Answered3 years ago

Can I apply for a work visa in Thailand if I hold a Non-Immigrant O visa due to marriage to a Thai citizen?

Non-Immigrant O Visa Work Visa Work Permit Thailand Visa Rules Expats in Thailand Immigration Advice

Terry **********

asked Sep 13, 2023

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Hi there, If I entered Thailand on a Non Immigrant O-married to a Thai wife visa and was offered a job when I entered, could my company then apply for a work visa for me?

I am from the UK and hold a UK passport...

Answer summary

If you are in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O visa based on your marriage to a Thai spouse, you do not need to switch to a Non-Immigrant B visa to work. Your employer can apply for a work permit for you while you maintain your Non-O visa, allowing you to work legally without the complexities of changing your visa status. Several comments emphasize that your permission to stay in Thailand will not be dependent on your job by keeping the Non-O visa.

9 repliesnewest first

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Richard ***********

Keep your non o marriage visa. DO NOT change to a non b from your school.

3 years ago

Steve *******

You wont need a 'work visa', you can apply for a work permit and legally work on your Non Imm O visa based on marriage and its subsequent extentions of stay.

3 years ago

Terry **********

This suggests it's possible.

3 years ago

Peter ****************

3 years ago

Peter ****************

@Terry *********

Sorry, but think 'the coin does not drop'. This even a picture of a part of y'r link. Visa and workpermits are 2 different things. If people want to work in Thailand first they must have a visa to stay and THEN they must arrange a workpermit. If you are not married to a Thai, you need that non B visa indeed but because you have a visa with which it's also legal to work, you only need a workpermit.

3 years ago

Terry **********

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3 years ago

Terry **********

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3 years ago

Brandon ************

That wouldn't make any sense at all. You can work on a non-O based on marriage to Thai and it's much better to do so because then your permission to stay in Thailand isn't dependant upon your job. Your company just needs to apply for a work permit for you and doesn't need to do anything visa related. Many companies try to get their employees to switch from marriage to non-B so they can threaten the employees and hold it over their head that if they're fired they must leave Thailand.

If you still want to do it then no, you cannot switch from a non-O visa to a non-B visa. You would need to leave Thailand and either apply for a non-B visa at a nearby consulate or enter visa exempt and have your company apply to convert to non-B visa at immigration.

3 years ago