Work Permit Application Thailand
Your start date depends on a permit you haven't filed yet — and your employer may not even qualify. We check eligibility on day one, sequence the visa and permit together, and make sure you're legally working before you step into the office.
FAP
Registered CPAs
DFK
International Network
200+
Clients Served
24h
Response Time
What You Get
Everything Covered, Nothing Left to Chance
Employer Eligibility Check
We verify your employer meets THB 2M capital and the 4:1 Thai-to-foreign ratio before filing — no surprises.
Full Application Assembly
WP-3 form, employment contract, job description, credentials, translations — we prepare every document the DOE requires.
DOE Filing & Fee Handling
We submit directly to the Department of Employment, pay the annual fee on your behalf, and track status to approval.
Annual Renewals Managed
Your renewal is filed 30–60 days before expiry. Zero authorization gaps, zero last-minute stress.
Criminal Risk Eliminated
We educate both employer and employee on obligations — protecting everyone from inadvertent violations.
15+
Years of Experience
1,000+
Visas & Permits Processed
98%
Approval Rate
15+
Years of Experience
1,000+
Visas & Permits Processed
98%
Approval Rate
How It Works
Our Process
A clear, structured approach from start to finish.
Step 1: Employer Eligibility Verification
Paid-up capital (THB 2M per foreign hire), 4:1 Thai-staff ratio, SSF registration, and DOE employer registration confirmed before any application is prepared.
Step 2: Occupation & Position Analysis
We confirm the position is not on the prohibited-occupations list (Royal Decree B.E. 2522) and that the job description justifies foreign employment over Thai alternatives.
Step 3: WP-3 Application Assembly & DOE Filing
Complete work permit application package — employment contract, job description, employer financials, employee credentials — translated and submitted to the Department of Employment. Processing: 7–15 working days.
Step 4: Work Permit Issuance & Annual Renewal Management
Digital work permit issued by DOE. Annual renewals filed 30–60 days before expiry each year; employer compliance (capital and ratio) re-verified at each renewal cycle.
Step 1: Employer Eligibility Verification
Paid-up capital (THB 2M per foreign hire), 4:1 Thai-staff ratio, SSF registration, and DOE employer registration confirmed before any application is prepared.
Step 2: Occupation & Position Analysis
We confirm the position is not on the prohibited-occupations list (Royal Decree B.E. 2522) and that the job description justifies foreign employment over Thai alternatives.
Step 3: WP-3 Application Assembly & DOE Filing
Complete work permit application package — employment contract, job description, employer financials, employee credentials — translated and submitted to the Department of Employment. Processing: 7–15 working days.
Step 4: Work Permit Issuance & Annual Renewal Management
Digital work permit issued by DOE. Annual renewals filed 30–60 days before expiry each year; employer compliance (capital and ratio) re-verified at each renewal cycle.
Transparent Pricing
Thai Work Permit — Pricing
Mandatory employment authorization for all foreign nationals working in Thailand. Bundle with Non-B Visa to save THB 15,000 versus separate filings.
| Tier / Variant | What's included | Timeline | Govt / 3rd-party fees | Plizz service fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Permit (stand-alone) | Work permit application when visa is already in place. Department of Employment submission + employer compliance review. | 7–15 working days | Department of Employment fee (variable by permit duration) | THB 25,000 one-time |
| Visa + Work Permit (bundle)Save THB 15,000 | Combined Non-B Visa + Work Permit application — saves THB 15,000 vs. separate filings. | 5–10 days visa + 7–15 days work permit | Embassy + Department of Employment fees (variable) | THB 35,000 one-time |
Work Permit (stand-alone)
Work permit application when visa is already in place. Department of Employment submission + employer compliance review.
- Timeline
- 7–15 working days
- Govt / 3rd-party fees
- Department of Employment fee (variable by permit duration)
- Plizz service fee
- THB 25,000 one-time
Visa + Work Permit (bundle)
Combined Non-B Visa + Work Permit application — saves THB 15,000 vs. separate filings.
- Timeline
- 5–10 days visa + 7–15 days work permit
- Govt / 3rd-party fees
- Embassy + Department of Employment fees (variable)
- Plizz service fee
- THB 35,000 one-time
Optional Add-Ons
| Add-on | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Immigrant B Visa (stand-alone) | From THB 25,000 one-time | See Non-Immigrant B Visa page; included in the bundle above. |
| 90-day Reporting | THB 3,000 / request | Required for non-immigrant visa holders staying ≥ 90 days. |
| Work permit extension | Get a quote · 1 business day Reason for quote: Why: depends on employer status and remaining visa validity | Renewal at end of validity. |
Non-Immigrant B Visa (stand-alone)
See Non-Immigrant B Visa page; included in the bundle above.
90-day Reporting
Required for non-immigrant visa holders staying ≥ 90 days.
Work permit extension
Reason for quote: Why: depends on employer status and remaining visa validity
Renewal at end of validity.
Pricing Notes
- All Plizz fees exclude 7% VAT.
- Permit issued in 7–15 working days. Validity matches the underlying visa.
- Bundle savings: THB 35,000 Visa + Work Permit saves THB 15,000 vs. separate filings (THB 25,000 + THB 25,000).
- Employer prerequisites: THB 2M paid-up capital, ≥4 Thai employees registered with SSO, VAT registration (where applicable). 4:1 Thai-to-foreign ratio applies for non-BOI companies.
- BOI-promoted companies are exempt from these prerequisites for BOI-approved positions.
- Penalties for unauthorized work are severe: THB 100,000 fine + up to 5 years imprisonment for the worker; THB 100,000 + 1 year for the employer.
Get a quote — typical response 1 business day
No commitment · Reply within 24 hours · Free initial consultation
Who This Is For
Who Needs a Thai Work Permit?
Any foreign national performing work in Thailand — paid or unpaid, managerial or technical — requires a valid work permit issued by the Department of Employment.
- New foreign hire at a Thai company — you've accepted the offer, agreed a start date, and now need to know exactly how long this takes and whether your employer is already eligible. The 4:1 ratio may be a problem you don't know about yet.
- Foreign founder working in your own Thai company — even as the sole director and shareholder, performing any management activity without a work permit is criminal. Thai company ownership does not substitute for a work permit.
- Independent consultant on a long-term Bangkok engagement — if the assignment runs beyond a tourist visa period, you are performing "work" under the Working of Aliens Emergency Decree and need formal authorisation.
- First foreign hire at a Thai SME — your Thai employer has never sponsored a work permit. Plizz checks paid-up capital (THB 2M requirement), the 4:1 Thai-to-foreign ratio, and SSO registration before any forms are filed.
- BOI-promoted company hire — same underlying work permit requirement, but filed through the BOI One Stop Service Center alongside the Non-IB visa. Faster (~2 weeks), 4:1 ratio waived, THB 2M capital waived for BOI-approved positions.
- Expat changing employers inside Thailand — the work permit names one employer. Switching requires a new permit, and you cannot perform any work for the new employer until the new permit is issued. The sequencing must be exact or you accrue criminal exposure daily.
Your Plizz Contact
Ornjira Yodsai
Visa & Work Permit Specialist
Thai immigration and labor relations — Immigration Bureau, BOI, MFA, Department of Employment liaison
Why Plizz
Why Choose Plizz for Your Work Permit
Work permit violations carry criminal penalties. Plizz's value is pre-filing employer verification and precise sequencing with the Non-B visa — so your authorization is in place before your first day, and renewed before it expires every year.
Pre-Filing Company Audit — Catch the 4:1 Gap Before the DOE Does
The DOE rejects at the counter when the employer fails the ratio or capital check — costing weeks. Plizz's pre-application company review (1–3 days) catches every prerequisite gap before a single form leaves our office.
Criminal Exposure Eliminated Through Exact Sequencing
Working one day before the work permit is issued is criminal — THB 100,000 fine, up to 5 years imprisonment for you; up to THB 100,000 and 1 year for your employer. We confirm the exact date employment can legally begin, in writing.
Bundle Applied by Default — THB 15,000 Saved Per New Hire
Filing the Non-B visa and work permit separately costs THB 50,000. The bundle is THB 35,000 and ensures both filings are sequenced correctly. We apply the bundle for every new hire unless the visa is already current.
Renewals and Bookkeeping Tracked on the Same Calendar
Annual WP renewal requires current employer financials. If your audit is delayed, renewal is blocked — and the visa extension that depends on it is blocked too. Plizz's integrated accounting and immigration teams share one compliance calendar so no renewal misses its window.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions before and during engagement.
The 4:1 ratio cascade — a common and expensive surprise
Your employer has 3 Thai employees and files your work permit application. The DOE rejects it on the spot — not enough Thai staff. To re-file, your employer must hire a 4th Thai employee, register them with SSO, and wait 2–3 weeks for them to appear on the SSO rolls. Meanwhile, you are in Thailand on a 90-day Non-B visa, your agreed start date has passed, and every week of delay costs both sides. Plizz's pre-application company review (1–3 days) catches the ratio gap before the visa is even filed — so the sequencing is fixed before it becomes a crisis.
How Plizz Compares
Plizz vs the Alternatives
Work permit violations carry criminal penalties. The difference between approaches is not just speed — it is who catches the employer-eligibility problem before it becomes your problem.
| Approach | What you get | The risk |
|---|---|---|
| DIY — file at DOE yourself | Save agent fees | Pre-application company review skipped. Employer-eligibility problems discovered at the DOE counter on filing day — weeks of delay while the ratio gap is fixed. |
| Visa broker (handles visa only) | Visa handled; work permit left to employer | Sequencing errors: employee starts work before WP is issued. Employer not warned about criminal exposure. No one owns the gap between visa issuance and WP approval. |
| Employer's in-house HR | Internal management | HR may not know the 4:1 ratio rule, does not track renewal deadlines, and has no visibility into whether the audit is running late — which blocks WP renewal when it does. |
| Plizz | Pre-application company review, visa + WP bundled and sequenced, payroll setup from the same team, renewal tracked on the same calendar as the annual audit | No gap between visa and WP. No gap between WP and payroll. No gap at annual renewal. |
Explore More
Related Services
Work permit and Non-B visa must be sequenced correctly — bundle them together to save THB 15,000 and eliminate the risk of starting work without authorization.
Non-Immigrant B Visa
The residence visa that pairs with the work permit. Bundle both for THB 35,000 — saves THB 15,000 and ensures the sequencing is done correctly. The most common starting point for a new foreign hire.
Non-Immigrant IB Visa
If your employer holds BOI promotion, file through the BOI OSSC instead of standard DOE — combined visa and work permit issued in ~2 weeks, 4:1 ratio waived, THB 2M capital waived for BOI-approved positions.
LTR Visa
For senior specialists, remote workers, and investors who qualify — the LTR includes a digital work permit built in. No annual DOE renewal cycle, 10-year validity, and 17% flat personal income tax rate.
BOI Promotion
When your Thai company plans to hire multiple foreign specialists, BOI promotion removes the 4:1 ratio and THB 2M capital requirement for promoted positions — making each future work permit application faster and simpler.
Get Started
New hire joining your Thai company?
Work permit and visa must both be in hand before day one — bundle them together and save THB 15,000. Employer eligibility check is part of every engagement.
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