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What is the process to obtain a work permit or work visa to start a business in Thailand?

Dec 8, 2025
2 days ago
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
How do you get a work permit or work visa to start a business?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To obtain a work permit in Thailand, you first need to establish a company, either by opening your own business or being employed by a local company. The process typically involves applying for a 3-month Non-B visa based on your company's registration and then applying for a work permit. It's crucial to have a Thai partner if you're not an American passport holder. For further assistance, consulting with a lawyer specialized in business immigration can be beneficial, although the process can be costly.
Alix *********
This page has turned Into Google for Thailand 🤣🤣🤣🤣
IVE ******************
Google
Dany ********
it starts with not having a DTV
I **************************
Nothing to do with DTV
Anonymous ******************
Marry a local otherwise dont do it, the system is built to fail you unless you got a local spouse
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 433 I see some folks thriving tho
Anonymous ******************
@Lanita *******
if you're loaded with cash then yes but if you start small with limited funds you'll have it much harder without your thai wife
Brian *********
You get an employer to sponsor you when you are out of the country. Nothing to do with DTV.
Sefton ********
You need an employer..

Either a local company employs you, to do a task they want.. Or you must open your own company, with all that means (offices, staff, corp tax, sales tax, etc) and employ yourself.

Or you can look at umbrella payrolls like sponsoredworkpermit.com or talk to lawyers who often can matchmake between a Thai corp that has the ability to put you on the payroll and a farang who wants a work permit but this is getting into the shady side.
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sefton *******
thank you
Robert *******
I did it my way, without nicknames or anonymous.

Unless you are an American Passport holder, you find Thai citizens as partners.

Together (American passport holders go alone) you visit a lawyer to open a compnay.

Once the company is fully registered, one of the Thai partners visit the Ministry of Labor to apply for the Work Permit. When application is done, YOU use the receipt to apply while being outside Thailand for the Non Immigrant B visa.

On return with the visa, you visit the Ministry Of Labor to pick up your work permit and you can start to work.
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
I don’t know what you mean by the nanny part. I asked how do you find a Thai partner . If you don’t know you can just say you don’t know. I’m not sure if you’re confused by my question or what.
Robert *******
@Lanita *******
Yes, Im confused. You are are working in Thailand, organizing events and ask a stranger to find for you business partners.

I will not help you to find a partner
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
I do entertainment and events. It’s not. I’ll look into a lawyer I’m just trying to see how do I get connected
Robert *******
@Lanita *******
Sorry, but if you really doing all kind of these things, you do not need a nanny to help you to find a partner.

You can not organize events without the help of Thai people
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
how do I find a Thai partner
Robert *******
@Lanita *******
The same way as you find clients
Lanita ********
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@Robert ******
I do Facebook ads… I have a unique business in that I do entertainment… my audience finds me
Jason **********
@Lanita *******
depending on what your business is it might be protected for thai people only. You should consult a lawyer, you'll also need a minimum amount of money invested to establish a foreign owned business 2-3million baht depending on catagory and thai employees if you want a work permit from your own company.
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
I’m American
Robert *******
Than visit a lawyer, open an company based on the treaty between America and Thailand, the lawyer will help with application of work permit
MORE ******
To do business, you must first open a company, then apply for a 3-month Non-B visa based on the company's foundation, then obtain a work permit and a 12-month extension of the Non-B visa. This is the procedure. The company where I work is involved in this type of activity. A lawyer can tell you more about this. I'll tell you right away that opening a company and obtaining a business visa is expensive.
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@MORE *****
that’s not true I saw some people with work visas on TikTok . You don’t have to own a business to get a work permit but I think someone has to sponsor you or something
Anonymous ******************
@Lanita *******
You can obtain a work permit when working for any Thai company whether it belongs to you or not. You can't get a work permit without a registered job in Thailand and the proper visa (Non-B or marriage). This has nothing to do with DTV and you can't hold two visas at the same time.
Wojtek *******
No. You need long term visa (at least 1 year) to be able to apply for work permit ! Business, Marriage, Work visa. On Tik tok lol why dont you call someone ? Like siam-legal.com :) you can ask them for free :)
MORE ******
Without a business visa, no one will issue you a work permit.
Robert *******
@MORE *****
Without application for the Work Permit no one will issue you a visa.

Sorry, but the rules are easy if you not try to bend them
MORE ******
Robert Lagas That's right, first you'll have a Non-B visa for 3 months, then you'll get a work permit, and then you'll extend the Non-B visa for 12 months.
MORE ******
You receive a work permit when you have a Non-B Visa if you open your own company and plan to work for it. If an employer company hires you, they must first obtain a visa for you and then obtain a work permit.
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@MORE *****
and how much I’m hearing different things
Lanita ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@MORE *****
ok what about work permit