Personnel Relocation to Thailand

Expanding a company’s operations in Thailand often requires employee relocation for supervision, training, or other purposes. This usually implies obtaining a special visa for the relocated personnel. However, there is no special intra-company transfer visa in Thailand, which means regular work permits must be applied for.

For employee relocation to Thailand, you can get in touch with our attorneys in Thailand. 

The concept of employee relocation in Thailand

Considering Thailand does not have a specific visa for intra-company transfers, the procedure will follow the usual route of applying for a work permit. However, the Thai Supreme Court stipulates that:

• the transferring company will be responsible for the payment of the relocated employee’s wage and benefits for the duration of stay;
• personnel relocation is considered a change of employer in Thailand, therefore, the consent of the employee will be required to complete the transfer;
• the terms of employment in the new company do not need to be the same as in the old one;
• the employee and the transferring company must also sign a transfer agreement.

If you are an employing company and have additional questions about employee transfers, our immigration lawyers in Thailand can assist you.

Thai work visa for employees

A non-immigrant visa and a work permit are requirements for all foreign nationals who wish to work in Thailand. Applying for a non-immigrant Category B visa, which is broken down into further types of visas depending on the expected activities of your employee, is the first stage. Since this type of visa is most frequently used by teachers, attorneys, and anyone working for a global organization, the majority of your personnel will require one. If you are seeking
any legal help regarding your personnel relocation to Thailand, you can get in touch with our lawyers.  Also, make sure your staff is working in ways that are appropriate for their status, keeping in mind that some occupations in Thailand are off-limits to foreigners. Below, you can also find other prevalent Thai visas:

• the non-immigrant O visa;
• the non-immigrant M visa;
• the non-immigrant IB visa;
• the non-immigrant B-A visa.

If you need to apply for any of the aforementioned visa types, our Thai immigration lawyers can assist you. They can also guide you practically throughout the procedure of employee relocation to Thailand. With the help of our immigration lawyers in Thailand, you can relocate your personnel here without much hassle. 
Furthermore, if you need help with the Thai residency application, the services of our lawyers are at your disposal. Thailand has
an agreement with the USA under which intra-company transfers can be completed in a simpler manner.

How to acquire a Thai work permit?

After employee relocation to Thailand, the potential workers will need a work permit. To visit the nation and be eligible to apply for the permit in the first place, you must first secure a Thailand work visa.

A visit to the Ministry of Labor is required to get the work permit, after entering Thailand. Extensions are also available for those interested. Both procedures can be completed with the help of our Thai lawyers.

Here is a step-by-step procedure for the hiring and employee relocation process in Thailand:

• filing at an embassy or consulate in your nation for a Thai work visa;
• visiting the Department of Employment in Thailand to apply for a Thai work permit, once entered the country;
• visit the Thai Immigration Bureau, and obtain a permit for an extension of stay, if necessary.

After receiving the non-immigrant (work) visa and making travel arrangements to Thailand, various documents must be prepared by both employer and employee. Based on this paperwork, the Ministry of Labor processes work permits in around 7 days after filing the application.
If you have concerns about this procedure, you are welcome to get in touch with our immigration lawyers in Thailand without any hesitation. They will not only guide you regarding obtaining a work permit but also assist you in employee relocation to Thailand. Besides assistance in immigration to Thailand, you can reach out to our lawyers if you need help regarding trademark registration and its related costs in Thailand. 

Who starts the personnel relocation process in Thailand?

Just like in other countries, the transfer of employees from one country to another is commenced by the company in which the worker will provide his or her work. In Thailand, the local company must start the procedures. In this case, the non-immigrant B visa is the type of relocation option the Thai business can choose, as it is issued for a temporary stay only.

A new type of work permit that can also be obtained for employee relocation is the Smart Visa. It is designed for highly skilled professionals, executives, investors and start-up founders in BOI-targeted industries (no separate work permit needed). This is often the case for managers who need to be transferred to Thailand to oversee the opening of a new company, for example.

Here are the steps for intra-company transfers in Thailand:

• the employer must file for a work permit with the Ministry of Labor;
• the employer must draft a labor contract and the transfer agreement;
• then, the employee will file for the non-immigrant B visa with the nearest Thai embassy or consulate.

After gathering all the relevant information, the Thai employer must file them with the following authorities:

• the Department of Employment;
• the Ministry of Labour, or the Visas and Work Permits One-Stop Shop.

Alongside the work permit, the transferred employee will also be issued a residence permit for Thailand. Also, compared to other jurisdictions where personnel relocation comes with various restrictions, it represents a suitable option for immigration to Thailand.

Cost for Thai work visa and permit

If you are planning to transfer employees to Thailand, you should have a general idea about the costs related to Thai immigration. Please find below the official costs of a work visa and work permit in Thailand (of course not including any legal assistance):

• the cost of a Thailand work visa for one entry is 2,000 Thai Baht (about USD 65);
• the cost of a multiple-entry Thailand work visa is 5,000 Thai Baht (about USD 164); 
• a three-month Thai work permit costs 750 Thai Baht (about USD 24);
• three to six months’ Thai work permit is for 1500 Thai Baht (about USD 49);
• a longer Thai work permit, six to twelve months costs 3000 Thai Baht (about USD 98).

How many foreigners work in Thailand?

According to recent statistics:

• since the beginning of 2024, there are about 56,000 foreign workers in Thailand;
• out of these, 50,000 hold executive positions or came to Thailand as experts working on investment promotion projects;
• there are also more than 4,000 long-term resident visa holders and over 2,100 smart visa holders living in Thailand.

If you are looking for any legal help regarding personnel relocation to Thailand, you can contact our Thai lawyers. They will not only practically assist you but also guide you about the new labor law regulations in Thai legislation.