Answered4 years ago

Can I apply for a work visa in Thailand if I arrive on a tourist visa?

Thai visa Tourist visa Non-B visa Visa conversion Employment visa Immigration rules

Oliver ************************

asked Nov 9, 2022

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Good day family

Please I’m on a Tourist and would arrive in Thailand on 23 November. I have a job offer awaiting me. Can I apply for a different visa type when I get there? I learnt the government have stopped issuing such visas to tourist. How true is that. Thank you

Answer summary

A user inquired about transitioning from a tourist visa to a work visa upon arrival in Thailand, noting that they had a job offer waiting. Responses indicated that it is generally required to leave Thailand to apply for a Non-B visa at a consulate, as in-country conversions are typically not allowed.

9 repliesnewest first

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Stuart *********

Almost certainly you’d need to leave and go to a nearby consulate to apply for a non B visa for employment.

Depending on the job you’re going to do and the company you’re going to work for it’s possible to do a in country conversion, but in practice it’s almost certain you can’t.

4 years ago

Edwin ********

@Stuart ********

When I was first hired by a Thai university in 2013 they sent me the paperwork for obtaining a non-B visa at a consulate in the USA and I took the paperwork to the Thai consulate in Los Angeles and obtained the non-B visa. Then when I was in Thailand the university helped me obtain my Work Permit and work visa within the province. I suspect it is a similar process now, except that I do not know how Thailand's new e-visa system changes things.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Edwin *******

E-visa doesn’t really change anything. It’s just that now you don’t have to go to the embassy or consulate or send in your passport. You get a visa a a pdf file instead.

Thai universities are the one type of employer that could possibly pull off a in country conversion to a Non B. Not many other establishments can. Teaching roles have an “higher” provenance here.

4 years ago

Edwin ********

@Stuart ********

Thanks for the extra details

4 years ago

Daniel ************

@Stuart ********

depends the paperwork -

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Daniel ***********

It does. An in country conversion requires extensive paperwork and many companies either can’t provide what’s needed or just find it’s way easier to send the employee overseas for a non B.

4 years ago

Darren *******

@Stuart ********

I guess it depends on who the employer is on whether they know already or not but ultimately they're going to be the ones who say yes you can switch in country or no you need to apply overseas.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Darren ******

Most times the company won’t know what’s needed without a trip out to immigration to find out. I could have said talk to your new employer but it probably wouldn’t help them much.

4 years ago

Darren *******

@Stuart ********

so what you're saying is the OP needs to speak to his employer to see what they say 😝

4 years ago