month and a fine of not more than 2000 baht or bothfor performing work that is not covered by the working permit and duly approved by the authorities.
An imprisonment of not more than three (3) months and a fine of not more than 5,000 bahtfor failure to apply for an extension prior to the expiration date.
A fine of not more than 500 bahtfor failure to apply for a replacement of damaged working permitswithin 15 days.
A fine of not more than 1,000 baht for failure to return the working permit seven (7) days after resignation.

*Change of names, nationality, and working address requires immediate notification of the Employment Service for status update purposes.