Thailand Non-B Visa: Complete Guide 2026

Working in Thailand: Not Without the Right Visa

Did you land a job in Thailand, or does a local company want to hire you? Congratulations—but before you sign anything, you need the Non-Immigrant B visa (Non-B) and a work permit. Without these two documents, working in Thailand is simply illegal, even if you're working from your laptop in a cafe.

The Non-B visa is the key to salaried employment in Thailand. It is also one of the most regulated visas, with strict conditions for both the employer and the employee. Let's take a complete tour.

Non-B Visa and Work Permit: The Mandatory Duo

This is a fundamental point to understand: the Non-B visa and the work permit are two distinct but inseparable things.

• Non-B Visa: This is your authorization to stay in Thailand for professional reasons. It is glued into your passport.
• Work Permit: This is your authorization to work. It is a separate document (now in digital form) issued by the Department of Employment.

You need both. A Non-B visa without a work permit = you can stay but not work. A work permit without a Non-B visa = impossible to obtain. The two go hand in hand.

Who Sponsors the Visa?

Unlike the tourist visa that you apply for yourself, the Non-B visa is sponsored by your Thai employer. The company does most of the paperwork. Your role: provide personal documents and show up when necessary.

The company must meet certain conditions to be able to sponsor a foreigner:

• Minimum capital: 2 million THB of registered share capital per foreign employee
• 4:1 ratio: the company must employ at least 4 Thais for each foreigner (this is the famous 4-for-1 rule)
• Real activity: the company must have verifiable commercial activity, premises, and income
• Tax registration: VAT, corporate tax, social security contributions—everything must be in order

Expat tip: if a company offers you a job but seems reluctant to sponsor your visa, it's a red flag. Either it doesn't have the legal means to do so, or it plans to have you work illegally. In both cases, run.

The 4:1 Ratio Rule Explained

This is one of the specificities of Thai labor law that surprises expats the most. For each work permit issued to a foreigner, the company must employ at least 4 Thai employees contributing to social security.

In practice:

• 1 foreigner = 4 Thais minimum
• 2 foreigners = 8 Thais minimum
• 10 foreigners = 40 Thais minimum

There are exceptions for certain sectors (BOI companies, companies in special economic zones), but this is the general rule. Companies in the BOI (Board of Investment) benefit from relaxed conditions and may sometimes have a different ratio.

Conditions for the Employee

From your side, here's what's expected of you:

• Valid passport for at least 6 months
• Diplomas: a university degree is generally required (minimum bachelor's degree). Diplomas must be translated into English and legalized.
• Professional experience: depending on the position, 2 to 5 years of experience in the field may be required
• Clean criminal record: a recent criminal record extract (less than 3 months old) from your country of origin
• Passport photos: 4x6 cm format, white background
• Medical certificate: sometimes requested, especially for first-time applications

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: The Employer Prepares the Ground

Your future employer gathers the company's documents:

• Company registration certificate
• List of shareholders
• Financial statements for the last 2 years
• Form WP.3 (work permit application)
• Invitation letter for the visa
• Signed employment contract
• Organization chart showing the foreigner's position

Step 2: Non-B Visa Application

You apply for your Non-B visa with the employer's invitation letter:

• From France: at the Thai Embassy in Paris. Cost: ~5,000 THB (~€130). Time: 5-7 business days.
• From a neighboring country: Thai consulate in Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, etc.
• On-site conversion: possible in some cases (tourist visa → Non-B), but this is becoming less and less accepted

The initial Non-B visa gives you 90 days in Thailand.

Step 3: Obtaining the Work Permit

Once in Thailand with your Non-B visa, the employer launches the work permit application with the Department of Employment. This is now a digital process (Digital Work Permit).

• Time: 7 to 30 business days depending on the province
• Cost: 3,000 THB for one year
• The work permit is linked to a specific employer, a specific position, and a specific workplace

Step 4: Extending the Visa to One Year

With your work permit in hand, you can apply for a one-year visa extension at the immigration office. Cost: 1,900 THB. It is renewable as long as you work for the same employer.

Summary of Costs

Recommended Guides

• Bangkok Expat Guide 2026
• Cost of Living in Bangkok
• Thailand Administrative Checklist