How can I apply for a work visa in Thailand if I'm currently on a tourist visa?

Apr 20, 2023
2 years ago
Stefano ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all, i am in Thailand with a normal 30 days tourist visa and a big company in Bangkok want to employe me as a tunnelling specialist for several projects: how i can do to apply for a working visa if this company give me all requered documents like an invitation letter ecc? Do i have to exit the country or i can switch the tourist visa to working visa directly here in Thailand?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks guidance on converting their 30-day tourist visa to a work visa while being employed by a company in Bangkok as a tunnelling specialist. The responses suggest that while it is possible to change the visa status within Thailand, it heavily depends on the employer's ability to provide the necessary documentation. It's recommended to speak with the HR department of the company and inquire directly with immigration to gather all required paperwork, such as a police clearance. In cases where required documents are lacking, it may be necessary to exit Thailand and apply for a NON-B visa from a neighboring country.
Nick *******
If it’s a legit company they would organise everything for you
Rusty ******
@Nick ******
that's exactly what I would've thought would happen.
Stefano ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Russell *******
yes they are doing already, on wednesday i will meet the company with some transalted documentes they required
Rusty ******
good luck
@Ste****
you won the lottery.
Bob **********
There’s no such thing as a 30 day tourist visa your on an exempt stamp and may not have enough time to get everything together
Muhammad *************
Yes you can change your tourist visa to a NonB visa here.

You need some documents from the company as well as some steps you have to do by your own.

1st of all you need a police clearance in Thailand so the company will give you a paper and you have to go to the main police centre in Bkk and it might take minimum of 10 to 15 days.

After that the company will get a letter from an area office and will prepare loads of other documents so then you can go to immigration to apply for non B .

Note it,if they required you degree ,you must verify and translate it to thai language as well ,after you can apply for non b visa .

But the immigration there need at least 15 spare days for the process of your non b visa so they will ask you to extend your tourist visa for one more month and you must do that.

I just recently got my non b i have changed it from tourist visa ...

A long and tiring process.
Stefano ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
เจสัน ******
Speak with the company HR department. Contact the Immigration office in BKK to verify what documentation you require.

Gather all the documentation you have to support your application (translated if required) or arrange for it to be sent / completed (i.e Police checks from country of your citizenship if applicable) and together with the company HR representative attend Immigration in-person as you are in country.
Stefano ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Michael ********
If its a big company surely they will have people to do this for you.. if its ital-thai i know they do.
Ron ********
To be fair I don't visit this page often but it usually full of trolls or negative _________________. Nice to see some helpful responses. I would never post in this group. I might PM someone but this group is full of angry expats. Sorry this doesn't answer your question but love to see helpful and not toxic pieces of #$$%$.
Brandon ************
@Ron *******
this group isn't that bad. Go look at the "Expats in Thailand" group if you're into trolls though
Ron ********
@Brandon ***********
But from a business sense, which this group supports, how are they useful? Frustrating people until they seek professional visa help probably elsewhere? Maybe I haven't followed the feeds. The trolls serve no purpose. If they do I would love to know what that is. In words. This message was for the mods BTW 😉
Brandon ************
@Ron *******
I have no idea. Whether the business who owns it gets anything from it or not is of no consequences to us mods. We do not work for them. We're just here to help people.
Ron ********
@Brandon ***********
fair enough 🙂
Ron ********
Mods. But I get ya. Not my group just a random rant. 🙂
Colin *********
@Ron *******
so, what makes you any different from the trolls that you speak of? You've not offered any useful information here, but your comments have only been negative about the Group! Sure, there has been the occasional negative comment within posts in the short time I've been in the group, but it's nothing compared to other groups.
Ron ********
@Brandon ***********
I was there once. Never again with that Expat trash. My only remark is this is a visa information group. Half the commenters insult the posters. I've been coming to Thailand for 21 years. I would never ask a question on this group again. I'm sure I am not alone. The shitposters in this group do it no service. Zero.. Just my two cents. Take it or leave it.
David *****
@Ron *******
just block the trolls and the posts become more helpful
Gary ****
@Ron *******
I come for
@Brandon ***********
answers, a free education everyday. As per any group in Thailand you soon get a feel for who's a troll and who's not, just like real life 👌
Ron ********
@Gary ********
true. But from a business sense, which this group supports, how are they useful? Frustrating people until they seek professional visa help? Maybe I haven't followed the feeds. The trolls serve no purpose. If they do I would love to know what that is. In words.
Phil ********
I wonder if it's this huge project one of me Thai mates is working on now?

Good luck 🍀

Cheers 🍺
Phil ********
Phil ********
Dave *********
You can't apply for a work permit your company to applies for it and you need to apply for a B visa..but you personally can't apply if you are being employed by another company..but the rules are different if you start a company with 51% share Thai holder..🤔🤔
Bob **********
Dave *********
@Bob *********
yes those are the rules I had a business for over 22 years and did it by the book..then no hassle ..got my B visa in Singapore which was easy enough.. but the company be it yours or someone else have to give you a letter of invite ..then produce that with all the other documents and its all roses.. never had to leave the country on a visa run in 22 years.
Lari **********
i think ”that big company knows how to do your shit”
Marc *********
Out of curiosity what tunnelling projects?
Mike ********
@Marc ****
Bangkok Hilton !..
Phil ********
Can in Thailand IF they give you ALL of the required paperwork which is rather arduous compared with what neighbouring country embassies require.

Discuss with your employer. 🙄
Brandon ************
Depends if your company can provide the large amount of paperwork required to convert inside of Thailand. 99.9% of companies cannot or will not provide everything required to do this, so basically everyone leaves Thailand to apply for the non-B visa.
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