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Non-Immigrant B Visa (Business)
Company employeesBusiness ownersEntrepreneurs setting up Thai companies
Duration
90 days (initial), 1 year (extension)
Cost
2,000-5,000 THB (visa) + 3,000-7,500 THB (work permit)
Best For
Company employees, Business owners
Last verified March 2026
About This Visa
The Non-Immigrant B Visa is the standard business visa for foreigners seeking employment in Thailand or planning to establish their own company. The process typically starts with a 90-day Non-B visa obtained from a Thai embassy, which is then extended to 1 year after obtaining a work permit inside Thailand. This visa is the first critical step toward obtaining a Thai work permit — the legal document that authorizes foreign nationals to work in the Kingdom. Key requirements include the company maintaining 2 million THB in registered capital per foreign employee for work permit eligibility and a 4:1 Thai-to-foreign employee ratio.
Application Process
1
Secure Employment or Register Company
Get a job offer from a Thai company or register your own Thai Limited Company with at least 2M THB registered capital per foreign employee.
2
Company Prepares Documents
Your sponsoring company prepares business registration, audited financials, Thai employee lists (4:1 ratio with social security proof), and a sponsorship letter.
3
Apply for 90-Day Non-B Visa
Apply at a Thai embassy outside Thailand. Some nationalities can apply in-country. Processing takes 3-5 business days. You'll receive a 90-day initial stay.
4
Enter Thailand
On arrival, you'll receive a 90-day stay stamp. Begin the work permit application immediately — it can take 2-4 weeks.
5
Apply for Work Permit
Submit work permit application to the Department of Employment. Your employer handles most documentation including company financials, Thai employee proof, and your role description.
6
Extend to 1 Year
With an approved work permit, extend your Non-B visa to 1 year at immigration. Requires updated company documents. This is renewed annually and is the path to permanent residency after 3 consecutive years.
Requirements
What you need to apply for the Non-Immigrant B Visa (Business)
- 1Job offer from Thai company or own registered Thai company
- 2Work permit application (after arrival)
- 3Company sponsorship documents and audited financials
- 4Minimum salary requirements by nationality
- 5Company capital: 2M THB per foreign employee for work permit
- 6Thai:foreign employee ratio of 4:1
- 7Clean criminal record
Pros & Cons
Benefits and drawbacks of the Business (Non-B)
Pros
- Path to work permit and legal employment
- Can bring family (Non-O dependent)
- Established process
- Renewable annually
- Path to permanent residency after 3 years
Cons
- Tied to employer — changing jobs requires new visa/work permit
- Complex paperwork and documentation
- 4:1 Thai-to-foreign employee ratio required
- 2M THB capital per foreign employee
Cost Summary
Visa Fee
2,000-5,000 THB (visa) + 3,000-7,500 THB (work permit)
Duration
90 days (initial), 1 year (extension)
Work Permit Restrictions and Allowed Activities
A Thai work permit is not a blanket authorization to perform any type of work. Each work permit specifies your job title, employer, workplace location, and the exact activities you are authorized to perform. Working outside the scope of your permit, even temporarily, is a violation of the Alien Employment Act. Certain occupations are entirely prohibited for foreigners under the Foreign Business Act, including retail sales, manual labor, taxi driving, hairdressing, agriculture, and several dozen other categories. Before accepting any position, verify that the role is on the approved list for foreign workers. The work permit booklet lists your permitted activities in Thai and English. If your role changes within the same company, the work permit must be amended through the Department of Employment, a process that takes 1-2 weeks. Working without a valid work permit, or outside the scope of your permit, carries penalties of up to 100,000 THB in fines and potential imprisonment for repeated offenses.
Permanent Residency Path Through the Non-B Visa
The Non-B visa with work permit is the primary pathway to Thai permanent residency. After holding a Non-B extension continuously for 3 consecutive years, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Immigration Commission. The process requires a minimum of 3 years of consecutive work permit and visa extension history, a minimum annual salary ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 THB depending on your nationality, evidence of Thai language ability (a basic test is administered), a clean immigration record with no overstays, and employer sponsorship. The application window opens once per year, typically in October through December, and the quota for each nationality is limited. Processing takes 6-12 months. Approved permanent residents receive a non-immigrant visa that never expires, a work permit that does not require employer sponsorship, and the ability to count time toward naturalization as a Thai citizen after 5 additional years. The application fee is 7,600 THB for most nationalities and 95,600 THB for applicants from certain countries that charge Thai nationals higher fees.
Changing Employers on a Non-B Visa
Changing employers while on a Non-B visa requires careful timing because your visa and work permit are tied to your sponsoring company. The correct process involves first securing a new job offer and having the new employer prepare all sponsorship documents. Then, your current employer cancels your existing work permit at the Department of Employment. Under current rules, you may be able to transfer directly to the new employer without leaving Thailand if the transition is handled within a specific window, typically 7-14 days after work permit cancellation. Your new employer then applies for a new work permit on your behalf. You must visit immigration to update your visa extension to reflect the new employer. The entire transition typically takes 2-4 weeks. Many expats use a visa agency to handle the paperwork during this transition period. Never simply stop showing up to work and start at a new company without properly canceling and transferring your documents, as this can create overstay complications and immigration blacklist risk.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting work before the work permit is officially issued — even a few days of unauthorized work can result in deportation
- Not maintaining the 4:1 Thai employee ratio — if Thai employees leave and are not replaced, your work permit renewal will be denied
- Forgetting that the work permit is location-specific — working from a different office or site requires an amendment
- Assuming the Non-B visa alone allows you to work — you need both the visa extension AND a valid work permit
- Letting the company's annual audit lapse — the Immigration Bureau checks company compliance during extension reviews
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