Thailand Business Visa (Non-Immigrant B): Requirements, Extension and Tips

The Non-Immigrant "B" visa is the standard entry ticket for foreigners who will work in Thailand, including founders who will run their own Thai company. On its own it gives a short initial stay. The real goal is the one-year extension of stay at Immigration, combined with a work permit from the Department of Employment. This guide covers both, using the current Immigration criteria in Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568, in force since 23 January 2025.

1. How the pieces fit#

Without a work permit, a Non-B holder may not work, not even in their own company. The Non-B allows you to be in Thailand for business purposes. It is the work permit that authorises the work.

2. Applying for the Non-B visa#

Since the global roll-out of the Thai e-Visa, almost all applications are made online at thaievisa.go.th, to the mission covering your nationality or residence.

Typical documents for an employee or company director:

• passport (6+ months validity) and photo;
• employer letter stating position, salary and duration;
• the Thai company's DBD affidavit (certificate of registration), list of shareholders (Bor Or Jor 5) and business licence (Por Por 20 if VAT-registered);
• a WP.3 pre-approval letter from the DOE, where the embassy requires it; many do for longer visas;
• CV and degree certificate;
• proof of funds, at some missions.

Fees (indicative, charged in local currency):

• single-entry Non-B: about 2,000 THB;
• one-year multiple-entry: about 5,000 THB.

The initial stay on arrival is 90 days. Within that window you should get your work permit and apply for the one-year extension.

3. The one-year extension: Order 12/2568 criteria#

The criteria for a one-year extension "to work" were long set by Order 327/2557. That order was repealed in 2023 and replaced by 242/2566, which in turn was replaced by Order 12/2568 from 23 January 2025. The core tests for working in an ordinary Thai private company are below.

Company tests#

• Paid-up registered capital of at least 2,000,000 THB per foreign employee, up to the regulatory ceiling.
• At least 4 Thai employees per foreigner, registered with social security and on payroll.
• Audited financial statements and corporate tax returns (PND.50) for the latest year. A brand-new company shows its opening balance sheet instead.
• An office at the registered address. Officers may ask for photos, and sometimes visit.

Salary tests#

The minimum monthly salary depends on nationality:

The salary must actually be paid and declared: Immigration checks personal income tax (PND.1, PND.91) and social security records.

Alternatives to the capital and staff tests#

Order 12/2568 provides other bases for extension, each with its own document list:

• BOI-promoted companies: these usually bypass the capital and staff tests, and visa processing goes through the BOI's single window.
• Representative and regional offices of foreign companies.
• Teachers, NGOs and foreign-media correspondents.
• Companies with significant exports or tourism revenue, where special conditions apply.
• Spouses of Thai nationals have a separate "marriage" extension and work permits under easier staffing rules.

4. Worked example: budgeting a founder's Non-B#

Ben, a UK national, owns 49% of a Thai marketing consultancy. His Thai partners hold 51%, so the company is Thai under the Foreign Business Act. He wants a one-year extension as managing director.

The Thai payroll is the real cost. Founders who cannot justify 4 Thai staff should look at BOI promotion, the LTR (if they earn USD 80,000+ or hold USD 1M+ in assets), or a SMART S visa for certified tech startups.

5. Extension step by step (Bangkok)#

1. Get the work permit first. The DOE issues the digital permit, and your employer applies through the SMART Job / e-WorkPermit system.
2. Book or queue at Immigration, Government Complex, Chaeng Watthana Road, Building B. Many companies use the online queue.
3. Submit the TM.7 form with:

• passport and departure card;
• photo;
• the 1,900 THB fee;
• the employer's documents (DBD affidavit, shareholder list, audited accounts, PND.50, VAT returns, SSO records for Thai staff, office map and photos);
• your work permit and PND.1 or tax evidence;
• the employer certification letter.

4. "Under consideration" stamp: usually up to 30 days. Return on the date given to receive the one-year stamp. Officers may visit the office in between.
5. Re-entry permit if you will travel: 1,000 THB single, 3,800 THB multiple.
6. 90-day reports throughout the year, online or in person.

6. Renewals each year#

Renew before the current permission expires. Most offices accept applications within the last 30–45 days. The company must still meet the tests on the date you apply, so do not let a Thai employee's departure leave you at 3 staff the month before renewal.

7. Common problems and how to avoid them#

• Capital "paid up" only on paper. Immigration and auditors increasingly check the bank deposit and the balance sheet. Pay it in properly.
• Thai staff who are not real. Officers compare SSO records with the payroll and may interview staff.
• Salary below the threshold because of the exchange rate or bonus structure. The monthly base salary is what counts.
• Changing employer. The extension ends with the job; there is no automatic grace period. The employer must notify the Department of Employment within 15 days of the end of employment, or face a fine of up to 20,000 THB (THAILAND.GO.TH 007-014). Immigration treats the employment-based permission as ending, and practice is to go to Immigration promptly, cancel the old extension and ask for a short extension, commonly 7 days, which is discretionary and not guaranteed (THAILAND.GO.TH 001-01-045; practitioner guides). If a new employer is ready, ask your lawyer to sequence the new WP.3 and Non-B before the old job ends.
• Working before the permit is issued. This is an offence for both employee and employer under the Foreign Workers Management Emergency Decree.
• Travelling without a re-entry permit, which cancels the extension.

8. Short business trips after 15 September 2026#

From 15 September 2026 Thailand revoked the 60-day visa exemption. The remaining 30-day (60 countries) and 15-day (2 countries) exemptions, and Visa on Arrival (3 countries), are described by the government as being for tourism purposes only. "Foreigners who wish to enter Thailand with other purposes must refer to the relevant visa category" (Government PRD, 4 September 2026). If you are coming for meetings, a trade fair or due diligence, check with the Thai embassy or the e-Visa site whether your trip needs a Non-B. Do not assume a tourist entry covers it. As of 2026, the safe reading is that anything beyond a short, unpaid meeting (negotiating, signing, training staff, attending a fair as an exhibitor) calls for a Non-B visa.

9. Non-B or something else?#

Frequently asked questions#

Can I get a Non-B and look for a job? The visa normally needs a sponsoring employer letter or WP.3. Job hunting itself is usually done as a visitor, but you cannot start work until the permit is issued.

Can I convert a tourist entry into Non-B inside Thailand? Some Immigration offices allow a change of status with a full employer file and a fee of 2,000 THB. Others expect you to apply abroad. Ask your local office first.

How much capital do I need for two foreigners? The guideline is 2,000,000 THB per foreigner, so 4,000,000 THB, plus 8 Thai employees.

Do I need a degree? Not under the Immigration order, but the DOE and embassies often ask for qualifications that fit the job description.

What happens if I overstay? The fine is 500 THB per day, up to 20,000 THB. Longer overstays lead to re-entry bans of 1–10 years.

Does the 4:1 ratio apply to LTR holders? No. The LTR exempts employers from it.

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Related guides#

• Thai Work Permit Guide 2026: Requirements, Documents, Fees and Process
• Thailand LTR Visa (Long-Term Resident): Categories, Requirements and Tax Benefits
• Thailand DTV (Destination Thailand Visa): Remote Work, Requirements and Limits
• How to Register a Company in Thailand (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)