Business Visa & Work Permit in Chiang Mai

You may be eligible for a Business Visa if you meet one of the following: - You own or have registered a company in Thailand. - A Thai company intends to employ you. - You are visiting Thailand for business purposes and have a Thai company sponsoring your application. The right visa and application process will depend on your purpose of stay and your specific circumstances. Our team can review your case and recommend the most suitable option.

It depends on the purpose of your stay in Thailand. If you will be working in Thailand, such as being employed by a Thai company, acting as a company director, or managing or operating a business, you will generally need both a Business Visa and a Work Permit before starting work. If you are only visiting Thailand for business purposes, such as attending meetings, meeting clients, negotiating contracts, or exploring business opportunities, a Work Permit is generally not required. However, if your activities involve performing work in Thailand, such as having regular working hours, a defined job role, or carrying out duties for a company, a Work Permit will usually be required. If you're unsure whether your planned activities are considered "work" under Thai law, our team can assess your situation and advise you on the correct visa and work permit requirements before you travel.

Yes, in many cases you can apply for a Non-Immigrant B (Business) Visa from inside Thailand by changing your current visa status. To be eligible, you must meet the Immigration Bureau's requirements. One of the key requirements is that you must have more than 21 days remaining on your current permission to stay on the date your application is submitted. If your application is accepted, the process is generally as follows: 1. Submit your application to change your current visa status to a Non-Immigrant B Visa. 2. Receive a 30-day "Under Consideration" stamp while Immigration reviews your application. 3. Return on your appointment date to receive the remaining period of your first 3-month Non-Immigrant B Visa. If you do not meet the requirements for changing your visa inside Thailand, you may need to apply for a Non-Immigrant B Visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside Thailand. Our team will review your current visa status and recommend the most suitable application strategy before you begin the process.

The required documents are divided into two parts. 1. Company Documents. The sponsoring company must provide documents to demonstrate that it is qualified to employ a foreigner. Depending on the case, these may include: - Company registration documents - Company financial statements - Company tax filings - Evidence that the company meets the legal requirements to employ a foreigner (such as registered capital and Thai employees enrolled in the Social Security system) 2. Personal Documents. The applicant will generally need to provide: - Passport copy - Diploma or educational certificate - Resume (CV) - Visa and Work Permit photographs - Personal information required for the application forms The exact document requirements may vary depending on your position, your employer, and your application type. Once you start the process with MJ & Co., our team will provide you with a detailed document checklist and guide you through each step to ensure your application is prepared correctly.

Our Business Visa and Work Permit service is tailored to each client's situation, so the fee depends on the scope of work required. Our service starts from 50,000 THB, depending on your application. The total cost may vary based on factors such as: - First-time application or visa renewal - Applying from outside Thailand or converting your visa inside Thailand - One-year or two-year Work Permit - The complexity of your case and supporting documents For clients whose companies are registered in Chiang Mai, we provide a complete end-to-end service, including preparing and submitting the application with the relevant authorities. For companies located in other provinces, we provide a document review and application preparation service. We will review your paperwork, prepare the required documents, and guide you through the process. The application must then be submitted to your local Immigration Office and Department of Employment. At MJ & Co., we believe in fair and transparent pricing. We only charge for the work that is genuinely required, and if there are parts of the process that you can complete yourself, we won't ask you to pay for services you don't need.

The processing time depends on your application type. New Business Visa (applying from outside Thailand): if you apply for your Non-Immigrant B Visa through a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside Thailand, the entire process typically takes around 4 months, from the start of your application until you receive your Work Permit, your Thai Tax ID Number (TIN), and your one-year Business Visa extension at Chiang Mai Immigration. Converting a Tourist Visa to a Business Visa (inside Thailand): if you apply from within Thailand by converting your current visa to a Non-Immigrant B Visa, the process typically takes around 5 months to complete. This includes converting your Tourist Visa to a Non-Immigrant B Visa, receiving your Work Permit, receiving your Thai Tax ID Number (TIN), and receiving your one-year Business Visa extension. Business Visa & Work Permit renewal: if you are renewing your Business Visa and Work Permit, the process generally takes 2-3 months, depending on your circumstances and how quickly the required documents are prepared. Please note that these timeframes are estimates and may vary depending on the government authorities, your company's documentation, and your individual case.

The initial Non-B visa from an embassy is typically 90 days single-entry. Once in Thailand with your work permit, it can be extended to a 1-year visa at immigration. Annual renewals are done domestically without needing to leave Thailand.

As a general rule, you should not begin working in Thailand until your Work Permit has been issued. A Work Permit is the legal authorization that allows a foreigner to perform work in Thailand. During the application process, many businesses need to continue preparing for operations. However, what activities are permitted before a Work Permit is issued depends on the specific circumstances and the nature of the activities involved. For this reason, we recommend waiting until your Work Permit is approved before performing any work in Thailand. If you have questions about your specific situation, our team can advise you on what is appropriate while your application is being processed.

Yes, it is possible to change your employer or move to a different company while holding a Business Visa and Work Permit. However, the process requires careful planning to ensure your immigration status and work authorization remain valid throughout the transition. In practice, the procedures and requirements may vary depending on the Immigration Office and Department of Employment handling your case. Based on our experience with cases in Chiang Mai, we generally recommend that clients: 1. Cancel their current Business Visa and Work Permit. 2. Leave Thailand if required. 3. Apply for a new Non-Immigrant B Visa through a Thai Embassy or Consulate. 4. Start a new Business Visa and Work Permit application with the new employer. This approach is typically the most straightforward and predictable. It also aligns with the guidance we have received from the Chiang Mai Immigration Office for most cases. Before changing employers, we recommend consulting our team so we can review your situation and advise you on the most suitable approach.

If your employment ends or you resign from your position, you should ensure that your Business Visa and Work Permit are properly cancelled. This generally involves: - Cancelling your Work Permit with the Department of Employment (Labour Office). - Cancelling or updating your Business Visa with the Immigration Office, depending on your next plans. If you plan to join a new employer, start your own company, change to another type of visa, or leave Thailand, it is important to plan the transition carefully to avoid overstaying or affecting your immigration status. We strongly recommend contacting MJ & Co. before resigning or ending your employment so we can help you plan the most suitable next steps and ensure all legal requirements are completed correctly.

To renew your Business Visa and Work Permit, both you and your employer must continue to meet the legal requirements. This generally includes: - The company maintaining compliance with its legal obligations, including company tax filings and other required corporate documents. - The company continuing to meet the qualifications for employing a foreigner. - The foreign employee filing and paying their personal income tax correctly, where applicable. Preparing for a renewal well in advance is important to avoid delays or interruptions to your visa and work authorization. At MJ & Co., we take care of the renewal process from start to finish. We'll review your company's documents, check your compliance, prepare the required paperwork, and guide you through every step, so you can focus on running your business or doing your job with confidence.

Yes. Your eligible family members may be able to apply for a Dependent Visa to stay with you in Thailand. To qualify: - Spouse: you must be legally married. Thailand recognizes a valid marriage registration certificate. A boyfriend, girlfriend, or unmarried partner is not eligible for a Dependent Visa. - Children: your biological or legally adopted children may be eligible. Children who are not legally your own, such as your partner's child without a legal parent-child relationship, are generally not eligible under your Dependent Visa. At MJ & Co., we also provide Dependent Visa services and can assist your eligible family members in applying to stay together with you in Thailand.

Getting started is easy. Simply contact our team through WhatsApp Business or our contact form, and tell us a little about your situation. To assess your eligibility, we will usually ask for: - Your nationality - Your current visa status - Whether you are inside or outside Thailand - Your employment or business details - Your expected timeline Once we review your information, we'll recommend the most suitable solution, explain the process, provide a clear quotation, and guide you through every step, from document preparation to receiving your visa and Work Permit. At MJ & Co., our goal is to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on your career or growing your business while we take care of the paperwork.