What do I need to work legally in Thailand?

Two things that go together: the Non-Immigrant B visa, applied for with a job offer from a Thai company, and the work permit that authorizes that specific job. Without a company sponsoring you, this route can't be arranged from outside — that's the key difference with visas like the DTV or the Non-O.

How much does the Non-B visa cost and how long does it last?

The official Non-B fee runs around €120. It's granted initially for 90 days, then extends to a renewable one year, as long as you keep the job and the work permit. The cost of the work permit and most of the paperwork are handled by the company that hires you.

Can I work remotely on the Non-B?

The Non-B is for working for an employer in Thailand, not for remote work for clients abroad. If your case is remote work for foreign companies or clients, your route is the DTV, not the Non-B. Choosing wrong here delays the whole move, because they're different processes.

Working in Thailand: the Non-B Visa and Work Permit

Two pieces that go together

Working legally as an employee in Thailand requires an inseparable pair:

The two pieces needed to work in Thailand
Piece	What it is	Who handles it
Non-B visa	The visa that lets you enter and reside to work	You apply for it with the company's job offer
Work permit	The authorization to do that specific job	Handled by the company that hires you

The visa without the permit doesn't let you work, and the permit without the visa doesn't exist. So the real requirement isn't a piece of paper — it's a Thai company that wants you and meets the conditions to sponsor you.

Numbers and timelines

Official Non-B fee: around €120.
Duration: 90 days initially, extendable to a renewable one year while you keep the job and the permit.
The work permit and most of the paperwork are the company's responsibility and cost.
Teachers have their own variant of the Non-B, with the school or academy as sponsor.

What it does NOT cover

Here's the most expensive mistake, and it's a matter of direction:

Bexpat tip: if you work remotely for clients or companies OUTSIDE Thailand, the Non-B is not your visa — it's the DTV. The Non-B is for being employed by a Thai company. Plenty of people spend weeks chasing a Non-B when their case was a textbook DTV — or the other way around. Clearing this up on the first call saves the biggest possible delay to a move.

What if you want to start your own company

There's an interesting variant: if you set up a Thai company, that company can sponsor your Non-B and your work permit as owner-employee. It has serious requirements (capital, local staff, compliance), and we cover them in the starting a company in Thailand guide. It's not a shortcut, but it's a real route for anyone who's actually going to operate a business there.

Where Bexpat fits in

We don't get you the job or replace the company's HR department: we handle the move itself — flight, arrival, apartment — and guide you on which visa fits, coordinating with whoever processes your Non-B. If you still don't know whether your case is Non-B, DTV or something else, the visa test clears it up in a minute.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to work there?

The Non-B visa (with a job offer from a Thai company) and the work permit, which go together. Without a company to sponsor you, this can't be arranged from outside.

How much does it cost and how long does it last?

The Non-B fee runs around €120; 90 days initially, extendable to a renewable one year while the job and permit stay valid. The company handles the work permit.

Does it work for remote work?

No: the Non-B is for working for an employer in Thailand. If you work remotely for clients abroad, your route is the DTV. Choosing wrong here delays the move.

Working in Thailand: the Non-B visa