I am confused on the following points.

I wish to obtain a Work Permit for me to work in the company bought by my wife and myself. All other aspects have been catered for except the following confusion.

Are four Thai employees needed, or because I am married to a Thai National, only two?

If it is only two, why is this? Could anybody point to the relevant documentation please?

Any help appreciated.

I would suggest you talk to a Lawyer.

I have 4 Thai employees....I am not officially married but was told by the labor office in Nakhon Si Thammarat that if I was married I only needed 2 employees....but that wasn't actually something I considered, because I need the 4 employees anyway....

I was also told that if I only have say 1 employee I could still get a work permit, but not a 1 year visa.

And the work permit follows the visa, so I could only get a work permit for the time that my visa lasts. In other words:

You can get a work permit no matter how many emplouyees, but if you don't have at least 4 (or 2 if married) then you can only get a 3 months visa and a 3 months work permit.

So you will need to do a visa run every 90 days.

A solution is to apply for a marriage visa and when you get the 1 year visa, you apply for a 1 year work permit

Edited November 26, 200916 yr by ThaiSunshine

It is my understanding that work permits are often issued for one year now regardless of visa/extension of stay status.

Technically the 4 employees are not needed to get a work permit. However many labor offices demand them, following the same rules immigration uses.

Even then they might be willing to issue your work permit with less employees in a new start-up company, with the stipulation that you will hire more staff later on.

The 4 employees / 2 employees when married is an immigration rule. Those employees are required when applying for a 1 year extension based on employment/WP.

Do note that to qualify for this 1 year extension, the employing company has to show 2 years of audited book keeping showing enough profit to be able to afford the foreign employee's salary.

Do note that to qualify for this 1 year extension, the employing company has to show 2 years of audited book keeping showing enough profit to be able to afford the foreign employee's salary.

You don't need an extension based on employment.

For this you need 50.000 baht in income.

For extension based on marriage you only need 40.000