What do I need to present when re-entering Thailand with a Work Permit?

Jun 4, 2019
6 years ago
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys, this is probably a very easy question to answer.

I've just been given my 24 month Work Permit from the Ministry of Labour in Surin. They don't really speak any English there so they couldn't answer this for me. Obviously I can come in and out of the country as often as I wish, but do I need to show or do anything else apart from show my passport & work permit every time I enter/leave the country?

Thanks in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When re-entering Thailand with a 24-month Work Permit, you need to show your passport and the appropriate visa (Non-B visa) in your passport. A separate multiple re-entry permit may be required if you wish to leave and return multiple times during the validity of your visa. The Work Permit itself is not typically required upon entry, but it is essential for work purposes inside Thailand.
Tod *********
Okay, IF you just got your 90 day Non-B visa that means you also have a stamp good for letting you stay here just 90 days :O

If you need to leave and come back during that 90 days you'd need to buy a re-entry permit which would be valid ONLY for your current stamp (90 days).

Then once you get your yearly (or your two year) extension of stay, you can then buy a re-entry permit that will last for the duration of that extension stamp.

Then you can come in and out all you want to and get stamped in until the end of your extension every time.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
no worries mate, it must be frustrating sometimes to answer questions that to you seem so simple 👍🏻. Got it now, I'll get my Thai friend to call immigration and get the full list of needed docs so I can get this underway. Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
Tod *********
@Richard ******
, sorry, for my curt, terse and abrupt manner :O

yep, you're right,

You are now here on a 90 day Non-B stamp IF you are going to leave and come back within those 90 days you need to BUY a re-entry permit (BUT that re-entry permit will only be valid for those 90 days) :(

You need to get the documentation together so you can apply for a yearly extension of stay at the immigration office when you have 30 days or less left on your current stamp (bangkok is 45 days or less but most offices are 30 or less).

Once you get the year extension you can buy a re-entry permit that will keep that extension stamp "alive" so you can exit/re-enter the country and get stamped in until it's expiration date. (The re-entry permit you get AFTER you get your year extension will be valid for the whole year :) )
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
not BOI or IEAT. But this now seems clear.. I go NOW to get a yearly extension of stay based on employment with relevant docs from my company. Once I get this, I can then apply for the multiple re-entry permit from the same Immigration office. Sorry for my lack of understanding, I've been doing everything with a friend who also has no experience in this and we get so much conflicting information.
Tod *********
@Richard ******
, once you get the yearly extension granted you can get a multiple re-entry permit.

There is NO such thing as a multiple entry VISA from inside the country, you get that from a thai consulate BEFORE you wing your way here. You need to talk to your employer OR who ever is "pushing paper" for you at the immigration office to get the documentation together so you can apply for a yearly extension of stay based on employment.

IF you work for a BOI or IEAT company you can indeed get a 2 year extension of stay ;)
Tod *********
@Richard ******
NO, you are misunderstanding how it works

You are on a 90 day Non-B visa, you got stamped in for 90 days, NOW you need to go and apply for a yearly extension of stay at the immigration office with documentation from the place you work for. It will cost 1900baht at the immigration office.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Tod, this is way more involved than I expected. I am now here on a single-entry 90 day non-B, can i just go to Immigration and upgrade to a 12-month multiple entry non-B? This sounds like ti would be the best option for now, and after that get another 12 month non-B. Because i have the work permit, surely this would be easy?
Robert *******
@Richard ******
, I understand that you like to have a multiple re-entry permit. But be aware that this re-entry permit will only be valid till your Admitted to Stay or permitted up to date stamped in your passport. It has nothing to do with the validation day of your work permit.
Robert *******
Go to Immigration, get a Single Re-Entry permit, cost 1.000 Thb, and you can go and come back for that week and get the same Admitted to Stay date as you have now. Than when you are back get all the requirements together as listed on the hand out and apply for the Extension of Stay. Directly after this Extension of Stay is stamped in your passport, you can apply for the Multiple Re-Entry permit, so you can travel all you want during that year.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
yes this is best, got about 70 days left but will need to leave for a week in about 5 weeks.
Robert *******
Not sure how many days you have left of the 90 days but ask directly the hand out with requirements to apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay based on working inside Thailand.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ahhh ok.. so if i get a multiple re-entry visa it will be valid only til my 90 day non-B expires. Ufff..ok, I think I will just take a drive to the immigration in Surin and ask them what's best.
Pui *****
Your work permit just allows you to work in the country and has nothing to do with the visa required for you to enter or re-enter the country. In order to work, you must possess both a work permit and a Non-B visa. You normally are not asked to show a work permit when you come into the country. They just want to see the visa in your passport. This is because you can have a Non-B visa without having a work permit so one doesn't necessite the other.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Pui, that's what I've gathered from what everyone has said, I just need to get a multiple re-entry permit which should be very easy because I already have the work permit. I think I'll always show both together which should deter any questioning when re-entering Thailand.
Duncan *******
Op- you need a multiple re-entry permit. To others - I'd note that the 24 months is dated from the day of work permit application, not the day you get the work permit, at least it was in my case. Depending on your office, the processing time might be over a month give or take. Your extension of stay based on the initial 90 day Nom-Imm B (BOI) visa is then dated as the same day your work permit expires. In my case it was 22
***
months.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
And yes
@Dun***
, my work permit was dated from application, 3 days less than 24 months.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
perfect explanation mate, thank you very much.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I guess the question wasn't quite so easy to answer :) , but the upshot is that I need to go to Immigration and get a multiple re-entry permit. Thanks everyone.
Mathew *******
It not BOI. The have moved on to e-work permits now, mine is an app on my phone no more blue book
Daniel ************
@Mathew ******
and the standard wp - are 2 years now too - BOI is on digital wp yes - free of charge now
Justin *********
What is BOI ?
Amornrat **********
@Justin ********
******************************************
Justin *********
@Amornrat *********
What does that mean
Amornrat **********
Board of Investment.
Daniel ************
guess its BOI - as its 2 years - passport enough -
Nina *********
I would carry both. Under BOI, u should also be able to use the vip immigration lanes!
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nina ********
thanks, I read it a little while ago and it does not apply to me,
Nina *********
@Richard ******
boi is board of investment. If ur company is one of these means u are eligible for 15% tax rates and less visa restrictions. I would read more on the link llyod posted
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mine is non-digital I don't know what BOI is, I simply applied for 24 months and got it a few days later.
Lloyd ********
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Lloyd ********
You have to request fast track immigration
Nina *********
But isnt BOI work permit digital now?
Amornrat **********
a picture of your extension and or reentry permit would make answer more easy.
Amornrat **********
I have removed a link to a commercial owned web side know for containing many mistakes.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amaël *****
thanks mate, done. Ok, so I suppose my question is really... when I re-enter Thailand, do I need some other kind of visa?
Amaël ******
@Richard ******
this is your work permit, nothing to do with immigration. I would delete this picture ASAP to protect your personal information.
Andrew ********
When did work permits become 24 months? I have never had that option available to me before
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I applied for 24 months and was given it.
Lloyd ********
BOI
Lloyd ********
Are you on a visa or an extension of stay ?
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was here on a single entry non-B, applied for a work permit and have been granted it.
Olivier *********
24 month Work Permit, really?!
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I applied for 24 months and was given it. I don't know what BOI is.
Lloyd ********
BOI do them
Lloyd ********
You do not need your work permit to leave or enter the country
Manfred ******
You need an multiple entry stamp/visa
Robert *******
Your work permit does allow you to work inside Thailand. The Visa or Extension of Stay inside your passport does allow you to be inside Thailand. When you have to leave or report at Immigration Office depends on this Visa or Extension of Stay.
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