Information and Resources on Work Permits and Visas in Thailand
In today's world of online airfare deals, buying a plane ticket is easy. But, with each country having different visa and work permit requirements, obtaining a visa to work abroad can be a little trickier.
Fortunately, when it comes to Thailand, a popular destination for foreigners, there are many Web resources to help you go about this task. The website BusinessinAsia.com has a useful walk-through. According to this site, before attempting to obtain a work permit, you should obtain a non-immigrant visa. This may require presenting the Thai consulate or embassy in your home country, such as the United States, with a letter from your Thai employer on company letterhead confirming that you have been offered a job and are a law-abiding person. (If you don't yet have a Thai employer, consult another article on this site, "Finding a Job in Thailand.")
According to another site, siam-legal.com, once you have obtained your non-immigrant visa, you will need to present the following documents at your Thai embassy or consulate in order to earn your work permit: your passport, your highest earned degree, your educational transcript and three photos 5 by 6 centimeters in size, without a hat on. Your employer will also need to provide the consulate with your job description, worded in such a way that it does not seem as if you are taking a job from a Thai worker. Just like the governments of most nations, the Thai government enacts immigration policies that reflect pressure from its citizens to keep jobs in the country.
It is crucial to get an "extension of stay" stamp on your Thai visa that will allow you to stay more than 90 days, according to Thailand.angloinfo.com. Your employer probably doesn't want you to be forced to leave the country after your first three months of work!
If you want to leave Thailand on vacation, or for a visit home, and then return to Thailand, you will need a re-entry permit, according to Thaivisa.com. To get one within Thailand, you will need a copy of your passport, a recent photo, and the appropriate fee.
Assuming that you have an employer willing to write you a letter of invitation, or you can find one before your scheduled date to move to Thailand, it should be relatively easy to obtain a work permit and visa as long as you follow the necessary steps. Thailand is a relatively small country and welcomes the skills, knowledge, and work ethic that foreigners can bring.