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Non immigrant B Visa
Foreigners who wish to come to Thailand for the purposes of employment or opening a business are required to hold a Thai Non-Immigrant B (Business Visa). This Visa can be extended to a long term Visa (1 year) at local Immigration Offices in Thailand.
What is a Non-Immigrant B Visa?
There are 2 categories of Non-Immigrant B Visas available to foreigners:
Non-Immigrant Business Visa (Conducting Business)
The Non-Immigrant B Visa for the purpose of Conducting Business is available to foreigners who wish to set up or conduct business in Thailand. Applicants can choose either a single entry (90 day validity) or multiple entry (1 year validity) Visa.
Non-Immigrant Business Visa (Employment)
The Non-Immigrant B Visa for the purpose of Employment is available to foreigners who intend to work in Thailand. In order to obtain this Visa, applicants are required to be sponsored by their prospective employer in Thailand. Applicants will be granted an initial 90 day Visa which can be extended for a period of 1 year after they have obtained their work permit.
• Duration of stay
Conducting Business: Either 90 Days or 1 year*. Employment: 90 Days. Both options can be extended to 1 year periods of stay at the local Immigration Office.
*The one year multiple entry Visa is valid for 1 year, but the holder will only be admitted to Thailand for 90 Days per entry. The holder will need to leave Thailand and re-enter every 90 days.
• Financial Requirements
N/A
• 90 Day Reporting
Once your Visa has been extended and you intend to stay in Thailand for >90 days, you must submit a 90 day report at the local immigration office.
• Leaving and re-entering Thailand?
If you have a multiple entry Visa you can leave and reenter any time. Single entry Visas (and extensions of stay) require a Re-entry permit to be obtained before leaving Thailand.
• Is employment permitted?
Holders of a Non-Imm B visa are eligible to apply for a work permit which allows you to work legally in Thailand under your employment contract.
• Further requirements
To apply for a Non-Imm B Visa before entering Thailand, the following documents are required to be submitted to the Thai Embassy/Consulate-General for supporting to your visa application:
- an invitation or confirmation letter clarifying the purpose of travel issued by the prospective employer/company in Thailand as well as other company’s incorporation documents.
- In case of employment, a work permit approval letter issued by the Ministry of Labour is required. To obtain this letter, the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form BT32 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour
*The one year multiple entry Visa is valid for 1 year, but the holder will only be permitted to stay in Thailand for 90 Days per entry. The holder will need to leave Thailand and re-enter every 90 days.
Pricing
FROM
THB 12,500 *
+ 7% VAT
The applicant is advised to apply for a visa before the travelling date at least 15 days. The visa approval process usually takes 3 – 5 business days (depends on the Thai Embassy/consulate-general in each country) (Average time from the moment we receive all the required information from you)
* Government Fees approx. THB 2,000 for single entry and THB 5,000 for multiple entry (the price will be slightly different at the Thai Embassy in each country)
Application handled by a visa and immigration expert
Scope of work
- Assistance in the preparation of all required Government forms.
- Assistance in the preparation of the required supporting documents. This includes coordinating with the client’s employer to obtain the relevant documents and make sure they are signed and stamped where needed.
- Our Visa expert will accompany the applicant to the Immigration Office and provide assistance.
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Pre-application requirements
Our experts can assist you with the initial steps for applying for your Visa. This includes:
- Identifying the correct Visa that best fits your needs. For example, whether you need to obtain a Non-Immigrant B Visa for Conducting Business, Employment or an Extension of Stay based on one of these options.
- Walking you through all the requirements and what needs to be done i.e. documents you need to obtain from your employer.
TIMELINE
1-3 business days
Collecting documents and filing the application
Our team of experts will collect, collate and fill in all the required documents, ready for your signature. For a full list of the documents required, please see our FAQs below
TIMELINE
A few days to collect documents from the parties and prepare the application.
Submission of application
Our Visa experts will accompany you to the immigration office to file all the documents and application forms.
TIMELINE
30 days for the approval process of Non-Imm B Visa extension One day for filing the application One day for collecting the visa
Post-registration requirements
Our experts can assist with you the any further requirements you may have:
- Opening a bank account
- Obtaining a re-entry permit
TIMELINE
2 days to open a bank account 1 day to obtain a re-entry permit
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for applying for a Non-Imm B Visa?
Documents to be submitted
- Application form TM.7, photograph 4×6 cm., application fee is 1,900 THB (Application must be made in person).
- Copy of applicant’s passport (copy of passport with your photo, last arrival stamp, Re-entry Permit stamp, Departure card (TM.6) and last extended visa).
- Certificate of employment prepared in accordance with the form prescribed by the Immigration Bureau (Sor.Tor.Mor.1).
– A table showing the numbers of all foreigners employed by the company, also their salary on monthly and annually basis, and their total salary, is additionally required. - Copy of work permit
- Proof of corporate registration e.g. certificate of incorporation of company or partnership certified by the Registrar with validity for 6 months.
- Copy of list of shareholders certified by the Registrar with validity for 6 months.
- A copy of the latest balance sheet and income statement, together with corporate income tax return (Por.Ngor.Dor.50) and receipt. Copy of Sor.Bor.Chor.3 they must be certified by the Revenue Dept. or by The Department of Business Development.
- Copy of 3 latest monthly withholding tax returns (Por.Pro.1) showing the name of employees and the alien applicant, together with receipt.
- Copy of latest personal income tax return of the applicant (Por.Pro.91), together with receipt (or an explanatory letter).
- Copy of 3 latest monthly social security contributions return filed with the Social Security Office (Form Sor.Por.Sor. 1-10).
- Copy of 3 latest monthly value add tax returns (Por.Pro.30 or Por.Por.36) together with receipt.
- Proof of the need of the business to employ the alien e.g. no Thai candidate has applied after advertising such a position.
- Location map of the place of work.
- Other supporting documents required by the competent authority (Sor.Tor.Mor.2).
- Photographs showing the location of the business.
a. Exterior photographs showing the address and the sign of company name.
b. Interior photographs showing the employee while working. - Original versions of documents of Nos. 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 must be provided.
- In case the applicants are accompanied by a family member, proof of family relationship e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate of their children must be provided. If these documents were issued by a foreign government, they must be certified by such foreign embassy.
Criteria for Consideration of Non-Imm B visa extension
- The applicant must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IMM).
- The applicant must earn minimum income as per the law.
- The business must have a paid-up registered capital of no less than Baht 2 million.
- Said business must have submitted its financial statements as at the end of its fiscal year for the past two accounting years which have duly been audited and certified by a certified public accountant or a tax auditor, to prove that the business is sufficiently secure with actual and continuous operation.
- Said business needs to hire aliens.
- Said business must have a ratio of one alien employee per four permanent Thai employees.
- The following businesses shall be exempted from the Criteria (3), (4), and (5), and the ratio of Thai employees specified under Criteria (6), shall be reduced to one alien employee per one.
permanent Thai employee:
(a) International trade business (representative office)
(b) Regional office
(c) Overseas company (branch office)
Remark:
Documents required for permission of temporary stay no. 8- 11 must be a certified true copy by an authorized officer of the Government unit concerned.
How can I obtain a Visa & Work Permit?
A foreigner who is coming to Thailand in order to work will first need to obtain a Non-Immigrant B Visa before arrival. Normally, applications for Non-Immigrant B Visas are made at Thai Embassies or Consulates outside of Thailand. It is possible to apply inside Thailand as well in case by case.
Before you can apply for a Non-Imm B Visa (for employment), the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form BT32 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour in order to get the pre-approval letter for work permit. This letter will be used for supporting your visa application.
Once the applicant has been granted a Non-Immigrant B Visa, the holder can enter Thailand and will be allowed to stay for an initial period of not more than 90 days.
Once you have entered Thailand, the employer must arrange a Work Permit for you. Holding a Non-Immigrant B Visa is not enough to work legally, a Work Permit must be obtained.
During the initial 90 day entry period, you must apply for a Visa extension. Visa extensions are granted for 1 year and can be renewed for a further year.
What happens if I leave my job?
In the event of an applicant leaving their job, your work permit will be cancelled by your employer after leaving the job within 15 days.
If you have an extension of stay based on Employment of Conducting Business, you will need to go to the Immigration Office and cancel the extension. Upon cancellation, you will be given a 7 day stamp in your passport and be required to leave Thailand.
Can I apply for the Non-Immigrant B Visa with a Tourist or Non-Immigrant O Visa?
A foreigner who enters Thailand on a Visa exemption stamp or a Tourist Visa can apply for a Non-Immigrant B Visa. However, the applicant must be able to meet the requirements for the Non-Immigrant B Visa or the one year extension of stays. This can be done at the Immigration Office in Thailand.
Holders of a Non-Immigrant O Visa based on marriage to a Thai National are already eligible to apply for a work permit so it is not necessary to change to a Business Visa.
Non-Immigrant O Visa based on retirement are not eligible to work in Thailand so they would need to change to a Non-Immigrant B.
Can I leave and re-enter Thailand?
If you hold a multiple entry Visa, you can enter and leave Thailand as many times as you like during the validity of your Visa.
If you possess a Non-Immigrant B single entry Visa or an extension of stay based on this Visa, you will need to obtain a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand.
Do I need a Work Permit?
A Non-Immigrant B Visa itself does not allow you to work in Thailand, but it does allow you to apply and obtain a work permit. Please note, it is illegal to work in Thailand without a Work Permit.
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Question Before You Begin? *
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(*) This Conversation is intended to provide basic answers to questions you may have about the Non immigrant B Visa. But it is not a Lawyer’s Consultation.
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