Business visa and work permit
The one you need to work or run a business here.
By Shane RuddleRules as of October 2026- How long
- 1 year at a time, while you have the job
- Money to show
- The company has to qualify, not you
- Cost
- Varies. Most people pay an agent
- Can you work?
- Yes, with the work permit
The Non-Immigrant B is the business visa, and it's what you need to work in Thailand. It runs alongside your work permit, and both are tied to the company you work for.
If you start your own business here, your company employs you and gets your work permit. The company usually needs ฿2 million in registered capital and four Thai employees for each foreign worker (check before applying).
"I'm on a Non-Immigrant B visa. It's always been easy for me, because I've used the same agent for the last 20 years. She's still in business, I pay her, and she does it for me."
Who it suits
- Anyone with a job offer from a Thai company
- People starting or buying a business in Pattaya
- Anyone who thinks they might want to work here in a few years
Watch out for
- The visa ends if the job ends, so changing employer means new paperwork
- Don't work on any other visa, including the DTV and Thailand Privilege
- A good agent saves a lot of time. I've used the same one for 20 years
What you'll need
- A Thai employer, or your own Thai company, that will employ you
- Usually ฿2 million registered capital and 4 Thai staff per foreign employee (check before applying)
- Company documents, your contract, qualifications and a medical certificate
- A work permit from the Department of Employment
How it works from Pattaya
- 1Get the job offer, or set up your company first
- 2Apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa at a Thai embassy (or change your visa here through an agent)
- 3Apply for the work permit once you're in Thailand
- 4Extend for a year at a time at the immigration office in Jomtien
- 5Report your address every 90 days
Visa rules in Thailand change often, so treat this as a guide, not a rulebook, and check the current requirements before you apply.
Short answers
Which visa do I need to work in Thailand?
A Non-Immigrant B (business) visa, which runs alongside a work permit.
Can I run my own business in Pattaya on a business visa?
Yes. Your Thai company employs you and applies for your work permit. Read my guide to starting or buying a business in Pattaya first.
Can I switch from Thailand Privilege to a business visa?
No. There's no way to convert it, so if you might want to work, don't start on Thailand Privilege.
Read more
Visas in Pattaya: What 20 Years Here Has Taught Me
A Pattaya business owner's experience of Thai visas: the business visa, retirement visas, the DTV for remote workers, and the costly mistake of choosing the wrong one.
Starting or Buying a Business in Pattaya: You'd Better Be Serious
Thinking of starting or buying a business in Pattaya? What I've learned running seven: start vs buy, due diligence, Thai partners, work permits, and which businesses work.
Finding Good Foreign Staff in Pattaya Is Easy. Keeping Them Isn't.
After 20+ years running businesses in Pattaya, here's what I look for in foreign staff, why people leave, and how I keep the good ones for years.
Ask Shane