How to Find a Job in Thailand?

📅 Published in 2017 — Updated in June 2026
💼 Teleworking and DTV have changed everything. You no longer have to have a Thai employer.

💼 Work in Thailand in 2026

🌍 Teleworking has changed everything

In 2017, working legally = Thai employer + Work Permit. In 2026, this is only one option among four:

• 🌍 DTV (July 2024): Work for a foreign employer, legally. 5 years, 180 days/entry.
• 🌟 LTR Visa (2022): For > 80k USD/year. Digital Work Permit included, tax 17%.
• 🚀 Smart-S: Startup founders in BOI targeted industries.
• 📋 Classic Work Permit: Always necessary if Thai employer.

🔍 Recruitment platforms in 2026

Platform	Speciality	Special features
🥇JobsDB.com	Generalist (n°1 in TH)	Larger volume, filters by visa accepted
💼 LinkedIn	Management, tech, multinationals	Essential for skilled positions
🚀 WorkVenture.com	Startups, tech, digital	Thai “Welcome to the Jungle”
📘 Facebook Groups	Expats, teaching, F&B	“Jobs in Thailand for Foreigners”
📚 Ajarn.com	Education	English/French teaching positions

📊 Sectors recruiting French people in 2026

Sector	Indicative salary	Profiles
📚 Teaching	30,000 – 60,000 ฿	License + TEFL/DELF. The most accessible.
🏨 Hospitality/Tourism	40,000 – 100,000 ฿	F&B management, revenue management
💻 Tech/Digital	50,000 – 150,000 ฿	Dev, UX, digital marketing, AI, data
🏭 Industry (BOI)	80,000 – 200,000 ฿	Engineers, supply chain. Michelin, Schneider, L’Oréal
🍽️ F&B	40,000 – 80,000 ฿	Chefs, restaurant managers, sommeliers

💰 Foreign minimum salary: 50,000 ฿/month (French). Fixed by nationality, unchanged since 2008.

🇫🇷 French Companies in Thailand

The FTCC (Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce) lists ~300 active French companies:

Michelin, L’Oréal, Saint-Gobain, Schneider Electric, TotalEnergies, Accor, Air Liquide, Alstom, Bureau Veritas, JCDecaux, Pernod Ricard, Safran, Sanofi, Sodexo, Thales, Valeo…

📍 FTCC Contact: 6th Floor, Vorawat Building, 849 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok. Tel: +66 2 650 9613.

---

⬇️ Before it was like that…

---

Thailand is a vacation destination par excellence. The idyllic living environment attracts more and more Europeans, who even decide to settle there permanently after successful stays in this corner of paradise where the cost of living is very low. It is essential to find stable work before deciding to move to Thailand. The steps to finding a job in Thailand are quite complex due to the fact that local labor law is not the same as in Europe and access to work can be very difficult for foreigners.

Accessibility of work in Thailand for a foreigner

Many jobs in Thailand are prohibited for foreigners. There is a list of 39 jobs, particularly in the medical, administrative and craft sectors, which are prohibited for foreigners. This list was established by the Alien Employment Act. Furthermore, certain sectors of activity which do not appear in this list are also difficult to access, or even inaccessible to foreigners, especially Europeans, due to the significant cultural shock. It is also important to note that competition in the job market is fierce between Westerners and the Chinese. Many of them also want to move to settle in this Asian Eldorado.

Foreigners who have completed extensive studies and have a well-rounded CV, with quality career paths, have a greater chance of being hired by a Thai company. Salespeople and engineers from French major schools are in greatest demand in the country.

50% of French’s recruitments represent jobs in the industrial sector. Europeans also have a chance of finding positions in the cosmetics, aeronautics, jewelry, consulting, high-tech, hotel and textile sectors.

Conditions for finding a job in Thailand

With strict Thai legislation regulating access to work for foreigners, they must comply with several important conditions to find a job in the country.

Have concrete motivation

Europeans are attracted, from the first glance, by the exotic living environment and the pleasant way of life of Thailand. The pace there is very far from the routine and daily pressures of the major European capitals. However, integrating into the job market is really tough for foreigners, especially those from another continent. The Thai government seriously regulates the work of foreigners. The job seeker and the employer are subject to special legislation, different from the laws in force for local workers. Knowledge, in advance, of the legislative framework of work represents a great necessity before starting the steps to search for a first job in Thailand. It is strongly recommended to find out about the labor legislation for foreigners to be able to assess the scale and feasibility of the project.

Get organized

French nationals can stay for a period of less than 30 days in Thailand without the need to obtain a specific visa. A very motivated person generally manages to find a job during this period of almost 1 month. However, it is best to take your time. Also, obtaining a 3-month tourist visa turns out to be a better solution. The tourist visa is issued by the Thai authorities represented by the embassy. The tourist visa applicant must provide the following documents to obtain a single entry tourist visa:

• A copy of the first 5 parts of the passport dated less than 6 months ago,
• A copy of the CIN or a copy of the residence card (or residence permit) for foreign nationals residing in France,
• A completed Thailand visa application form with 1 recent ID photo pasted on it
• A copy of the plane ticket with details of the entry and exit date,
• A copy of the bank account statement bearing the bank stamp and indicating a credit balance of a minimum sum of 1000 euros.

The file processing fee amounts to around thirty euros, non-refundable, and the visa is generally granted within 6 days following the date of submission of the application file.

The tourist has the right to extend his stay whether it is a visa-exempt stay of less than 30 days or a tourist stay of 3 months. To do this, he must go to the country’s immigration office, with the following documents:

• a copy of the plane ticket with exact mention of the date of return to France,
• a recent identity photo,
• a document mentioning the exact address of the accommodation.

The visa extension fee is 1900 baht. However, it is important to specify that the foreign tourist is entitled to a single extension of stay of 30 days.

The employer who decides to hire a foreigner must carry out administrative procedures to obtain permission to hire a foreign worker from the Ministry of Labor and in particular from the department responsible for foreign workers. This office will be responsible for communicating its decision: approval or refusal, via an official letter which is directly addressed to the foreign job seeker. Upon receipt of this official document, the latter can immediately begin an application for a non-immigrant visa for work for 3 months, with the possibility of extension. Before definitively taking up his position, the foreign worker must (still) obtain a work permit.

---

“I recommend you read one of these books that I read myself”:

[amazon_link asins=’B00FLLBGKG,B00KZB1WZG’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’francejetequi-21′ marketplace=’FR’ link_id=’ 7c0c08a4-8338-11e7-9674-db239fb73121′]

---

Who should I contact to find a job in Thailand?

It is very important to do more research on platforms dedicated to job offers and not hesitate to browse the classified ads. Learning the Thai language takes some time. Also, the best is to turn to international job sites containing mainly advertisements in English. With a little luck it is even possible to come across ads written in French.

Coming into contact with as many residents as possible, particularly with resident foreigners, and joining as many networks as possible which bring together foreign workers allows you to create relationships. This can considerably help in the process of finding your first job in Thailand.

To find a job in Thailand, the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce (FTCC) helps French people integrate into Thailand. The FTCC regularly organizes CV and cover letter workshops. These two essential job search documents must be written in English, which is the main international language used in Thailand. The FTCC also provides personalized coaching sessions to enable foreigners to get used to job interviews and to familiarize themselves with Thai legislation and the demands of Thai employers. FTCC partners with more than 270 companies. This entity supports French people to facilitate and accelerate their job search and their integration in Thailand.

Then think about:

• apply for a work permit
• Open a bank account in Thailand

Tips for finding a job in Chiang Mai for example with this serious company which provides you with the permit and visa:

• http://www.clbs.co.th/jobs/