Working in Thailand: work permits, visas and remote work

The main rule

Under the 2017 decree on foreign workers, "work" means any physical or mental labour, paid or not. So any job in Thailand requires a work permit, issued by the Department of Employment of the Ministry of Labour. In Pattaya this is the Chonburi provincial employment office; BOI-promoted companies use the BOI single window.

How to get a work permit

1. An employer

   You find a Thai company willing to hire you and handle the paperwork.

2. Non-Immigrant B visa

   Issued by a Thai embassy or consulate through e-Visa before arrival, on the employer's invitation. A single-entry visa costs about 2,000 ฿ and gives 90 days.

3. Work permit

   Within those 90 days the employer applies through the e-Work Permit system. In the provinces this usually takes 10–12 working days.

4. One-year extension

   Immigration extends your stay for a year for 1,900 ฿: first a month "under consideration", then the rest of the year after approval.

Since 13 October 2025 all applications, renewals and notifications are electronic only. Since 1 July 2026 there is a temporary permit WP.62 that lets you start work right after approval, before the card is made.

The whole process from visa to extension usually takes 4 – 8 weeks, 2 – 3 weeks for BOI companies. One Central Group employee said (2025) it took about three months from interview to first working day.

What it costs

Work permit fees per the government portal thailand.go.th:

Add the Non-B visa (about 2,000 ฿ single entry), the 1,900 ฿ extension and a re-entry permit at 1,000 ฿ single or 3,800 ฿ multiple. Without re-entry your yearly extension is lost when you leave the country. Every 90 days you report your address to immigration; the late fine starts at 2,000 ฿.

Employer requirements

To hire a foreigner a Thai company usually needs:

• paid-up capital of 2 million ฿ per foreign employee (1 million ฿ if the foreigner is married to a Thai national);
• 4 Thai employees per foreigner, officially registered with social security;
• VAT registration, filed accounts and tax withheld on the foreigner's salary.

BOI-promoted companies are exempt from the capital and 4:1 rules, so large and BOI companies hire foreigners much more easily.

Salary for the visa extension also has a minimum that depends on nationality. For Russians 50,000 ฿ a month is the usual working figure, but confirm the exact amount with your provincial immigration office. Thresholds for teachers are lower.

Jobs closed to foreigners

The list of restricted occupations was set by a 2020 Ministry of Labour notice: some jobs are fully closed, others open with conditions. In June 2026 the ministry reminded the public of ten areas where violations are most common:

• street vending;
• brokers and agents, including in property deals;
• hairdressing, beauty services and nails;
• Thai massage;
• driving;
• tour guiding and organising tours;
• legal services;
• hand weaving and traditional crafts;
• security guards.

Hence common mistakes by newcomers: subletting other people's condos, running your own tours, doing nails at home or paid photo shoots without a permit are not allowed, even if the clients are fellow foreigners.

Where people find jobs

From the experience of people already working in Thailand (2025–2026):

• LinkedIn: large companies hire mostly through it. In 2025 Central Group was looking for Russian speakers in Pattaya and Phuket.
• Facebook groups and Telegram channels by city: used by smaller companies.
• ajarn.com: the main job board for teachers.

Non-native English teachers in Bangkok, per a 2026 account, earn 40,000 – 60,000 ฿, about 35,000 ฿ in the regions; international schools pay more but prefer native speakers. Resort towns have fewer vacancies than Bangkok, and employers often expect some Thai. Keep at least a month's cushion: the first salary is paid at the end of the month.

Remote work for an overseas employer

The law has no specific exemption for remote work. Instead the state introduced special visas:

• DTV (Destination Thailand Visa): 5 years, multiple entry, up to 180 days per entry with a possible 180-day extension for 1,900 ฿. You need 500,000 ฿ in the bank and a contract with an overseas employer or a freelancer portfolio. The fee is about 10,000 ฿ and is not refunded on refusal. More in The DTV and wintering.
• LTR for remote workers (Work-from-Thailand Professional): 10 years, income from $80,000 a year (from $40,000 with a master's degree or your own registered intellectual property), the employer must be a large overseas company. Foreign income in this category is exempt from Thai tax.

Both visas allow work only for overseas employers and clients. Thai clients and business in Thailand require a work permit.

Your own company

A company with 50% or more foreign ownership is foreign, and most services and trade need a Foreign Business Licence or BOI promotion. BOI is not only for giants: the minimum investment for many activities is 1 million ฿.

Taxes

• You become a tax resident after 180 days or more in Thailand in a calendar year.
• Thai salaries are taxed progressively from 0 to 35%, with the first 150,000 ฿ of taxable income a year tax-free. The employer withholds the tax.
• Since 2024 a resident's foreign income is taxed in the year it is brought into Thailand. Russia and Thailand have a double taxation agreement.

Fines for working without a permit

• Worker: a fine of 5,000 – 50,000 ฿, deportation and a 2-year ban on a new permit. This also covers side jobs and work outside the permit's scope.
• Employer: 10,000 – 100,000 ฿ per foreigner; for repeat offences up to a year in prison, 50,000 – 200,000 ฿ and a 3-year ban on hiring foreigners.

Tips

• Look for an employer who will arrange the work permit and visa.
• Take 12-month contracts rather than 10-month ones: it is simpler for the visa and paid holidays.
• If you work remotely, get a DTV or LTR and do not take Thai clients.
• Keep copies of your contract, permit and company documents: immigration may ask for them.

If you are looking for a home in Pattaya, we will help you choose the area and the condo.

FAQ

Can a foreigner work in Thailand?

Yes, with a work permit and a Non-Immigrant B visa arranged by a Thai employer. Remote workers for overseas employers live on the DTV or LTR.

How much is a work permit in Thailand?

Fees are 100 ฿ for the application and 3,000 ฿ for a one-year permit, plus about 2,000 ฿ for the Non-B visa and 1,900 ฿ for the stay extension.

Can I work remotely in Thailand?

There is the 5-year DTV and the LTR for remote workers. They allow work only for overseas employers and clients.

Which jobs are forbidden to foreigners in Thailand?

For example street vending, brokerage and agency work, beauty services, Thai massage, driving, tour guiding, legal services, traditional crafts and security work.

What is the fine for working without a permit?

For the worker 5,000 – 50,000 ฿, deportation and a 2-year ban on a new permit. For the employer 10,000 – 100,000 ฿ per foreigner.

Sources

1. Thai government portal: work permit fees
2. Department of Employment, Thai Ministry of Labour
3. BOI: Long-Term Resident Visa, categories and requirements
4. Revenue Department Thailand: foreign income tax Por.161/2566
5. Asia News Network: Thai Labour Ministry on high-risk occupations, 15.06.2026

This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Laws, fees and project terms change: before a deal we check the current conditions for the specific property.