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What visa should I get to work in Thailand if I have a degree and plan to search for a job?
Thai Visa RulesVisa Options for ExpatsWorking in ThailandNON-O VisaNON-B VisaThailand Tourist VisaEmployment in ThailandVisa Extension in Thailand
Jan 6, 2018
8 years ago
Julian *************
ORIGINAL POSTERHello. I am planning to go to Thailand February 1st and would like to try and work over there . I don't have any jobs lined up yet but I was wondering which visa do you think would be the best for me to get ? I have a degree in business administration. Thank you !
TLDR : Answer Summary
If you are planning to move to Thailand and search for work, the best visa options to consider are a 6-month Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) or a single-entry tourist visa. The METV allows for multiple entries and can give you a longer stay to find employment, while a single-entry tourist visa provides an initial 60 days that can be extended for an additional 30 days. Once you find a job, you will need to apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit, usually with the assistance of your employer. It's advisable to arrive in Thailand on a tourist visa to explore job opportunities legally, but transitioning to a work visa is essential for legal employment.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
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- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Tod *********
@Danny *****
, to get the most out of that visa youget it as close to when you're coming here as you can (so you don't burn the validity down on the visa while you're not here)
-come in get 60 days
-border bounce, get 60 more days
-border bounce get 60 more days
-just prior to the enter before date on the visa itself border bounce and -get a final 60 days (taking you to 8 months)
-get a 30 day extension which takes you to 9 months
Tod *********
Okay to maximize the time
That visa (if used correctly) can give almost 9 months in country and that's certainly long enough to find gainful employment.
If they don't want to do that I'd say their next best option would be a single entry tourist visa (which would give them 60 days and could be extended by another 30 at the immigration office).
@Julian ************
, has here to find a job, I'd suggest they get a 6 month METV from a thai consulate in the US before they wash up here. That visa (if used correctly) can give almost 9 months in country and that's certainly long enough to find gainful employment.
If they don't want to do that I'd say their next best option would be a single entry tourist visa (which would give them 60 days and could be extended by another 30 at the immigration office).
Danny ******
Hey
@Tod ********
how can you get almost 9 months in country with the METV?Reply to
Danny ******
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Julian *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI have a BSBA from UNLV and over 3 years of experience selling Real Estate in Las Vegas, plus I've probably read more business books than most CEO's haha :]
@Darren *******
Ivan ************
Bear in mind that the pay in Thailand is peanuts compared with the US. $1,000 a month would be typical for a farang English teacher and that would be a good middle class salary for a Thai, the average salary here is $400 a month. Just to be aware as many don't seem to be before they come.
Darren ********
I hope you will have success
Real estate in other countries is different
I am sure you know.
If you go to Thailand for business study the laws there.
Study everything before you pay anything.
What we learn is mostly insignificant in other countries.
Wish you luck
Real estate in other countries is different
I am sure you know.
If you go to Thailand for business study the laws there.
Study everything before you pay anything.
What we learn is mostly insignificant in other countries.
Wish you luck
Reply to
Darren ********
Reply
Darren ********
What are your qualifications?
And experience ?
And experience ?
Emily ********
This is what I'm doing too, going to thailand in Feb with a tourist visa once I'm there I wil find a job (there are very little jobs for foreigners other than teaching but some other businesses are allowed to employ foreigners if they have the license) once you've found a job you should change into a non immigrant b visa and get a work permit but your employer should help you with that and all the paperwork... it's not easy but it is possible! :)
Michael ******
I'm not quite sure about "very little jobs for foreigners other than teaching". I've been working here for 4 years now, which is not terribly long but also not super short. Of all the foreigners I made friends with during this time only 2 or so were teachers.
IT seems to be the biggest sector employing foreigners after teaching, but I also met plenty of people working in HR/recruiting, business development, marketing, hospitality, commerce and international trade and quite a few other areas.
In short: if you had a marketable skill back home it's quite possible to find work in Thailand. A lot of the negativity seems to come from people who expect to just wash up here and somehow find employment, despite no obvious qualifications or work experience.
IT seems to be the biggest sector employing foreigners after teaching, but I also met plenty of people working in HR/recruiting, business development, marketing, hospitality, commerce and international trade and quite a few other areas.
In short: if you had a marketable skill back home it's quite possible to find work in Thailand. A lot of the negativity seems to come from people who expect to just wash up here and somehow find employment, despite no obvious qualifications or work experience.
Emily ********
Yeah also true, I've been saving up for nearly year and luckily have a few connections where I'm going which helps me out a bit
David ****************
Emily. Sometimes it’s nothing to do with luck or hard work. It’s to do with money or who you know. It’s a very corrupt society
Emily ********
Yeah exactly I have been told so many times its impossible but you're right with luck and hard work it is! The pay is never great though
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Emily ********
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Ben **********
English teacher, you don't even have to be a native these days, seems like anyone can have a go at it! Madness.
David ****************
@B**
. Fair comment but maybe it’s not when they are ‘ on the clock’ or some may be non native speakers.HNY!
Ben **********
@David ***************
not my field to be honest. I just notice people on these forums that can’t seem to construct perfect sentences in English talking about teaching it. 😃David ****************
@B**
. It’s getting harder. Immigration do spot checks in schools/Uni’s and send people packing, if there are no WP’s in existence. It’s usually agency staff that get caught because of bad-practices.Ben **********
@David ***************
I can't hear voices/accents on Facebook; but I can see poor grammar. Baffles me, really does. It seems anyone can "have a go" here. That was my only point.David ****************
Some non-native speakers have a clearer accent than some native speakers.
Some have degrees/masters and have no idea how to teach/ motivate too.
Some have degrees/masters and have no idea how to teach/ motivate too.
Reply to
David ****************
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Julian *************
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you !
Julian *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI don't have thai citizenship only USA
Ivan ************
If you have one Thai parent but only a US passport there are other visa options available to you that are not available to regular US citizens without any Thai connection. You can get a year extension in your US passport I believe in that scenario as a Thai national and renew it indefinitely as long as you like. If you have zero connection to Thailand disregard, just as you have that you are from Thailand on your FB.
Reply to
Ivan ************
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Archie *******
Are you not Thai? Your bio says you are from Thailand?
Robert *******
The only office that can help and Extend your stay in Thailand is:
***********************************
Julian *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI was planning to get non-immigrant visa first in order to stay in thailand longer than normal tourist. I would like to eventually work in Thailand and do it the right way but wasn't sure if I'd be able to do that in Thailand. Also do you know the name and address of the location I can get help/extend visas in Bangkok?
@Mark ******
Mark *******
Julian K. Glasser Don't worry about visa agents now. This group can give you all the advice you need. You can stay for almost a year without any help from agents and that should give you enough time to find an employer who will take care of your visa and work permit.
Mark *******
Julian K. Glasser You can only get a Non-O or Non-B visa if you have a Thai spouse or sponsoring employer. When I first came to Thailand, I signed up for a TEFL course that sponsored my 1 year multi-entry Non-B visa. That isn't an available route anymore. Best to just arrive on a visa exempt entry and sort things out as your options develop.
Reply to
Mark *******
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Mark *******
@Medium *******
That's not good advice. First, agencies are mostly scams. You don't need an agency to get a teaching job. Second, they don't prosecute foreigners who are looking for work, or their employers are dealing with the work permit application process. Any employer worth working for can navigate the process. I've been hiring employees for 10 years in Thailand and never had an issue that couldn't be solved. I've gone through this process with hundreds of foreigners.Robert ********
+ 1 for what Mark said, do NOT use an agent looking for employment in Thailand, it is not necessary.
Reply to
Robert ********
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Michael *******
I think you have the process backwards. Get a job through an agency first, they will help you get a Non-Immigrant B which is good for 90 days, your employer should help you get a work permit before the 90 days is over. Coming here on a Tourist visa then trying to convert is filled with hassles and can put in you in an illegal situation. You cannot work (legally) on Tourist visa.
Rocky ***************
I went in on a volunteer Visa/ 90 Non Immigrant O. They are able to change them to work Visa. The consulate told me what to do.
Mark *******
You can enter on a visa exemption. That will give you 30 days and can be extended 30 days. You can get 2 visa exempt entries in a year. After that, you would need to get a tourist visa in a neighboring country. Your future employer should be able to convert your visa at Chaeng Wattana, but you may need to go to a neighboring country to get a Non-B visa so you can get a work permit. For jobs, teaching is easiest, but you might at some point be able to find a low level job in marketing or office admin to avoid the teaching route.
Tod *********
@Ma**
, do not confuse the TWO 30 day visa exempt entries by land borders in a calendar year with entering visa exempt by air. There is NO official rule about how many you can get.Michael ********
That is incorrect information Mark.
Steven ***********
Why can he only get two visa exempt entries?
Or are you confused with only two entries by land in one calendar year?
Or are you confused with only two entries by land in one calendar year?
Reply to
Steven ***********
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David ****************
The easiest job to get(& nearly the only) is English Teaching. Many jobs are restricted for Thai’s only. Get a tourist visa from your own country. Find a job, then you will have to leave Thailand to get a ‘B’ visa, then a Thai work permit. Your school/Uni should guide you with this process. It might be also worth you doing a TEFL course.
Reply to
David ****************
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