How to Get a Work Permit in Thailand?

🇹🇭 Working in Thailand in 2026: the 4 Legal Paths

📋 Path 1 — The Traditional Work Permit

For whom: Anyone employed by a company registered in Thailand.
Organization: Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, Bangkok.

• 💰 Minimum salary: 50,000 ฿/month (French nationals — unchanged since 2008)
• 👥 Ratio: 4 Thai employees for 1 foreigner
• 🏢 Company capital: 2,000,000 ฿ per Work Permit
• 💳 Fees: approximately 3,000 ฿
• 📅 Duration: 1 year, renewable
• 🆕 Online application now possible via the Department of Employment digital portal

🚀 Path 2 — The Smart Visa (reformed February 2025)

For whom: Startup founders certified in the 18 targeted industries.
Organizations: BOI + NIA + DEPA.
Where to apply: One Stop Service (OSS), Chamchuri Square, 3rd floor, Bangkok.

• 🏭 Company registered in Thailand, certified by NIA or DEPA
• 📊 Hold ≥ 25% of shares or be a director
• 🏦 Bank deposit: 600,000 ฿ (3 consecutive months)
• 📅 Duration: 2 years — no Work Permit needed
• 🎯 Industries: auto, electronics, biotech, robotics, digital, medical, energy, aerospace…

🌟 Path 3 — The LTR Visa (since September 2022)

Organization: Board of Investment (BOI) — ltr.boi.go.th
Duration: 10 years (5+5 with verification).

• 🏆 Wealthy Global Citizen — Net worth ≥ 1M USD + investment ≥ 500k USD in Thailand
• 👴 Wealthy Pensioner (50+) — Passive income ≥ 80k USD/year (or 40k + 250k invested)
• 💻 Work-from-Thailand — Income ≥ 80k USD/year (2 years), foreign employer ≥ 50M USD revenue
• 🧠 Highly Skilled — Expert in BOI-targeted industry, income ≥ 80k USD/year

Benefits: Digital Work Permit included ✅ | Tax capped at 17% ✅ | No 90-day reporting ✅ | Fast track immigration ✅ | Same-sex spouses accepted (2024) ✅

🌍 Path 4 — The DTV (since July 2024)

For whom: Remote workers, freelancers, entrepreneurs working for foreign clients.
Application: Exclusively on thaievisa.go.th from abroad.

• 🎂 Minimum age: 20 years
• 🏦 Savings: 500,000 ฿ (≈ 13,000 EUR) over 3 months
• 📄 Proof of activity: contract, registration, portfolio
• 📅 Validity: 5 years, stays of 180 days + 180-day extension
• 💳 Fees: 10,000 ฿ (≈ 260 EUR)
• ⚠️ Prohibited from working for a Thai employer/client

🧭 My Advice

• Freelancer testing Thailand → DTV
• Qualified professional > 80k USD/year → LTR (10 years, 17% tax)
• Tech startup founder in TH → Smart-S
• Employee of a Thai company → Traditional Work Permit

⬇️ Before, there was only one path… Discover my original article below