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HomeVisasBusiness Visa
How We Help
Business Visa
& Work Permit
What we do for employers and employees applying for Non-Immigrant B visas and Thai work permits — employer documentation, DOE filing, BOI One Stop Service, ratio compliance and annual renewal.
How We Help
What happens when you instruct us
Four things we do on every business visa and work permit instruction — before anything reaches the DOE or BOI.
1
We Assess Employer Eligibility and Advise on the Correct Route Before Anything Is Filed
The standard DOE route, BOI fast-track and LTR alternative each have different requirements. We assess the employer's Thai headcount, BOI status and the employee's income structure before any document preparation begins — the wrong route creates delays or exposes the employee to an authorisation gap.
2
We Prepare the Employer Sponsorship Package for the Non-B Application
A deficient or out-of-date sponsorship package is the most common reason embassy applications are delayed or rejected. We prepare the complete employer documentation — company affidavit, tax certificate, employee list, letter of guarantee — and review each document before the package is submitted to the embassy.
3
We Handle the Work Permit Filing at the Department of Employment
We prepare and submit the work permit application at the DOE within the 30-day window. For BOI companies, we manage the One Stop Service Centre submission. We track the application, respond to any DOE requests for additional information and notify you when the permit is ready for collection.
4
We Manage Annual Renewal and Advise on Ratio Compliance in Advance
We advise on the company's ratio position before each renewal — not at the point the application is filed. If the headcount has changed, we advise on what needs to be in place before the renewal is lodged. For BOI companies and LTR holders, we coordinate the relevant renewal process.
Quick Reference
Business Visa key facts and the three routes
Figures current against DOE and BOI practice as of August 2026.
Visa TypeNon-Immigrant B (Business). Obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate before arrival.
Work PermitMandatory alongside the Non-B. Lodged at the Department of Employment within 30 days of arrival.
4:1 RatioFour registered Thai employees on payroll required per foreign work permit holder, company-wide.
Initial Validity90-day single entry. Converts to 1-year multiple-entry once the work permit is issued.
BOI CompaniesExempt from the 4:1 ratio. One Stop Service Centre: 3 business days, annual multiple-entry Non-B from outset.
Criminal PenaltiesWorking without a valid permit: up to ฿100,000 fine, deportation and re-entry ban.
Permit SpecificitySpecifies employer, position and workplace address. Change of employer requires a new permit.
LTR AlternativeUSD 80k+/year from a USD 50M+ foreign employer qualifies for LTR — no work permit required for remote work.
The Three Routes
Standard DOE Route
Thai-registered employer
4 Thai employees per foreign permit holder
90-day Non-B then 1-year multiple-entry
4–6 weeks DOE processing
In-person lodgement required
BOI Fast-Track
BOI-promoted companies
No 4:1 ratio constraint
3-day processing at One Stop Service Centre
Annual multiple-entry Non-B from outset
SMART Visa option for qualifying executives
LTR Visa Alternative
Senior professionals, remote workers
USD 80k/year income from USD 50M+ employer
No work permit required for remote work
10-year visa, annual reporting
0% Thai tax on foreign-sourced income
What We Do For Our Clients
The work behind the application
"We handle your business visa and work permit" covers a specific set of tasks. Here is the actual scope.
Employer Eligibility Assessment and Route Confirmation
We review the employer's Thai employee headcount, BOI status and the employee's income and employment structure. For multi-employee situations, we assess each person's position individually — the LTR route may be correct for some while the standard Non-B/work permit route applies to others. The correct route is confirmed before documents are prepared.
Q
Do we need both the Non-B visa and a work permit, or just one?
Both are mandatory and neither substitutes for the other. The Non-Immigrant B gives the right to enter and remain in Thailand for work purposes. The work permit gives the right to perform paid employment. A tourist visa does not permit work, and a work permit without a valid Non-B is not lawful. We confirm your correct position before any document preparation begins.
Non-B Visa Sponsorship Documentation
We prepare the complete employer sponsorship package for the Non-Immigrant B visa application. This includes drafting the letter of guarantee, preparing the company affidavit for DBD certification, confirming the tax certificate is current and compiling the employee list in the format required by the target embassy.
Q
Our company has fewer than four Thai employees — can we still apply?
The standard route requires four registered Thai employees on payroll per foreign work permit holder. If the company does not currently meet this ratio, the standard DOE route is not available until it does. We advise on whether BOI promotion is a realistic option for the business — which removes the ratio entirely — or on how to structure the headcount to become eligible for the standard route.
Work Permit Application — Standard DOE Route
We prepare and lodge the work permit application at the Department of Employment within the 30-day window. We handle DOE correspondence, respond to requests for supplementary documentation and coordinate the in-person lodgement. We notify you when the permit is available for collection.
BOI One Stop Service Centre Applications
For BOI-promoted companies, we manage the visa and work permit application through the One Stop Service Centre at Chamchuri Square. We prepare the BOI-specific documentation, attend the Centre on the employer's behalf and track the application through to permit collection — typically 3 working days.
Q
We are a BOI-promoted company. What is the difference in our process?
BOI companies apply through the One Stop Service Centre at Chamchuri Square rather than the standard DOE process. There is no 4:1 ratio requirement. Processing typically takes 3 working days rather than 4–6 weeks. Annual multiple-entry Non-B visas can be sponsored from the outset, without the initial 90-day single-entry step. We handle the One Stop Service Centre application directly on your behalf.
Renewal Management and Ratio Compliance Review
We review the employer's Thai employee headcount at least 60 days before each renewal date and advise on the company's ratio position. If the ratio has changed, we advise on what is required before the renewal is filed. We handle the annual renewal application and coordinate any Non-B visa extension inside Thailand.
Q
What happens at work permit renewal if our Thai headcount drops below 4:1?
If the employer's Thai employee count falls below the required ratio at renewal time, the Department of Employment can deny the renewal — leaving the foreign employee without valid work authorisation. We advise companies in advance of renewal on their current ratio position and what needs to be in place before the application is filed.
LTR Visa Route Assessment for Qualifying Employees
For employees who may qualify for the LTR visa, we assess eligibility against the BOI income and employer thresholds, advise on the Royal Decree 743 tax exemption and manage the LTR application in parallel with any Non-B/work permit process for other team members.
Q
Would the LTR visa be a better option for some of our foreign staff?
For senior professionals earning USD 80,000 per year or more from a foreign employer with revenues above USD 50 million, the LTR (Long-Term Resident) Visa removes the work permit requirement entirely for remote work, provides a 10-year visa, and includes significant tax advantages under Royal Decree 743. We assess whether any of your team qualifies for the LTR route as part of the initial review — and for those who do, we handle the LTR application alongside the Non-B/work permit process for others.
Our Commitment To You
What you can hold us to
Ratio Review Before the Application Is Filed, Not When It Is Denied
A work permit renewal can be denied if the employer's Thai headcount has dropped below the 4:1 ratio. We review the company's position in advance of each renewal — not at the point the application is submitted. If headcount has changed, we advise on what needs to be in place before anything is filed.
Sponsorship Documents Checked Before the Embassy Sees Them
The most common reason a Non-B application is delayed is a deficient or outdated sponsorship package. We review every employer document — affidavit, tax certificate, employee list, guarantee letter — against current embassy requirements before the pack is released.
Q
Our company has fewer than four Thai employees — can we still apply?
The standard route requires four registered Thai employees on payroll per foreign work permit holder. If the company does not currently meet this ratio, the standard DOE route is not available until it does. We advise on whether BOI promotion is a realistic option for the business — which removes the ratio entirely — or on how to structure the headcount to become eligible for the standard route.
Correct Route Confirmed at the Outset
We confirm the correct visa route before documents are prepared. For some employees the LTR is the better path; for others the BOI fast-track changes the entire process. Starting down the wrong route and having to change creates delays and, in some cases, an authorisation gap.
Q
Would the LTR visa be a better option for some of our foreign staff?
For senior professionals earning USD 80,000 per year or more from a foreign employer with revenues above USD 50 million, the LTR (Long-Term Resident) Visa removes the work permit requirement entirely for remote work, provides a 10-year visa, and includes significant tax advantages under Royal Decree 743. We assess whether any of your team qualifies for the LTR route as part of the initial review — and for those who do, we handle the LTR application alongside the Non-B/work permit process for others.
One Contact Across Every Application in a Multi-Employee Programme
For companies managing several foreign employees, we coordinate all applications — Non-B visa, work permit, BOI One Stop, LTR — from a single point of contact. You are not passing information between separate teams for each person.
Q
An employee wants to move to a new company. Do we need a new work permit?
Yes. A Thai work permit specifies the employer, position and workplace address. Moving to a new legal entity — even within the same corporate group — requires a new permit application with the new employer's sponsorship documents. We handle the cancellation of the existing permit and the new application to avoid any gap in authorisation.
Who You'll Work With
Real people, not a case number
Kanokpich Ukritdutsadee (Lawyer Pook)
Managing Director & Lead Barrister
Leads employer eligibility assessments, advises on headcount ratio compliance and manages BOI One Stop Service applications — responsible for confirming the correct route, preparing the sponsorship documentation and advising on the LTR alternative where it applies.
"The Non-B visa and the work permit are two separate authorisations and both are mandatory. I see clients every week who have been working in Thailand without understanding they needed both — or who held one and not the other. The conversation about regularising that position is always easier before an inspection, not after one."
Brian Ramsden
General Manager of Foreign Affairs
Your point of contact throughout the DOE and BOI filing process — coordinates document collection, tracks each application through to permit collection and keeps you informed at every stage from embassy submission to work permit in hand.
Related Resources
Business visa reference guide and other routes
The Non-B and work permit are the correct route for employed foreign nationals in Thailand. Compare with other options or read the detailed reference guide.
Business Visa Guide
→How the Non-B and work permit system works, the 4:1 ratio, BOI fast-track, permitted work rules and common mistakes.
LTR Visa
→10-year visa, no work permit for remote professionals earning USD 80k+ from a foreign employer.
Extensions & 90-Day Reporting
→Annual visa extensions, TM30 obligations, re-entry permits and overstay consequences.
Compare All Visa Options
→Every long-stay Thailand visa route compared side by side.
Lawyers for Expats Thailand, 2026. The content of this page is general legal information and does not constitute legal advice for any specific matter. Please contact us for advice on your individual circumstances.