A Thai work permit can be filed by the employer's own team, by an authorised representative such as a corporate services provider or licensed agency, or through the BOI One Stop Service Center for promoted companies. In each of these cases the legal employer generally remains the sponsor. Outsourcing the paperwork therefore does not outsource the eligibility tests. A third party only takes on sponsorship by becoming the legal employer, which is what an employer of record in Thailand does.
Key takeaways
- Filing and sponsoring are separate roles. A representative can file, but the employer named on the permit carries the obligations.
- A sponsoring employer is generally assessed on its registered capital and its ratio of Thai employees to foreign workers.
- BOI-promoted companies can generally file through the BOI One Stop Service Center.
- An employer of record sponsors the permit under its own Thai entity. This suits overseas companies that have no Thai company yet.
- The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) does not permit employment with a Thai employer.
About the Author
This guide was prepared by the People & HR team at Settlr Global, led by Managing Director Gagan Ajmani, who has 15+ years of regional experience across Southeast Asia. The team prepares Non-B visa and work permit files for executives, founders and key team members in Bangkok.
Who is legally allowed to file a Thai work permit for an employer?
Several parties can file a work permit, but only one can sponsor it: the legal employer. The Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour11doe.go.thdoe.go.th is generally the authority that issues work permits. Applications commonly reach it through one of four channels.
1doe.go.thdoe.go.th
| Who files | Who sponsors | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Employer's own director or HR team | The employer | Thai companies with in-house capacity |
| Authorised representative (law firm, accounting firm, corporate services provider or licensed agency) | The employer | Companies that want the file prepared externally |
| BOI One Stop Service Center | The BOI-promoted employer | Companies holding BOI promotion |
| Employer of record | The EOR's own Thai entity | Overseas companies without a Thai entity |
Before signing an engagement, a company should confirm whose name will appear as employer on the permit. That entity carries the obligations for the life of the permit.
What does the employer still have to prove when someone else files?
The sponsor remains the employer even when a representative files, so the eligibility tests fall on the company itself. Thai work permit requirements generally cover both the employer and the employee.
On the employer side, the requirements generally include:
On the employee side, the requirements generally include:
- recent photographs
- degree certificates and previous work references
- proof of a Thai residential address
- a signed employment contract
- a medical certificate confirming the employee has none of the prohibited characteristics under the 2020 Ministerial Regulation, according to33thailand.go.ththailand.go.th3thailand.go.ththailand.go.th
A representative can prepare and submit the file, but the Department of Employment assesses the employer named in it. A company should check its capital and Thai headcount against current official guidance before making an offer to a foreign hire. Changing who files cannot fix a shortfall in either.
How does an employer of record in Thailand change who sponsors the permit?
An employer of record (EOR) is the one arrangement in which a third party sponsors the permit. The EOR becomes the legal employer under its own Thai company, while the client directs the day-to-day work. This lets an overseas company hire employees in Thailand without a local entity and without meeting the sponsor tests itself.
Some providers describe this service as a PEO in Thailand. The label matters less than one check: whose Thai entity appears as employer on the employment contract and on the permit.
Under an EOR, the client generally keeps these decisions and costs:
- choosing the hire, salary and start date
- directing work, performance reviews and role changes
- ending employment
- funding salary, statutory costs and the monthly fee
The annual service cost can be estimated as N x F x 12. Here N is the number of employees and F is the monthly fee per employee. Salary and statutory costs are added on top.
With Settlr Global's employer of record service, for example, businesses can make a first hire in about 2 days, from THB 8,999 (local hire) or THB 10,999 (expat hire) per employee per month. For expat hires, visa and permit timing still depends on Thai authorities. Companies that plan their own entity later can run EOR while company registration in Thailand is underway and move employees across afterwards.
Which visa routes sit alongside the work permit?
A work permit sits on top of an immigration status, so the visa route shapes how the permit file is built. These are the common routes for a Bangkok team:
- The Non-B visa, Thailand's Non-Immigrant B category, is the standard route for employment with a Thai employer. It is generally held before the work permit is issued.
- A Thailand LTR visa covers eligible high-skilled professionals and other qualifying groups. Its work authorisation follows separate rules.
- The BOI SMART Visa is now limited to startup founders (SMART S) and their dependents (SMART O) and has its own work authorisation rules, after a Cabinet resolution of 13 January 2025 cut its overlap with the LTR visa, according to BOI Announcement No. Por 5/2568.44smart-visa.boi.go.thsmart-visa.boi.go.th Specialists and highly skilled professionals are now directed to the LTR visa instead.4smart-visa.boi.go.thsmart-visa.boi.go.th
- The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is designed for remote workers and digital nomads. It does not permit employment with a Thai employer.
A candidate's profile can be checked with the Thailand Visa Matcher, which gives indicative recommendations. Final eligibility is decided by the relevant Thai authorities. For filing support, see the visa and work permit services page.
What does the filing and renewal process look like step by step?
Once the visa route is set, the permit follows a fixed sequence. The representative's job is to keep each step on time.
- Step 1: Confirm sponsor eligibility, covering capital, Thai headcount and BOI status.
- Step 2: Collect the employee documents, including the passport, degree certificates, medical certificate and contract.
- Step 3: Secure the Non-B visa or other qualifying immigration status.
- Step 4: Submit to the Department of Employment1 through Thailand's e-Work Permit channel where it applies. BOI-promoted companies can submit through the BOI One Stop Service Center instead.
- Step 5: Keep the permit current. This means reporting changes of position, filing for work permit renewal in Thailand before expiry and completing 90-day reporting with Immigration.
A company should track the permit expiry and the visa extension in one calendar, because a lapse in one can disrupt the other.
How should a Bangkok employer choose who processes its permits?
The right filer depends first on whether the company has a Thai entity that passes the sponsor tests. The second factor is the full cost of each route.
That cost has two parts:
- Government charges from the Department of Employment1 and Immigration. These change, so check them against current official figures.
- The service fee of whoever prepares and files the work.
Consider these factors when choosing a route:
- An eligible Thai entity can file in-house or appoint an authorised representative.
- A BOI-promoted company can use the BOI channel, with a representative preparing the documents.
- A company with no Thai entity, or one that does not yet meet the sponsor tests, can use an EOR.
When comparing providers, you should ask three questions. Who is named as employer? Which steps does the provider perform? Are renewal and 90-day reporting included? Published starting prices are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a visa service provider sponsor a work permit for my employee?
Generally not. A visa service provider can prepare and file the application, but the legal employer sponsors it. A third party sponsors only when it acts as the employer of record.
Can a DTV holder work for my Bangkok company?
No. The DTV is for remote workers and digital nomads and does not permit employment with a Thai employer. The employee would generally need a Non-B visa and a work permit instead.
Does an EOR employee still need a work permit?
Yes. A foreign hire generally requires a work permit as well as a Non-B visa or another qualifying immigration status. The difference is that the EOR's Thai entity sponsors both.
How long does a Thai work permit take?
Timelines vary by office, route and how complete the file is. No provider can promise a fixed government processing time.
Who handles work permit renewal?
The sponsoring employer is responsible for renewal, either directly or through its representative. Under an EOR, the EOR manages it.
Is a PEO the same as an EOR in Thailand?
The terms are often used interchangeably. For permits, the deciding question is whose Thai entity is the legal employer.
About Settlr Global
Settlr Global is the operating arm of WOWS Global, a Singapore-incorporated corporate advisory and investment banking group, and provides a one-platform ecosystem for business operations in Thailand. It combines payroll, HR, legal, tax and incorporation support under a single team, so founders do not have to coordinate separate local agencies. The platform has processed payroll and compliance work for 200+ clients across 15+ countries, from early-stage startups to established multinational enterprises. Its Employer of Record service lets companies hire in Thailand in about two days, with or without a local entity.
To plan work permits for your Bangkok team, book a consultation with Settlr Global.
References
- doe.go.thdoe.go.th
- boi.go.thboi.go.th
- thailand.go.ththailand.go.th
- smart-visa.boi.go.thsmart-visa.boi.go.th
