Thailand Business Visa (Non-Immigrant B)

The Thailand business visa is the Non-Immigrant Visa category "B". It is issued to foreigners who come to Thailand to work, to conduct business or to carry out investment activities. On its own the visa does not allow you to work: employment also requires a work permit. Our Thai immigration lawyers prepare the visa file, coordinate with your Thai employer or business partner and handle the work permit and the extension of stay.

Who needs a Non-Immigrant B visa?

  • foreigners hired by a company in Thailand;
  • business owners, directors and investors who come to run or develop a business in Thailand;
  • employees of foreign companies sent to Thailand to work with Thai partners;
  • teachers taking a teaching position below university level (they also apply under category B).

Related categories exist for specific cases, such as the B-A visa (business-approved) and the IB visa for investment and business under a BOI-promoted project. Short business trips (meetings, negotiations, conferences) may be possible without this visa, but entering without a visa or with a tourist visa never allows you to work.

Required documents

According to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the core documents are:

  • a passport valid for at least 6 months;
  • the completed visa application form and a recent photograph;
  • proof of sufficient funds, set at 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family.

If you will work for a Thai employer, the file also includes an approval letter from the Ministry of Labour (requested by the employer with form WP3) and documents of the hiring company: business registration and licence, list of shareholders, company profile and description of operations, list of foreign employees with their positions, location map, the latest balance sheet and tax returns, and VAT registration. If you have worked in Thailand before, a copy of the previous work permit and tax documents is required.

If you come to conduct business, the file includes a letter from your company stating your position, length of employment, salary and the purpose of the visit, correspondence with your Thai partners, an invitation letter from the Thai company and the Thai partner's company documents.

Company documents must be signed by an authorised director and bear the company seal. Documents in a foreign language must be translated and certified as required by the Thai embassy or consulate. The embassy may ask for additional documents, and requirements differ slightly from one embassy to another.

How to apply

  1. Preparation with the Thai company: the employer or partner prepares its corporate documents and, for employment, obtains the Ministry of Labour approval.
  2. Visa application: filed online through the official Thai e-Visa system for most countries, or at the Thai embassy or consulate where required.
  3. Entry to Thailand: the visa is issued for single entry (valid 3 months) or multiple entries (valid 1 year), with a stay of up to 90 days per entry.
  4. Work permit: the employer applies for the work permit, which must be granted before you start working.
  5. Extension of stay: with a work permit, the stay can be extended at the Immigration Bureau for up to one year at a time.

Conditions for the employer

For the extension of stay, the immigration rules set conditions for the Thai employer, mainly related to its paid-up capital and the number of Thai employees for each foreign worker. Companies promoted by the Board of Investment follow separate, simpler rules. Because these conditions are applied case by case, we review your employer's situation before the application. If you are setting up your own company, see our partner page on opening a business in Thailand as a foreigner.

Alternatives to the business visa

Frequently asked questions

Can I work in Thailand with a business visa only?
No. The Non-Immigrant B visa allows you to enter for work or business, but you can start working only after the work permit is granted. Working without a permit is prohibited and penalised.

How long can I stay with a Thai business visa?
Up to 90 days per entry. With a work permit, the stay can be extended for up to one year at a time.

Do I need an invitation letter?
Yes, for business visits the file includes an invitation letter from the Thai company, giving your name, the purpose and the length of your stay, signed by an authorised person.

Can I apply online?
Most Thai embassies and consulates now accept applications only through the official e-Visa system. We check the procedure of the embassy competent for your country.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Non-Immigrant Visa "B". Requirements change from time to time and vary by embassy; contact our immigration lawyers in Thailand before you apply.