Who here is in Thailand on a Non-B visa and what job/situation helped you get it?

[rikiderorck]

Hey everyone,
I’m currently researching how realistic it is to get a Non-B visa if you're moving to Thailand. I know it’s mainly for work or business, but I wanna know about what it actually looks like in real life.

From your own experiences guys, If you’re in Thailand on a Non-B visa, what kind of job did you apply for, or what were the circumstances that allowed you to get it? Was it through a company, your own business, teaching, something else?

Like I said just trying to understand the real paths people take to get this visa, beyond just the theory or legal definitions.

[DrJack54]

6 hours ago, rikiderorck said:

I’m currently researching how realistic it is to get a Non-B visa if you're moving to Thailand

Thinking best to gather background basic knowledge by research some threads.. 

Google "Non B Thailand AseanNow and there will be MANY. 

Here one to start. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1317612-non-b-visa-questions/

 

[Ralf001]

I got a job then with the required documents went to the embassy in my home country and obtained a single entry Non B, from memory it took a few days for the visa to be processed.

[MarleyMarl]

I had Non-B visa (with Work Permit) for over 10 years, I moved to marriage Non-O a few years ago. I had the Non-B through my Thai company that I setup and run. In my country (NZ) I was only ever able to get 3 months, but in Australia, they regularly gave me 1 year, multi-entry Non-B.

 

Extending at immigration was always a pain in the ass, without an agent they just make up any nonsense to not give it to you, because they want the bribe from the agent. For several years, I left the country every 90days, taking short holidays, rather than go through the hassle of extending at immigration in Bangkok. Then each year I would get a new 1 year, multi-entry Non-B back in Australia. When covid hit, I had no choice but to use an agent, which cost me about 47k THB. Bare in mind I run a legitimate, tax paying business, with Thai staff, and hold a work permit.

 

Then I got married, now I do everything myself, it's much easier, less documents, no ways from them to make stuff up or change requirements on the spot.

[johnnybangkok]

On 6/30/2025 at 12:59 AM, rikiderorck said:

Hey everyone,
I’m currently researching how realistic it is to get a Non-B visa if you're moving to Thailand. I know it’s mainly for work or business, but I wanna know about what it actually looks like in real life.

From your own experiences guys, If you’re in Thailand on a Non-B visa, what kind of job did you apply for, or what were the circumstances that allowed you to get it? Was it through a company, your own business, teaching, something else?

Like I said just trying to understand the real paths people take to get this visa, beyond just the theory or legal definitions.

A work permit is issued by the company that employs you or you can get one from setting up a company (but you need a lot more such as THB 2 million in fully paid-up capital, VAT registered, and you hire Thai employees). You cannot just 'get' a WP for yourself and most of us working here on WP do so through our companies.

To get the WP, you need an offer letter and employment contract from your employer and you need to apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa BEFORE you arrive in the country on the back of the offer. Once you are in the country, your employer (not you) applies for the WP. 

[rikiderorck]

32 minutes ago, MarleyMarl said:

I had Non-B visa (with Work Permit) for over 10 years, I moved to marriage Non-O a few years ago. I had the Non-B through my Thai company that I setup and run. In my country (NZ) I was only ever able to get 3 months, but in Australia, they regularly gave me 1 year, multi-entry Non-B.

 

Extending at immigration was always a pain in the ass, without an agent they just make up any nonsense to not give it to you, because they want the bribe from the agent. For several years, I left the country every 90days, taking short holidays, rather than go through the hassle of extending at immigration in Bangkok. Then each year I would get a new 1 year, multi-entry Non-B back in Australia. When covid hit, I had no choice but to use an agent, which cost me about 47k THB. Bare in mind I run a legitimate, tax paying business, with Thai staff, and hold a work permit.

 

Then I got married, now I do everything myself, it's much easier, less documents, no ways from them to make stuff up or change requirements on the spot.

@MarleyMarl Thanks for sharing your story. Just wondering, if you been on a Non B visa with a work permit for over 10 years, how come you never applied for permanent residency? I thought you could apply after 3 years on a Non B, and from what you said, you would have already qualified a long time ago. anywys, just curious, hope you don’t mind me asking. btw I was documenting and gathering infos on permanent residency and got some info from this page for reference: https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/permanent-residence-thailand

[brewsterbudgen]

I got a non-B back in 2005 and have extended every year since then, as a teacher.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 6/30/2025 at 12:59 AM, rikiderorck said:

From your own experiences guys, If you’re in Thailand on a Non-B visa, what kind of job did you apply for, or what were the circumstances that allowed you to get it? Was it through a company

I was working at the time when was asked to go to Thailand, my employer organised my work visa.

Some here have applied for jobs in Thailand abroad, from their home countries, you may find something related to your profession, then your employer should organise your visa.

When I started working in Thailand, I was travelling back to Australia after every hitch, returning to Thailand every other month, working on a 28/28 day rotation.
I decided to move to Thailand permanently to cut down travel time as I must travel to and from work on my time off.

 

Good luck mate 👍
 

[MarleyMarl]

1 hour ago, rikiderorck said:

@MarleyMarl Thanks for sharing your story. Just wondering, if you been on a Non B visa with a work permit for over 10 years, how come you never applied for permanent residency? I thought you could apply after 3 years on a Non B, and from what you said, you would have already qualified a long time ago. anywys, just curious, hope you don’t mind me asking. btw I was documenting and gathering infos on permanent residency and got some info from this page for reference: https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/permanent-residence-thailand

 

I thought about it however first problem after 3-4 years I found out my income was not high enough i.e. 50k instead of 60k per month. Then due to being screwed around with by immigration I had issues of work permit or visa lapsed instead of being consistent for the 3 years or so.

With my experience of simply trying to renew Non-B without an agent or bribe, despite paying income tax, corporate tax, social security tax for my staff, I don't want to deal with any Thai bureaucracy. Marriage visa & extension is easy enough. I've enjoyed my time in Thailand, and don't want to sound bitter, but I don't invest anything here anymore and plan to leave eventually.

[DrJack54]

Trivial bickering posts and replies removed. 

[FritsSikkink]

Lived here on a marriage visa, got bored. Found a job as a Project Manager at a BOI company in Bangkok.

Company lawyer did / does all the paperwork. BOI visa extensions and work permits are done well within an hour. 

[NanLaew]

On 6/30/2025 at 7:27 AM, Ralf001 said:

I got a job then with the required documents went to the embassy in my home country and obtained a single entry Non B, from memory it took a few days for the visa to be processed.

 

British citizen, domiciled in Thailand. The first time, working 'field operations' just outside Bangkok, was under a 1-year, multi-entry Non-O visa that had already been issued in Kuala Lumpur. All handled by my employer's agent in Bangkok, all very efficient.

 

The second time, office based, the above visa had expired and had already converted into a marriage extension that my new prospective Thai employer's HR department said could not be used for enabling another work permit. I sent my second passport to the UK with an application for a single-entry Non-O Thai visa along with the employer's supporting documents. After it was couriered back, I did an exit and re-entry via air to flip passports. After entering on the passport with the new visa, HR proceeded with getting the work permit.

 

I was working and getting paid for the few weeks it took to send off the passport, get the new visa, do the out/in and formalize my legal work status.

 

The third time, I applied for the appropriate visa in Singapore, along with the supporting documentation. After re-entering the country, the medical and other work permit related stuff was handled via the client's agents in Bangkok and Songkhla while I was offshore.

 

These were over a spread of about 10 years and each one was progressively more 'difficult', but since all were done under the wing of the Department of Mineral Fuels, probably still a bit easier than most?