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Answered3 months ago

What visa options are available for training and fighting in Thailand as a sponsored Muay Thai fighter?

FriendlyJ*********
asked Aug 9, 2026
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Going to Thailand next month for 5 months to train and fight at a Muay Thai gym who has sponsored me. I posted on this group a couple months ago and people just told me to apply for the METV visa and not mention any fighting but I’m worried I’ll get in trouble. So I’m now looking at the non immigrant work permit visa but I have to apply for a re entry permit as I’m going to Vietnam for a couple days in between my stay😩anyone any advice on what to do?
Answer summary
The user is planning to travel to Thailand for five months to train and fight at a Muay Thai gym that has sponsored them. They express concern about applying for the METV visa, as they have been advised not to mention the fighting aspect. The user is considering the Non-Immigrant B Visa or a work permit but is confused about the requirements and steps, especially since they will be traveling to Vietnam in between their stay.
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Craig ************
Craig ************
Look into the education visa. Muay Thai counts for the education visa.
Felipe **********
Felipe **********
You can't just get a work permit like that, they are super expensive, it will cost you over a thousand dollars a year easily. You think it's just that ways to get hired in Thailand as a foreigner?
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
Felipe Warrener lol no that’s just what I read online hence why I am asking for advice on a Facebook group
Felipe **********
Felipe **********
FriendlyJaguar6385alright well I'm more informed on this than most and just letting you know: DTV, tourist visas etc are your only option here to be realistic. A multiple entry tourist visa probably best given you've got that trip to Vietnam
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
Felipe Warrener thank you
Seth ********
Seth ********
friendly jag !!! so cute
Daryl *****
Daryl *****
Apply for the DTV
Jonathan **********
Jonathan **********
There is no non immigrant work permit visa. There is a Non-Immigrant B Visa, and there is a Work Permit, which an employer has to sponsor for you. They are not one and the same, not even remotely in the same part of the city. Good luck.
Danica ******
Danica ******
Talk to
@Derry ********
at
@Muay ************
👍🏻. He knows all about this stuff .
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
Danica Lumi thank you!
Dean **********
Dean **********
There is no work permit visa. There is also no single or multiple entry visa . Only single or multiple entry PERMITS, applied to whatever visa you obtain. You decide whether you want a single or multiple entry permit when you obtain your visa.

As far as work permits are concerned, there are different visas that require and qualify for work permits. These include Non-immigrant B (business or employment), Non-immigrant M (media work), volunteer visa (Non-immigrant O). The organization with which you are seeking the visa facilitates obtaining your work permit. So you start with getting things lined up with the entity for which you will need the work permit
Jukka ***********
Jukka ***********
Please google the regulations regarding work permit in Thailand and contact the Thai Embassy in your country. Working without proper documents is illegal.
Heiko *********
Heiko *********
Dude… nobody is going to care if you are sponsored. Phuket is full of people like you and none of them have a work permit.

You cannot apply for this by yourself. Your employer would have to do it and I am pretty sure that neither them nor you fulfill the necessary requirements.
Phil ********
Phil ********
@Heiko ********
Yes, and lots of them have been arrested recently.
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
@Heiko ********
so what are you suggesting I do
David *******
David *******
FriendlyJaguar6385 wait until you are 20 and apply for DTV
Ronnie ********
Ronnie ********
FriendlyJaguar6385 mate it will be simple enough if you talk to the right ppl whole out there .join a gym and some will help you with all you need .but check and double check before pay anything. Plenty of visa agents that can help but some that will scam you.19 you will learn good luck mate you wont ever look back
Maria *************
Maria *************
There is nothing called the NON-immigrant work permit visa so what visa are you applying for and what does the muay thai school/gym sponsor??
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
Maria Fredriksson sorry I mean non immigrant visa + a work permit
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
FriendlyJaguar6385 There are two relevant type Non-Imm-B Visa you can apply for using documentation from the Muay Thai Organizers. That's B1 and prominently B6 for sport activities like prize-fighting MuayThai. You still need to apply for the work permit after having entered Thailand on this visa.
Felipe **********
Felipe **********
FriendlyJaguar6385how is your employer going to foot the national insurance, taxes, and the 50K minimum foreigner salary they need to pay you? Has the been agreed upon beforehand? These are the minimum cost of hiring a foreigner
John **********
John **********
FriendlyJaguar6385 you can't, your employer does that
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
Nongnuch Kamdee super helpful thank you. How can I apply for the work permit? Is it straight forward? And what documents would I have to provide?
John **********
John **********
If your prize fighting you need an appropriate visa, not sure you can get one at your age
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
@John *********
unless I can apply for a work permit with documents from the gym I’m going to be staying at?
Felipe **********
Felipe **********
FriendlyJaguar6385your gym.cannot afford to hire you under a work permit... Work permits are expensive for hiring foreigners. You are underestimating how easy visas are in Thailand, work permits don't get sorted by that willy nilly, the gym would charge 1000+ USD easily a year for the work permit
Kool *******
Kool *******
FriendlyJaguar6385 you are not working. You are only training so don't need, and can not get a type B visa, or a work permit. You can train on any visa, so just get the multi entry tourist visa, the METV. You are seriously overthinking this.
Felipe **********
Felipe **********
The re-entry permit is easy you can just take the letter to the airport... And have it signed off by them there. Don't forget though otherwise you're screwed.
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
Felipe Warrener take what letter? And take it on departure to Vietnam? Or on arrival back into Bangkok
Adventuro**********
Adventuro**********
Why not apply for a DTV?
FriendlyJ*********
FriendlyJ*********
OP
AdventurousTiger697 I’m 19. Need to be 20 to apply. Thought I added that sorry

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