Today Thai Work Permit Expert got a very useful question regarding Minimum Salary for Foreign Employees for Work Permit and Visa Extension.

What is the minimum salary for an expat in Thailand to be able to extend his visa?

When a foreigner has a work permit in Thailand, he is able to extend his permit of stay in the kingdom to one year (or what most people call one year visa). However, there is a schedule of different monthly salaries earned by different nationalities that the National Police Bureau of Thailand used to determine if they will extend the expatriate’s permit of stay.

• Countries in Europe (except Russia and eastern Europe), Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and Japan – Baht 50,000
• South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong – Baht 45,000
• Countries in Asia (except Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam), Eastern Europe, Central America and South America, Mexico, Russia and South Africa – Baht 35,000
• Countries in Africa (except South Africa), Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam – Baht 25,000

Our Thailand work permit page has information about Thailand’s work permit rules.

For any questions about work permit and visa extension for expats in Thailand, contact MSNA.

Today Thai Work Permit Expert discusses Visa for getting a work permit in Thailand.

Foreigners wanting to apply for a work permit in Thailand must enter the country with a non-immigrant “B” visa. Here are the documents you need to obtain a non-immigrant “B” visa from a Thai embassy or consulate if you are going to work for a company in Thailand.

1. One completed and signed visa application form with application fee (please check with the embassy in the country you are applying for the visa to see the current fee schedule.)
2. One recent passport-sized photograph (3.5 x 4.5cm)
3. Passport (valid for no less than 6 months)
4. Invitation letter from a company in Thailand (the letter must be typed on the company’s letter head and signed by authorized director(s) of the company) attached with these documents:

• Company’s registration documents in Thailand (or Company Affidavit)
• List of shareholders
• Business registration and business license
• Company profile
• Details of business operation
• List of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions
• Map indicating the location of the company
• Latest year’s audited financial statements
• Latest year’s corporate income tax return
• Latest year’s VAT returns
• Valued Added Tax registration paper
  (Copies of company documents must be signed by authorized director(s) and affixed the company seal)

Foreigners wanting to work in Thailand need to have employers to sponsor their work permit. Once having a Thailand work permit, the foreigners cannot perform any function other than that described in their work permit.

Generally if the employer is a Thai company, it has to have at least Baht 2 million registered and paid up capital for each foreign employee. In case of foreign companies (which have to obtain the foreign business license before they can operate in Thailand), they have to have at least Baht 3 million capital for each foreign employee. If the foreigner is married to a Thai national, the capital rule is more lenient.

Some companies have obtained BOI (Board of Investment) privileges, some of which grant more relaxed rules regarding Thailand work permits for the foreign employees.

The employers must report changes in employment, transfers and termination of all foreigners in their organization within 15 days.

Thailand work permit holders must obtain a prior permission to change their occupation, and/or place of work. Change of employer location or the residential address of the work permit holder must be properly endorsed in the work permit by the Thai labour authorities.

The Thai law does not prevent foreigners from working in more than one field or for more than one employer. They have to have their Thailand work permit covering all the jobs or employers.

We have summarized here Thailand work permit rules.