HOW TO GET A THAI WORK PERMIT

First, you must have a Non-Immigrant visa to apply for a work permit.

Thailand Work Permit Processing

• Preparation of application
• Preparation of letter of employment
• Assembly of required documents

A FOREIGNER WHO RECEIVES A WORK PERMIT MUST FOLLOW THESE REGULATIONS:

1. Carry the work permit with him/her or keep it in the office during working hours to show to government officers any time.
PENALTY : Anyone who violate this rule will be fined not more than 1,000 baht .

2. The foreign must perform the work according to the work permit only to. If he/ she wants to do different work or change locality of working place, this change must be approved.
PENALTY : Anyone who violate this rule will be inprisoned not more than 1 month or fined not more than 2,000 baht or both.

3. The foreign who wishes to continue working musto apply for an extension before the expiration date.
PENALTY : Anyone who violates this rule will be imprisoned not more than 3 months or fined not more than 5,000 baht or both.

4. If his/her work permit is materially damaged or lost, the foreign must apply for substitute within 15 days from the date he/she knows about the damage or disappearance of the work permit.
PENALTY : Anyone who violates this rule will be fined not more than 500 baht .

5. In case the foreign changes his/her first name, last name, nationality , address, or name of the working place, he/she must notify the Employment Service office to update the information as soon as possible.

6. After the to foreign resigns from work, the foreign must return the work permit within 7 days from the date of the resignation
PENALTY : Anyone who violates this rule will be fined not more than 1000 baht.

Factors to be aware of:

1. You must be present in Thailand on a non-immigrant status entry permit, on both the day your work permit application is submitted, and the day it is picked up.
2. Your work permit will expire on the same date as the entry permit you use to pick up your work permit. This generally means that your first work permit – if issued against a 90 day entry permit, will have only 10 weeks validity, once issued. Most clients will need to use work permit to apply for extended entry permit – and once that entry permit extension is issued, apply for a renewed work permit whose expiration date matches the new entry permit.
3. In most cases, for each work permit issued to a foreigner, the sponsoring company must have 2 million baht capitalization, and at least four Thai employees. For a start-up company, it is sometimes possible to obtain a work permit for purposes of opening a bank account without meeting all requirements, but obtaining later work permit renewals generally requires that qualifying criteria be met. If a company has four Thai employees, plus 2 million baht paid-in capital for each work permit requested, it is normally very easy to obtain a work permit.
4. To satisfy new rules upcoming, monthly salary of work permit holders generally needs to be at least 60,000 Baht (you must be paying monthly personal income tax on at least this amount).

EMPLOYERS WISHING TO EMPLOY A FOREIGNER MUST DO THE FOLLOWING

1. Do not employ the foreign without a work permit. Do not allow the foreign to perform work other than that which is specified in his/her work permit, or to work under any other conditions than those specified in the work permit.
   PENALTY : Imprisonment of not more than 3 years or fine of not more than 60,000 baht or both.
   
2. An employer who employs the foreign to work or transfers him/her to work elsewhere or allows the foreign to resign must notify the Nakhon Ratchasima Employment Service Office within 15 days from the employment, transfer or termination date
   PENALTY : Anyone who violate this rule will be fined not more than 1,000 baht .
   
   NOTE:
   All aliens engaged in any kind of work in Thailand must hold a valid work permit, issued principally by the Department of Employment of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare pursuant to the Alien Employment Act B.E. 2521 (A.D. 1978).
   The term "work" is defined very broadly, covering both physical and mental activities, whether or not for wages or other remuneration. Working without a valid work permit even for a day is a criminal offense.
   The validity period of a work permit is governed by the holder's immigration status, i.e. a work permit usually expires on the last day of the period of stay allowed by immigration officials as shown on the alien's visa. Aliens holding transit and tourist visas are not permitted to work.