I. Visa Issuance

1. Foreigners who wish to work/conduct business or undertake investment activities in Thailand must apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa at the Royal Thai Embassies or Consulates abroad. (Information on location and contact numbers of the Thai Embassies and Consulates-General can be obtained through website http.www.mfa.go.th/Embassy/default.htm.)Various categories of non-immigrant visa are currently provided to meet the need and qualification of individual business people. These include business visa (category B), business approved visa (category B-A) and investment and business visa (category IB). Visa fee is 500 Baht for single entry with three-month validity and 1,000 Baht for multiple entries with one-year validity.
2. Passport holders of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Palestinian State, Sudan, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt have to apply for visa at the Thai Embassy or Consulate General where they have their permanent residence.

II. Categories of Visa

• Non-Immigrant visa (category “B” – Business) can be obtained from all Thai Embassies and Consulates provided that the following relevant documents are submitted.

Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand

• Visa application Form completely filled out
• Applicants passport with validity not less than six months and its copy
• Two 4x6 cm. full-faced, bareheaded photos taken within the past six months
• Letter of acceptance from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (Alien Occupational Control Division,   Department of Employment, Mit-Maitree Road, Dindaeng, Bangkok 10400 Tel 662-245-2745 /  245-3209 / 617-6578 / 617-6584 Fax. 662-6176576, 245-2593)

[ For those foreigners who wish to work in Thailand, their employer in Thailand should submit Form WP3 (Application for applying a work permit on behalf of alien) together with other related documents such as a certificate issued by the Department of Commercial Registration, documentary evidence of educational qualifications, etc. at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.]

• Official marriage and birth certificate (In case of the applicants family members)
• Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
• Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (only in case the applicant has previously worked in the Kingdom )

( Remarks 1. An alien who receive a non-immigrant visa can work in Thailand after having received a work permit. Any violation thereof shall make the employee liable for imprisonment not exceeding three months, to pay a fine not exceeding five-thousand Baht, or both penalties.

2. An alien who performs work that is prescribed by the Royal Decree B.E. 2522 (1979) which prohibits alien employment in certain occupations and professions is liable to be imprisoned not exceeding five years, will be fined from 2,000 to 10,000 Baht, or both penalties.)


Foreigners who wish to conduct business in Thailand

• Visa application Form completely filled out
• Applicants passport with validity not less than 6 months and its copy
• Two 4x6 cm. full-faced, bareheaded photos taken within the past 6 months
• Letter from the applicants company stating the objective of the visit to Thailand, his/her salary,etc.
• Document showing correspondence with trading partners in Thailand.
• Financial evidence in case that the applicant is doing his/her own business
• Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
• Letter of invitation from company in Thailand together with copy of corporate documents comprising of 1) list of shareholders 2) business registration and business license 3) company profile 4) details of business operation 5) list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions 6) map indicating the location of the company 7) Balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30) of the latest year 8) Alien income tax return (Por Ngor Dor 91) and 9) Value-added tax registration (Por Ngor Dor 20) , etc. (Copies of company documents must be signed by Board of Directors or authorized managing director and affixed the seal of the company.)
• Document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism business only), or document indicating export transactions issued by banks (for export business only)
• Official marriage and birth certificates (In case of the applicants family members)

Consular officers reserve the rights to ask for additional documents as deemed necessary.
In the absence of a required document, a letter indicating the unavailability of such document must be provided.
The applicant must sign on each page of the copy.
Documents in foreign languages must be translated in Thai. If translated into English, it should be notorized by notary organs or the applicants diplomatic/ consular mission.
The holders of this type of visa are entitled to stay in Thailand for a maximum period of 90 days.

Upon completion of such period, an extension of stay for a period of one year counting from the date of arrival in the Kingdom can be applied for at the Office of the Immigration Bureau.

2.2 Business approved visa (category “B-A”) may be applied for at the Embassies or Consulates abroad but approval shall be given by the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok before visa is issued to the qualified applicant. The company in which the applicant will invest or do business with can also apply for this type of visa at the Immigration Bureau. The validity of stay for B-A type visa is valid for a period of one year counting from the date of arrival in the Kingdom.

2.3 Investment and business visa (category “IB”) is issued to foreign staff working under investment projects promoted by the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOT). The project must benefit the country in the following ways :

• Produce for export
• Increase employment
• Utilize indigenous raw materials
• Locate in provincial areas
• Encourage technology transfer to Thai nationals
• Not compete in such a way as to destroy existing domestic business

III. Additional Information

3.1 After entering the Kingdom, applicants or their assignee must go to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (Alien Occupational Control Division, Department of Employment) to apply for a work permit and shall pay the income tax accordingly. If the companys applicant is located in other provinces, the applicant must apply at Labour Development Office in that province.

3.2 Applicants family members, namely; spouse, parents and children who are unmarried and under 20 years old, are eligible to apply for Non-Immigrant Visa (category “O”) and will allow to stay from the period of 90 days up to 1 year.

3.3 Foreigners entering the Kingdom under a Transit Visa (“TS”) or Tourist Visa (“TR”) wishing to engage in business activities may apply for a change to Non-Immigrant Visa at the Immigration Bureau Office located at Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel (662) 2873101-10 or at website http://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frconten.htm. The extension of stay as well as the change of certain type of visa is at the discretion of the Immigration officer.

IV. One Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits

4.1 One Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits was established by the Regulations of the Office of Prime Minister which was promulgated on 30 June 1997 with objective to strengthen the procedure to promote good investment circumstances by providing for the one stop service to avoid delay and inconvenience to the foreigners in applying for stay permission in the Kingdom, re-entry permit and work permit. It has been opened since 1 July 1997 onwards and located on 207 Rachadapisek Road, Krisda Plaza, 3-5th Floors, Dindaeng, Bangkok 10310, Tel 662-693-9333-9 and Fax. 662-693-9340.

4.2 Qualification of applicants for work permit at the One Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits are as follows :

4.2.1 The aliens who are executives or experts obtaining priviledges according to other laws as follows :

• Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977)
• Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971)
• Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979)
  (Remarks : The aliens who work for theenterprises outside Bangkok can submit the application to One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit)

4.2.2 The aliens who are general investors ;

• If investing not less than 2 million Baht, will be granted with 1 year approval.
• If investing not less than 10 million Baht, will be granted with two-year approval.
• The applicant must have the location of work or office in Bangkok only.

4.2.3 The aliens who are executives and experts ;

• To work at a company with the registered capital or total assets of not less than 30 millions Baht.
• The alien, who comes to work as the foreign press, shall submit a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a copy of ID Press Card issued by Department of Public Relations.
• The aliens who are Researchers and Developers on Science and Technology.
• The aliens who are the officials of Branch Office of Overseas Bank, Foreign Banking Office of Overseas Bank, Provincial Foreign Banking Office of Overseas Bank and the Representative Office of Foreign Bank which were certified by the Bank of Thailand.
• The aliens who work for the Branch of the overseas enterprises.
• - The aliens who work on the necessary and urgent basis for a period of not longer than 15 day (Tor.Thor. 11)
  

VISA ISSUANCE FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE
[ NON-IMMIGRANT "O-A" (LONG STAY)]

This type of visa will be issued to applicants aged 50 years or above wishing to take retreat in the Kingdom at least for the period of one year.

I. QUALIFICATION OF THE APPLICNAT

• A foreign national whose age is 50 years or above (on the date of submitting the application).
• Not being prohibited from entering the Kingdom under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (A.D.1979).
• Having no criminal record against the security of Thailand and the country of his/her nationality, or the country of his/her residence.
• Having the nationality of or the residence in the country where his/her application is submitted.
• Not having prohibitive diseases (Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Drug Addiction, Elephantiasis and Third step of Syphilis) as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535).
• Not being allowed to work in Thailand.

II. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR VISA APPLICATION

• A passport with validity not less than 18 months
• Three copies of visa application form completely filled out.
• Three passport-sized photos of the applicant taken within the past six months.
• A personal Data Form
• A copy of bank statement showing a deposit at the amount equal to not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthy income totalling not less than 800,000 Baht.
• In the case of the bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is to be shown as well.
• Verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record issued from the country of his/her nationality or residence (the verification shall be valid for not more than three months and should be notorized by notary organs or the applicants diplomatic/consular mission).
• A medical certificate issued from the country where the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535) (the certificate shall be valid for not more than three months and should be notorized by notary organs or the applicants diplomatic/consular mission).
• In the case that the applicant wishes to have his/her spouse stay together in the Kingdom but the spouse is not qualified for the “O-A” visa, their marriage certificate shall also be produced as evidence and should be notorized by notary organs or the applicants diplomatic/consular mission. (The spouse will be considered for temporary stay under category “O”).

III. CHANNELS TO SUBMIT VISA APPLICATION

• Applicants can submit their applications both at the Thai embassy / consular missions where they have their permanent residence or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand. (Address :  Section 1, Sub-Division 1, Immigration 1, Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120. Telephone 287-4948 (direct line) or 287-3101-10 ext. 2236)
• Please be advised that the following applicants are eligible to apply for this type of visa in the country :
• Applicants undergoing Health Rehabilitation Programin hospitals or Health Centers. These organizations  will apply on behalf of the individual applicant.
• Applicants who are spouses / parents / children of applicants above.
• Applicants to whom the agencies or organizations approved by the Office of the Immigration Bureau have applied for visa on their behalf. The above mentioned applicants must have qualifications stated in I and II.
• The Consular missions will be notified to issue visa to the individual applicant when the Office of Immigration Bureau has given approval.

IV. Recommendations for the aliens while staying in the Kingdom

• When completing the stay of 90 days in the Kingdom, the alien shall report to the competent authority and repeat it every 90 days with the immigration officer in the aliens residence area, or report to the police station in the aliens residence area if there is no immigration control there. (In order to report to the competent authority by mail, the alien shall do as follows :
• The Report Form (Tor Mor 47) together with a copy of the passport pages showing the aliens photo, personal details, and the latest arrival visa stamp as well as a self addressed envelop with postage affixed, shall be forwarded, by 7 days before the due date, by acknowledgement of receipt mail to the Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120.
• In the case of conducting any following reports, the Reply Form for the previous report shall be enclosed as well.
• At the end of the one-year stay, the alien who wishes to extend his/her stay shall submit a request for the extended period at the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of money transfer, or a deposit account in the Kingdom, or an income certificate, at the amount of not less than 800,000 Baht, or an income certificate plus a deposit account at the total amount of not less than 800,000 Baht a year. Extension for one year at a time will be granted to this group of people as long as they meet the requirements as earlier stated and is at the discretion of the Immigration officer.
• If the aliens spouse wishes to extend his/her stay as well, the marriage certificate shall be produced.

LIST OF COUNTRIES WHICH ARE DECLARED
YELLOW FEVER INFECTED AREAS

• The Ministry of Public Health has laid down regulations that applicantswho have travelled from or through the countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must provide an International Health Certificate providing that they have received a Yellow Fever vaccination.
• The International Health Certificate must be submitted together with the visa application form. The traveller will also have to present the said certificate to the Immigration Officer upon arrival at the port of entry in the Kingdom. As for those nationals of the countries listed below but who have not travelled from/through those countries, such a certificate is not required.However, they should possess concrete evidence showing that their domicile is not in an infected area so as to prevent undue inconvenience.

- Following are the countries which are declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas.-ore.

LIST OF COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE CONCLUDED AGREEMENT ON THE EXEMPTION OF VISA REQUIREMENT WITH THAILAND

1. Country which has concluded agreement on the exemption
   of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passport with
   Thailand and permitted to stay for 30 days The Kingdom of Cambodia
   
   
2. List of Countries which have concluded agreement on the
   exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic
   or official passport or service/special passport with Thailand
   and permitted to stay for 30 and 90 days

   90 DAY

   1. Argentina	15. Luxembourg
   2. Austria	16. Malaysia
   3. Belgium	17. Mexico
   4. Bhutan	18. The Netherlands
   5. Brazil	19. Nepal
   6. Chile	20. The Philippines
   7. Croatia	21. Poland
   8. Czech Republic	22. Romania
   9. Germany	23. Russian Federation
   10. Hungary	24. Singapore
   11. India	25. Slovak Republic
   12. Israel	26. South Africa
   13. Italy	27. Switzerland (including Liechtenstein)
   14. Japan	28. Tunisia
   15. Korea : Republic of Korea	29. Turkey

   
   30 DAYS
   

   1. Mongolia
   2. Laos :	Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
   3. China :	Peoples Republic of China
   4. Myanmar :	Union of Myanmar
   5. Vietnam :	Socialist Republic of Vietnam
   6. Oman :	Sultanate of Oman

   
   
3. Country which has concluded agreement on the
   exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic,
   official and ordinary passports with Thailand and permitted
   to stay for 90 days Republic of Peru
   
   
4. List of countries which have concluded agreement on the
   exemption of visa requirement for holders of ordinary
   passport with Thailand and permitted to stay for 30 and
   90 days
   
   90 DAYS

   1. Brazil 2. Republic of Korea 3. Chile
   
   30 DAYS

   1. Laos
   2. Vietnam
   3. Hong Kong SAR
   4. Macau SAR
   

THAILANDS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS INFORMATION

1. 	- Issuance of Travel Document (T.D.) for Aliens
   	- Issuance of Emergency Certificate (E.C.)
   	ISSUANCE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENT (T.D.) FOR ALIENS REQUIREMENT Aliens as listed below are eligible to apply for Travel Document (T.D.) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs, Visa and Travel Documents Division located on Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok 10210 , Tel. 981-7171 ext. 3202-3 direct line 575-1062-4 / Fax.575-1066 / E-mail : div1303@mfa.go.th ; - Aliens who are granted permanent residence in Thailand or those who have been   denied by their own government in issuing passport or travel document - Stateless persons - Aliens who are granted permanent residence in Thailand under a special   ten-million investment programme DOCUMENTS REQUIRED - A Residence Certificate with its copy - A House Registration with its copy - A Certificate of Alien with its copy - 3 photographs (2 1/2 inches) taken within the past six months - An application form completely filled out APPLICATION FEE 500 Baht for issuing or renewal VALIDITY OF DOCUMENT T.D. is valid for 1 year   ISSUANCE OF EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE (EC) REQUIREMENT Aliens as listed below are eligible to apply for Travel Document (T.D.) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs, Visa and Travel Documents Division located on Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok 10210 , Tel. 981-7171 ext. 3202-3 direct line 575-1062-4 / Fax. 575-1066 / E-mail : div1303@mfa.go.th ; - Political refugees - Stateless children under the patronage of the Department of Public Welfare - Foreigners whose passport or travel document is lost and no consular   missions of that national available in the Kingdom - Aliens infant whose consular mission of that national is no avail in Thailand DOCUMENTS REQUIRED - An application form completely filled out - 3 photographs (2 1/2 inches) taken within the past six months - Daily Report on Lost Documents from Royal Thai Police with its two copies - confirmed ticket identified the departure date with its copy - Letter from the Ministry of Interior (Political refugees) with its two copies - A Certificate of Birth with its its two copies (Aliens infant) - Letter from Department of Public Welfare with its two copies APPLICATION FEE 300 Baht