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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)

Can I keep my work permit after changing employer?

A work permit is tied to the employer and the described work. Changing employer or the nature of the work requires notification or a fresh authorisation within the timeframe set by the Department of Employment's rules. Working for a new employer before that is completed falls outside the scope of the permission and exposes both employee and employer to penalties.

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.

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.

What happens to the permit if I change employer or job title?

Authorisation is granted by reference to the employer, workplace and described duties, so a change in any of them normally requires a filing rather than a private arrangement. Continuing to work under the old permit after the change is treated as unauthorised work. Plan the change with the new employer before resigning, because the gap between employments also affects the underlying permission to stay.

What must an employer prepare for a first foreign hire?

Typically current company records — registration certificate, shareholder list, financial statements and tax filings — together with social security registration for employees and an employment contract whose job title and scope match the permit sought. Ratio requirements for Thai employees or minimum registered capital may apply under the rules in force, so the corporate structure should be reviewed before filing begins.

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 does the BOI channel change?

Promoted companies can request approved skilled or expert positions through the BOI e-Expert system and complete visa and work permit formalities at the One Stop Service Center. Conditions and validity depend on the promotion certificate and the approved position, so a company should confirm its certificate conditions before planning foreign headcount.

What must be done when changing employer or job title?

A work permit is tied to the conditions recorded in it, including employer, position and place of work, so material changes must be notified or amended under the applicable law before working under the new conditions. Changing employer also usually affects employment-based permission to stay, so the two processes should be planned together. Typical documents are a letter from the new employer, corporate registration papers and the new employment contract; verify the current procedure with the Department of Employment.
Topics covered
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
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
Official references

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).

083-249-4999LINE @NYCVcontact@nycvisa.org
Submitting work permit paperwork at a government office
Submitting work permit paperwork at a government office — From actual casework by the NYC Visa & Translation team
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. 1. Check company and role eligibility — Registered capital, Thai-to-foreign staff ratio and reserved occupations are verified first.
  2. 2. Prepare foreign documents — Qualifications and experience letters must be legalised abroad and translated before filing.
  3. 3. File the application — Through the Department of Employment, or a dedicated channel such as the BOI One Stop Service.
  4. 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.

RouteWhen to useCertifying authorityApprox. durationRejection risk
Standard filing with the Department of EmploymentThe employer is an ordinary Thai company without BOI promotionDepartment of Employment, Ministry of LabourVariable, driven by how complete the employer's file isThai-to-foreign staff ratios and registered capital not meeting thresholds is the common refusal ground
BOI-promoted company channelThe employer holds a promotion certificate and the position is on the approved listBOI together with the Immigration Bureau and Department of EmploymentGenerally faster than the standard route, still variableA position that differs from the approved list requires an amendment first
Conditional or short-term work authorisationShort assignments or job types covered by specific published rulesDepartment of Employment under the notification in forceShorter than a full applicationWorking 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

Where is a Thai work permit filed, and must the employee attend?

Applications are filed with the Bangkok area employment office or the provincial employment office covering the workplace, under the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour. Some categories can be filed through the e-Workpermit system. An employer or authorised representative may file, but the employee may still be asked to appear. We can assemble and pre-check the document set; contact our team by phone, LINE or email.

How must foreign supporting documents be translated and certified?

Foreign degrees or experience letters are first certified in the issuing country and by the relevant embassy, then translated into Thai or English as required by the receiving office, and finally legalised by the Legalization Division of the Department of Consular Affairs. Doing these steps out of order is the most common cause of rejection.

Can I handle the application myself?

Yes, the Department of Employment procedure is open to applicants and employers. Delays usually come from outdated forms, company documents older than the office accepts, and translations that do not match the required format. Check the current checklist of the office you will file with before you start.
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.

  • 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.

  • Assuming a BOI certificate covers every activity

    Incentives attach only to the promoted activity and its stated conditions. Revenue from non-promoted activities must be accounted for separately and taxed normally.

  • Ignoring post-approval reporting duties

    Most licences require periodic reporting, renewal or notification of changes. Missing these can lead to revocation even when the business operates normally.

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

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.
Work permits under BOI (e-Expert)
Position approval and permits via the BOI system differ procedurally from the standard Department of Employment route.

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.

External authority references

Authority requirements change. Verify with the receiving authority before filing, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.