Business Visa · Thailand
Thailand Business Visa
The Non-Immigrant visa for working, doing business, or investing in Thailand. To work you also need a work permit, and Emerhub can sponsor both.
Non-Immigrant BWork, business, investmentWork permit requiredUp to 1 year
Overview
What is a Thailand business visa?
The business visa is the Non-Immigrant visa for foreigners who want to work, run a business, or invest in Thailand. It comes in three categories, B, B-A, and IB, depending on whether you are taking a job, investing through a company, or working on a promoted investment project. It is the standard route for corporate employees and company owners.
A business visa is usually issued for short-term business and investment activity, with a stay of up to 90 days per entry that can be extended to a one-year permit. If you plan to be in Thailand for years rather than months, a long-term route such as the LTR visa may suit you better.
A business visa is not a work permit. The visa lets you enter Thailand for business; it does not, on its own, allow you to work. To take up paid work you also need a work permit, which a Thai company applies for on your behalf. Working without one is a serious offense. If you do not have a company to sponsor you, we can.
What it is for
What you can do with a business visa
The activities the visa is meant to support, once any work is backed by a permit.
Work, with a permit
Take up employment with a Thai company, once your work permit is issued.
Do business
Attend meetings, negotiate, and run company activities in Thailand.
Invest in Thailand
Hold and manage a qualifying investment through the B-A or IB routes.
Multiple entry
On the one-year visa, leave and return throughout the year with a re-entry permit.
Extend to one year
Extend the 90-day stay to a one-year permit at immigration, usually on the basis of employment.
Bring your family
Spouse and children can apply for dependent visas tied to your stay.
The categories
Types of Thailand business visa
There are three Non-Immigrant business categories. Most employees and business owners use the B; the others cover company-sponsored investors and BOI-promoted projects.
| Visa | Stay per entry | Validity | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| B (Business) | 90 days | Up to 1 year, multiple entry | Work, business, and teaching |
| B-A (Business Approved) | 1 year | 1 year | Investors and executives, sponsored by the Thai company and approved in Bangkok |
| IB (Investment and Business) | 90 days | 1 year | Work on BOI-approved investment projects |
The B visa is issued single-entry, with three months of validity, or multiple-entry, valid for a year, with each stay capped at 90 days. The B-A is applied for by your Thai company through the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok and allows a longer stay per entry. The IB is tied to a project promoted by the Board of Investment.
The other half
The visa and the work permit
Getting into Thailand and being allowed to work are two separate steps. The business visa is the first; the work permit is the second, and you cannot legally work without it. The permit is applied for by your employer, at the Ministry of Labor or, for promoted companies, the One Stop Service Center.
What the sponsoring company needs
The company that sponsors you has to meet the conditions behind a work permit:
- Registered capital of at least 2 million baht for each foreign worker it employs.
- At least four Thai employees for every foreign worker.
- A role for you that is not on the list of occupations closed to foreigners.
Companies promoted by the Board of Investment get relaxed ratios and faster processing. The permit is tied to your specific employer and role, so changing jobs means a new permit. If you do not have a Thai company that meets these conditions, our Employer of Record can act as the sponsoring employer, holding the visa and work permit for you without your having to set up a company.
What to prepare
Documents required
- A passport valid for at least six months.
- A completed visa application form and a recent color photo (4 by 6 cm, taken within the last six months).
- Proof of funds: at least 20,000 baht per person, or 40,000 baht per family.
- Corporate documents of the sponsoring Thai company, such as registration, the shareholder list, and financial statements.
- An invitation or employment letter from the company.
- A WP.3 work-permit pre-approval from the Ministry of Labor, where you are applying to work.
- Educational certificates and proof of relevant experience, for employment.
- Proof of investment, for the investment routes.
Exactly which documents you need depends on whether you are applying to take a job, to run a business, or to invest. We confirm the full list for your situation before anything is submitted.
How Emerhub helps
How to apply
The visa and the work permit run as one process. We handle both, and can be the sponsor if you need one.
1
Secure a sponsor
A Thai company offers you a role or you set one up. If you have neither, our Employer of Record can be the sponsoring employer, so you can start without forming a company.
2
Company documents and WP.3
The sponsoring company prepares its corporate documents, the invitation letter, and the WP.3 work-permit pre-approval at the Ministry of Labor. We handle this end, which is where applications usually stall.
3
Apply for the visa
You submit at a Thai embassy or consulate, or through the e-Visa system, with the company's documents and your own. Some consulates run a short interview about the role.
4
Work permit and extension
After you enter, the work permit is issued and you extend the 90-day stay to a one-year permit at immigration. We also handle your 90-day reporting.
Need a sponsor for your visa and work permit?
Tell us about the role or business. If you do not have a qualifying Thai company, our Employer of Record can sponsor the visa and work permit for you.
Common questions
Thailand business visa FAQs
The questions employers and applicants ask most about the business visa.
Can I work on a business visa?
Not on the visa alone. The business visa lets you enter Thailand for business, but you need a separate work permit, applied for by your employer, before you can legally work. Working without one carries fines, imprisonment, and deportation, so the two have to be arranged together.
What is the difference between B, B-A, and IB?
The B is the standard business and work visa, 90 days per entry and extendable to a year. The B-A is applied for by your Thai company through the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok and allows a longer one-year stay per entry, aimed at investors and executives. The IB is for work on an investment project promoted by the Board of Investment.
Do I need a Thai company to sponsor me?
Yes. A business visa for work, and the work permit behind it, has to be sponsored by a Thai company. If you do not have one, our Employer of Record can act as the sponsoring employer, holding the visa and permit for you without your having to register a company.
What does the sponsoring company need for a work permit?
Registered capital of at least 2 million baht per foreign worker, at least four Thai employees per foreigner, and a role for you that is not closed to foreigners. Companies promoted by the Board of Investment get relaxed ratios and faster processing.
How long can I stay?
The B visa allows up to 90 days per entry, which you extend to a one-year permit at immigration, usually on the basis of employment and a valid work permit. The B-A allows a one-year stay per entry. After three consecutive years on a business visa, you may become eligible to apply for permanent residency.
What proof of funds do I need?
A bank balance of at least 20,000 baht for a single applicant, or 40,000 baht for a family applying together, shown on recent, official bank statements.
Can I teach on a business visa?
Yes. Teaching is one of the activities the B visa covers, sponsored by the school or institution, and it still needs a work permit, plus a teaching license for most roles.
What if I will be in Thailand long-term?
The business visa can be extended year by year, but for a multi-year base the LTR visa is often the cleaner choice: ten years of residence, a digital work permit built in, and tax privileges depending on the category. We can compare the two against your situation.
Thailand business visa?
Talk to our Bangkok team
A free, no-obligation call: thirty minutes with our Bangkok team to confirm the right Non-Immigrant category, what the sponsoring company needs, and the timeline. If you don't have a sponsor, we can be one.
Emailthailand@emerhub.com
Phone+66 92 554 5444
OfficeUnited Business Center II
591 Sukhumvit 33, Watthana
Bangkok 10110
591 Sukhumvit 33, Watthana
Bangkok 10110