Non-IB · 🇧🇪 Belgian Applicants
🏭 Non-Immigrant IB (BOI-promoted investment) for Belgian Citizens
Country-specific 2025 guide — Apostille chain via FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium, embassy in Bangkok, common Belgian pitfalls handled.
Bangkok-based visa concierge · 196 countries · Open จันทร์ – ศุกร์ 9:00 – 18:00
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The Non-IB (Investment and Business) visa covers people investing in or working for a company holding a BOI promotion certificate. What distinguishes it from an ordinary Non-B is the BOI processing channel, which is faster and usually lets the visa and work permit be completed together at the one-stop service centre. The employing company must first obtain BOI position approval; the applicant then files at a Thai mission abroad, or changes visa category inside Thailand where that applies. The conditions and period granted follow the rights attached to the company's promotion certificate.
Belgian Applicant · Key Facts
- Embassy in Bangkok
- Embassy of Belgium
- Apostille member
- Yes (Hague)
- MFA authority
- FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium
- Visa-exempt to Thailand
- 30 days
- Visa-on-Arrival eligible
- No
- Stay length
- 90 วันแรก แล้วขออยู่ต่อได้ 1 ปี/ครั้งตามระยะที่ BOI รับรอง
- Gov fee
- ~USD 80
- NYC fee
- THB 15,000–45,000
- Processing
- 7–15 วันทำการ หลัง BOI อนุมัติตำแหน่ง
🇧🇪 Belgian-Specific Intelligence
Why Belgian citizens choose this visa
EU business + retirement.
Belgian #1 rejection reason
Belgian docs issued in Dutch/French/German — Thai consulates require English or Thai translation.
Hague Apostille route
Documents from Belgian apostilled/legalised via FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium (Legalisation).
Eligibility
- The employing or invested company holds a BOI promotion certificate
- BOI position approval granted for the individual applicant
- Qualifications and experience matching the approved position
- Passport validity sufficient for the requested period
- Not barred under the Immigration Act
Documents
- BOI position-approval letter
- Promotion certificate and company registration documents
- Employment contract or appointment letter stating position and salary
- Degree certificates and employment references
- Original passport and photographs in the required format
- Investment/shareholding documents (when applying as an investor)
How to apply · Non-IB · Belgian applicants
- 1The company applies to the BOI online for approval of the foreign position
- 2Once approved, the company issues the supporting document set to the applicant
- 3The applicant files for the Non-IB at a Thai mission, or changes visa category inside Thailand where applicable
- 4Enter Thailand and receive an initial 90-day permitted stay
- 5Complete the work permit and extension at the BOI one-stop service centre
- 6File 90-day reports and obtain a re-entry permit before travelling out
- 7Extend year by year in line with the BOI endorsement and the employment contract
For Belgian applicants, Step 2 (document legalisation) goes via FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium (Legalisation).
Choosing a Thai visa consultant as a foreign national
Choose a Thai visa consultant by how well they match a visa category to your actual situation and long-term plan, not by the fastest route in. Ask them to explain the conditions for maintaining status after approval, including 90-day reporting and re-entry permits, and to separate government fees from their service fee.
How to evaluate a provider
- Matches the category to your real situation — The wrong category at the start can make later extensions impossible.
- Explains status-maintenance obligations — 90-day reporting, re-entry permits and financial conditions affect every extension.
- Separates government fees from service fees — You should know which part the state collects.
- Tracks regulatory changes — Newer long-stay categories are revised periodically.
- Plans the extension from day one — Extensions depend on evidence gathered during the first period of stay.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Which visa category fits my situation and my long-term plan?
- After approval, what must I do to maintain status and qualify for an extension?
- How many working days does it actually take, counted from a complete file?
- If the receiving authority rejects or asks for changes, do you correct it, and under what terms?
- How can I track status, and who physically holds the original documents?
Your options, and who each suits
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Apply yourself | Applicants comfortable reading official notices with complete documents | You must track condition changes and reporting deadlines yourself. |
| Consultant for the first application only | New arrivals | Plan the extension path at the first application, not near expiry. |
| Ongoing annual support | Long-stay residents and families | Define whether reporting and extensions are inside the scope. |
FAQ on choosing a provider
- Which Thai visa consultant is recommended?
- Choose one that identifies the category matching your actual situation, explains the post-approval conditions such as 90-day reporting and re-entry permits, and clearly separates government fees from the service fee. Ask how the first application sets up your future extensions.
- Can I change visa category later?
- Some categories can be changed in-country, while others require a fresh application at a Thai embassy abroad. That is why the category should match your long-term plan from the first application rather than the quickest available entry.
แหล่งอ้างอิงทางการ · Authoritative Sources
- Thai e-Visa — Official Portal — ช่องทางยื่นออนไลน์ทางการเดียว
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Consular Affairs — ประเภทวีซ่าและค่าธรรมเนียม
- Immigration Bureau Thailand — การอยู่ต่อ 90 วัน และ re-entry
- Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) — สิทธิประโยชน์และหนังสือรับรองผู้ถือหุ้น/ผู้เชี่ยวชาญ
- Belgian MFA / Apostille authority — FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium (Legalisation)
Ready to apply for Non-IB as a Belgian citizen?
Free 15-min consult with our Belgian-experienced team — we coordinate apostille at FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium and full embassy chain.
Other Thai visa options for Belgian citizens
🌴
Destination Thailand Visa
DTV · 🇧🇪 Belgian
💎
Long-Term Resident Visa
LTR · 🇧🇪 Belgian
💼
Non-Immigrant B Visa + Work Permit
Non-B + WP · 🇧🇪 Belgian
🏖️
Retirement Visa (O-A / O-X)
Non-O-A / O-X · 🇧🇪 Belgian
💍
Marriage Visa (Non-O Spouse of Thai)
Non-O Marriage · 🇧🇪 Belgian
🧠
SMART Visa (T/I/E/S/O/F)
SMART · 🇧🇪 Belgian
Service Knowledge Base
Work permits, BOI/IEAT privileges, Treaty of Amity and APEC card — practical answers
First-party answers on Thai work authorisation: the standard Department of Employment route, BOI and IEAT channels for skilled experts, US company rights under the Treaty of Amity, and the APEC Business Travel Card for Thai nationals — including which supporting documents must be translated and legalised first. (19+ search topics covered)
Must authorisation be obtained before starting work?
Yes. A foreign national must hold the permit before performing work, and may only do the role, for the employer and at the locations stated in the permit. Trial periods and side assignments outside that scope are not covered. Changes of employer, position or workplace require notification or amendment through the Department of Employment.
Can dependants of a permit holder work?
Dependant status does not create work rights. A dependant who wants to work needs their own employer and their own work permit under the normal conditions. Family documents such as marriage and birth certificates usually need translation and legalisation for both immigration and labour filings.
What happens if the permit lapses while renewal is pending?
Renewal must be filed before expiry within the period set by the regulations, and the permitted-to-stay end date must be tracked alongside it because the two dates do not always coincide. A lapse can force a restart and affect immigration status. Set calendar reminders several weeks ahead and keep current employer documents ready before the deadline.
Is a work permit the same as a visa in Thailand?
No. A visa such as Non-Immigrant B is issued by a Thai embassy or consulate, extensions of stay are approved by the Immigration Bureau, while the work permit itself is issued by the Department of Employment under the Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 (2017). Holding a valid visa does not by itself authorise employment, and working before authorisation carries legal penalties, so both tracks must be planned together.
Who can obtain an APEC Business Travel Card?
The card facilitates business travel among participating APEC economies and is issued to Thai business people by the Department of Consular Affairs, subject to endorsement by the designated authorities. Pre-clearance for each economy is decided by that economy, and the card does not grant the right to work abroad.
Can dependants of a work-permit holder work?
Permission to stay as a dependant and permission to work are separate matters. Dependants admitted on the basis of the principal's status do not gain an automatic right to work; they need an employer and their own work permit application under the normal criteria. Children entering school require a separate process, including certified translations of academic records.
Why are Thai work permit applications commonly returned?
The usual reason is that the job title and duties in the application do not match the employer's supporting documents, such as the company affidavit, financial statements and employment contract. Other frequent causes are qualifications claimed without properly certified translations, and applying under a business activity that is not among the objectives registered with the Department of Business Development. Map every document to the same set of facts before filing and confirm the current requirements with the Department of Employment office responsible for the workplace.
Does Treaty of Amity status remove the work permit requirement?
No. The treaty concerns the company's right to do business, not an individual's right to work. US executives and staff still need an appropriate visa category and a work permit under the same rules as other foreign nationals.
Topics covered
เอกสารที่มักต้องแปล/รับรอง: ปริญญาบัตร/ทรานสคริปต์ · หนังสือรับรองประสบการณ์ทำงาน · ใบอนุญาตประกอบวิชาชีพ · หนังสือรับรองบริษัทต่างประเทศ · หนังสือมอบอำนาจ (Power of Attorney) · ทะเบียนสมรส/สูติบัตรของผู้ติดตาม
หน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้อง: กรมการจัดหางาน (DOE) · สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน (BOI) · การนิคมอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทย (กนอ./IEAT) · กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า (DBD) · สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง (ตม.) · กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
คำค้นหลัก: ขอใบอนุญาตทำงานคนต่างชาติ · work permit thailand requirements · BOI work permit e-Expert · one stop service center visa work permit · IEAT work permit นิคมอุตสาหกรรม · treaty of amity company registration · บัตรเอเปค APEC Business Travel Card
Official references
- สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง (Thai Immigration Bureau) — ระเบียบการต่อวีซ่า รายงานตัว 90 วัน และ re-entry permit
- Thai e-Visa Official Portal (กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ) — ช่องทางยื่นวีซ่าเข้าประเทศไทยอย่างเป็นทางการ
- กรมการจัดหางาน (Department of Employment) — ใบอนุญาตทำงาน (work permit) และ Digital Workpermit
Need your documents reviewed or your case assessed? Ask our team by phone, LINE, or email. We reply during business hours (Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat 9:00–15:00, ICT).
Service Playbook
Thai work permit — company-side and employee-side documents
Work permits are issued by the Department of Employment and are tied to the employer, position and workplace. Changing job, role or location requires a new filing.
Documents to prepare
- • Company side: current affidavit, shareholder list, financial statements, social security filings
- • Employee side: passport, the correct visa category, and the required medical certificate
- • Degrees and experience letters, legalised at source and translated for Thai use
- • Employment contract and job description
- • Workplace map and photographs where requested
- • Power of attorney for the company's filing agent
Step-by-step process
- 1. Check company and role eligibility — Registered capital, Thai-to-foreign staff ratio and reserved occupations are verified first.
- 2. Prepare foreign documents — Qualifications and experience letters must be legalised abroad and translated before filing.
- 3. File the application — Through the Department of Employment, or a dedicated channel such as the BOI One Stop Service.
- 4. Collect and comply — Work only within the stated role and location, and renew before expiry.
Pitfalls and rejection causes
- • Working outside the stated role or location breaches the permit conditions.
- • A permit belongs to the employer — it cannot follow you to a new company.
- • Visa and permit expire on different dates; track both.
- • Company documents older than the accepted window must be reissued.
Tips from our team
- • Set reminders at least 45 days before either expiry date.
- • Maintain a standing company document pack to speed up future filings.
- • BOI-promoted companies should use the dedicated channel to cut steps.
Prefer not to handle the queues yourself, or worried about a rejection? Send us photos of your documents for a free pre-check. We handle the full chain — obtaining certified copies, translation, certification and submission — and keep you updated at each step. Reach us on LINE, phone or email during business hours.
Route Comparison
Comparing Thai work permit routes
Different employer types use different channels, and each channel pairs with a different visa category.
| Route | When to use | Certifying authority | Approx. duration | Rejection risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard filing with the Department of Employment | The employer is an ordinary Thai company without BOI promotion | Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour | Variable, driven by how complete the employer's file is | Thai-to-foreign staff ratios and registered capital not meeting thresholds is the common refusal ground |
| BOI-promoted company channel | The employer holds a promotion certificate and the position is on the approved list | BOI together with the Immigration Bureau and Department of Employment | Generally faster than the standard route, still variable | A position that differs from the approved list requires an amendment first |
| Conditional or short-term work authorisation | Short assignments or job types covered by specific published rules | Department of Employment under the notification in force | Shorter than a full application | Working beyond the authorised scope is an offence even when a permit exists |
Timelines above are practical estimates from live casework and can change with each authority's policy; confirm with the receiving authority before booking travel. If you would rather not test routes by trial and error, our advisers can assess which route fits your case.
Advisory Service
We do not just process documents — we advise you through the whole case
Our team has worked on cross-border documents, certified translation and government liaison for over 15 years. Most rejections we see are not caused by missing paperwork but by choosing the wrong route on day one, so we always start with a case assessment.
Route assessment
We look at your destination, purpose and deadline, then tell you which certification route applies — and which steps you can skip.
Pre-submission review
Name spelling, consistency across documents, document age and translation format are checked before anything reaches a counter.
Timeline planning
We sequence the steps around your appointment or travel date and flag bottlenecks in advance.
Rejection recovery
We read the refusal reasons, identify the underlying cause, and plan a resubmission that answers what the authority asked for.
Rather not learn by trial and error? Send your case details and document photos for a review — reach us on LINE, phone or email during business hours.
Practical Q&A
Practical questions · Near me / DIY / Required documents
What is the route for Thai company documents used abroad?
Obtain the company affidavit, shareholder list (BorJor 5) or latest memorandum from the Department of Business Development, translate into the language the destination requires, then legalise at the Legalization Division of the Department of Consular Affairs. If the destination is not an Apostille Convention party, the destination country's embassy certifies last.
Must the company affidavit be freshly issued?
Most receiving authorities set a validity window counted from the registrar's issue date, commonly measured in months. Check the recipient's requirement before ordering copies: filing an out-of-date affidavit is a frequent rejection cause, and legalisation cannot revive an expired document.
How is a corporate power of attorney certified?
An authorised director signs before a Notarial Services Attorney, attaching a current company affidavit that evidences signing authority. The signed POA then goes to the Department of Consular Affairs and, where required, the destination embassy. Ask our team by phone, LINE or email for the order that applies to your country.
Practical advice & cautions
Business licensing and BOI: advice and cautions
Before you start
Treat product and premises permits as separate from the business licence
Company registration does not authorise sales. Food, cosmetics and medical devices require FDA Thailand registration, and production or storage premises are inspected separately.
Draft company objectives to cover, but not exceed, what you need
Objectives registered with the Department of Business Development must cover the licensed activity. A mismatch forces an amendment of the affidavit first, typically costing weeks.
Check whether your activity sits on a restricted list
The Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 groups activities into Lists 1–3 with different conditions. Define the real activity first, then pick the route: licence, certificate, treaty right, or a BOI promotion certificate.
Plan licences together with work permits for foreign executives
Thai-to-foreign staff ratios and registered capital determine how many work permits you can obtain. Design the staffing structure early to avoid emergency capital increases.
Common reasons documents get rejected
Signatory names not matching the latest affidavit
If directors change mid-process, the affidavit and power of attorney must be updated to match, otherwise the application is rejected at intake.
Foreign documents older than the accepted validity window
Parent-company affidavits and powers of attorney often have a validity period from issue. A slow legalisation chain can expire them before filing, forcing a fresh set.
Filing before the premises can pass inspection
Many licences involve a site visit. Filing without signage, floor plans or required sanitation results in a correction order and a new inspection date.
Using nominee Thai shareholders
Holding shares on behalf of a foreigner without genuine investment breaches the Foreign Business Act, and the source of Thai shareholders' funds can be examined. We do not assist with such structures.
Requirements differ by authority and destination country and can change. Confirm current conditions with the receiving authority, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.
What people search for
Frequently searched topics about BOI and business licensing
- Registered capital and Thai staff ratios
- Requirements tied to employing foreigners follow the rules in force with the supervising agency at filing time.
- BOI promotion privileges
- Scope and conditions follow the Board of Investment's announcements for each promoted activity.
- Foreign Business Licence
- Activities in the schedules to the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 require a licence before operating.
- Company registration with DBD
- Name reservation, memorandum filing and incorporation follow the Department of Business Development's procedure.
These topics reflect the rules and practice of the relevant authorities and can change. Confirm with the receiving authority, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.
Related services
What clients usually handle next
One document set often moves through several stages — translation, notarial certification, legalization and finally a visa filing. The links below follow that real sequence.
- Thailand visas for foreign nationalsNew applications, extensions, status changes and 90-day reporting
- Thai work permitsNew applications, renewals and amendments under Department of Employment rules
- BOI, LTR and SMART VisaInvestment promotion privileges and long-term visas for specialists
- Thai–foreign marriage registrationAffirmation of freedom to marry, embassy certification and district office registration
- Thai citizenship & permanent residenceEligibility tracks, supporting documents and interview preparation
- MFA legalization at the Department of Consular AffairsThe step after translation for documents used abroad or filed with an embassy
External authority references
- Thai e-Visa Official Portal (กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ) — ช่องทางยื่นวีซ่าเข้าประเทศไทยอย่างเป็นทางการ
- สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง (Thai Immigration Bureau) — ระเบียบการต่อวีซ่า รายงานตัว 90 วัน และ re-entry permit
- สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน (BOI) — LTR Visa และ SMART Visa
- LTR Visa – Thailand Board of Investment
Authority requirements change. Verify with the receiving authority before filing, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.