Date: August 12, 2026

How many Thai employees do I need to hire to get a work permit?

In most cases, a company needs to employ four Thai employees for each foreign employee applying for a work permit. However, there are some important exceptions. Companies promoted by the BOI, LTR visa holders and foreign nationals married to a Thai citizen may qualify for reduced or different requirements depending on their circumstances.

What We See In Practice

I've been told I need to hire four Thai staff before I can get a work permit. Is that always true?

WHAT CLIENTS ASK US

Not necessarily. The four-to-one ratio is the requirement for a normal Thai limited company, but it is not always the case. For example, foreigners married to a Thai citizen benefit from a reduced two-to-one ratio. Also, businesses promoted by the BOI follow a different set of requirements. LTR visa holders (except holders of the highly skilled professional category) are eligible for a digital work permit and are not subject to the employee quotas.

For most Thai companies, the standard requirement is four Thai employees registered with the Social Security Office for every foreign employee applying for a work permit. These employees must be genuine full-time staff, not contractors or temporary workers. The company is also required to have THB 2 million in fully paid-up registered capital for each foreign work permit it wishes to support.

There are however, several important exceptions to these requirements. If the foreign employee is married to a Thai citizen, the company only needs two Thai employees and THB 1 million in registered capital. BOI-promoted companies are also exempt from the standard Thai employee quota, with the Board of Investment applying its own criteria based on the nature of the promoted business. There are also separate rules for holders of the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa, who are exempt from the standard work permit requirements and can obtain a digital work permit (not applicable to the Work-from-Thailand category).

Author: Vincent Birot

Vincent Birot is a French-trained international business lawyer based in Bangkok. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business Law from La Sorbonne and an LL.M in International Commercial Law from the University of Exeter (UK), and has passed the Paris Bar examination. He is the Founder of Belaws, a one-stop platform for legal and corporate matters, facilitating access to trusted legal and business professionals who deliver compliant, practical solutions aligned with local laws and on-the-ground realities. He has advised foreign investors for over 10 years on corporate structuring, BOI promotion, cross-border tax, and regulatory compliance in Thailand. He previously served as Vice President of the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce and is a founding member of French Tech Bangkok.