Thailand Business Visa (Non-B) and Work Permit in 2026: Documents, Steps and Common Mistakes

A Non-B visa and a work permit are what let a foreigner live and earn money in Thailand legally. Without them, even honest income can lead to questions from the bank, a frozen account or problems at immigration.

Below: what each permission does, what the company needs, the documents you usually prepare, the steps in the right order and the mistakes we see most often.

In short

• A Non-B visa and a work permit are two separate permissions. Having one does not give you the other.
• Both are tied to a Thai company that employs you, so its capital, Thai staff and filings are checked too.
• Banks check that your visa matches your income. Working on a tourist visa is a common reason for account reviews.
• The order matters: company, documents, Non-B visa, work permit, then yearly extensions.

Why your visa must match what you do

Immigration, banks and the Department of Employment look at the same question from different sides: what you actually do in Thailand and whether your status allows it. If you live here on a tourist, DTV or education visa and receive regular income, the bank sees money that your visa does not explain.

That is why many frozen-account cases start with a visa problem, not a crime. The income is legal, but the structure behind it is missing. Which visas work for a Thai bank account

Non-B visa and work permit: what each one does

• Non-B visa. Permission to stay in Thailand for business or employment. It is usually issued for 90 days first and then extended for a year at a time through the company.
• Work permit. Permission to work. It is tied to a specific employer, position and salary, and you need it before you start working, even in your own company.
• The company. Your employer and sponsor. If it does not meet the requirements, neither the visa nor the work permit will be approved.

What the company usually needs

Requirements depend on the company type and the case. For an ordinary Thai limited company, the usual rules are:

• Registered capital: usually 2 million THB of paid-up capital for each foreign employee, with some exceptions.
• Thai staff: usually four Thai employees registered with social security for each foreign work permit holder.
• Active filings: tax and VAT returns on time and a real business address.
• A real position and salary that meet the minimum levels used for work permits and visa extensions.

BOI-promoted companies and some other categories follow different rules. Work permit requirements in detail

Documents you usually need

Personal documents

• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Application form and recent photos
• Your current visa or entry stamp
• CV and education certificates, for some positions

Company documents

• Company certificate and affidavit from the DBD
• Shareholder list (Bor.Or.Jor.5)
• VAT registration and recent tax filings
• Financial statements
• Social security records of the Thai staff
• Office lease, map and photos of the office

Employment documents

• Employment contract or director appointment
• Job description and salary
• WP3 pre-approval letter, if you apply for the visa outside Thailand

Lists change, and each office can ask for more. We check your set before you submit, so you do not have to come back with missing papers.

Step by step

1. Check your situation. What you do, who pays you, and which route fits: employee, company owner or BOI.
2. Set up or fix the company. Capital, Thai staff, address and filings must be in order before you apply. Documents to open a Thai company
3. Prepare the documents in Thai and English, with the same names, dates and figures everywhere.
4. Get the Non-B visa at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad, or by changing your visa inside Thailand where that is possible.
5. Apply for the work permit and start working only after it is issued.
6. Extend and keep it in order. Yearly visa extension, salary paid into your Thai account, taxes and company filings on time.

Common mistakes

• Working online on a tourist, DTV or education visa while receiving regular income in Thailand
• Receiving business income into a personal account without contracts or invoices
• A company that exists only on paper, with no real activity, staff or address
• Starting work before the work permit is issued
• Different names, positions or salaries in different documents
• Treating the visa as a one-time formality and forgetting extensions and filings

A typical situation

Someone works online from Thailand on tourist visas. While the amounts are small, nothing happens. As the income grows, the bank starts asking where the money comes from, and the visa does not explain it. The account is put under review or restricted.

The fix is not a new bank account but the right structure: a company, a Non-B visa, a work permit and income that matches them. If your account is already frozen, start there first. What to do in the first 24 hours

How we can help

We check your situation and the company, prepare the documents in Thai and English, coordinate the Non-B visa and the work permit with our licensed partners and go with you to immigration. We are not a law firm: licensed Thai lawyers and accountants handle the parts that require them. We cannot promise the decision, but we tell you honestly what is realistic before you pay.

Non-B visa from 37,900 THB, work permit from 26,900 THB, company setup from 31,900 THB, all including 7% VAT. Government fees are separate. Visa help and prices

Questions we often hear

Can I work on a Non-B visa without a work permit?

No. The Non-B visa lets you stay for business. The work permit is what allows you to work, so you need both.

Can I get a work permit through my own company?

Yes, if the company meets the requirements for capital, Thai staff and filings. Owners and directors who work in the company need a work permit too.

Can I apply for a Non-B visa while I am in Thailand?

Sometimes, depending on your current visa and your case. Often it is simpler to apply at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad. We check which route fits you before you start.

Will a Non-B visa help with my Thai bank account?

Usually yes. A Non-B visa with a work permit is one of the strongest profiles for opening and keeping a Thai bank account, because it explains your income.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, and each office can apply them differently.