About work permit

[Thaifarang85]

Hi all,

I am new here hope this is the right place.

I have 2 questions about work permit.

 

1.  As a Thai company shareholder is it more easy to get a work permit? The process is the same?

 

2. Is having a diploma or a degree a requirement?

 

Thanks

[BritTim]

There is too little information in your post to answer your questions with confidence. Here are some considerations:

• Just being a shareholder carries no benefits at all as far as Immigration and the Labour Department is concerned.
• If you are a director of a company, and currently outside Thailand, then getting a Non B visa allowing you to visit for meetings and other activities related to your position as a director is possible. You will not need a work permit for such visits.
• If you are in Thailand, and want to get a work permit associated with your relationship with the company, then (in addition to your status as a director) you will need paid employment by the company with a minimum salary of 50,000 baht per month. If you satisfy that condition, then a work permit and extension(s) of stay based on working are possible.

If you provide more details on your current status and objectives, we will be better able to advise you.

 

EDIT: In most cases, no degree or diploma is necessary when applying for a work permit. The exception is when applying for a work permit for teaching.

Edited September 1, 2021 by BritTim

[Thaifarang85]

Thank you! I gave you little information but your answer was so full of details. 

[Dogmatix]

I don't think it makes any difference, if you are a shareholder or not. It might help to be a director but probably not much. They are more interested in your salary and the status of the company and its presumed ability to survive and pay for an expat. So they look at profitability in most recent accounts.  They give you some slack if it is the first year of a new company and in that case may be more inclined to give a WP to the director. I once asked in the Bkk main office what would influence them into allowing a WP without Thai staff or less than the 4 minimum for an existing company,  It used to be possible to have no Thai staff for PR but they said that no longer makes any difference and having a Thai wife only allows you to reduce paid up capital from 2m to 1m baht.  They told me the thing that would make a huge difference to the basses would be paying tax on a large salary.  When I asked how much the officer said 1m a month would make a difference.  Also being an investor in a BOI promoted company makes a difference. 

 

In sum I think you should assume that if you make the 50k salary and Thai staff requirements, you will be OK.  Other factors will make little or no difference.     

[khunPer]

On 9/1/2021 at 11:57 AM, Thaifarang85 said:

1.  As a Thai company shareholder is it more easy to get a work permit? The process is the same?

The process is the same.

 

If your are going to work in a company your own up to 49 percent of as shareholder, the company normally needs 2 million baht in registered shareholder capital and 4 Thai employees for the first work permit-permission for an alien.

 

You cannot do work reserved for Thais, often aliens are employed for management positions, or where specialist expertise is required..

 

On 9/1/2021 at 11:57 AM, Thaifarang85 said:

2. Is having a diploma or a degree a requirement?

Normally not, but a diploma might be a benefit, depending of where you are seeking employment, and what kind of business.