Does anyone know how long it takes to get the WP3 receipt from labour office?

From memory think it's one day but perhaps differs between offices.

If wanted for a Non-B visa application suggest checking with the Embassy/Consulate you are going to as have heard that many are now insistng on the actual WP3 letter (rather than just the receipt) which takes up to 5 days.

On this topic, anyone heard of the supposed new rule that you have to be outside the country when your employer submits the WP3 application? If already here you reportedly have to leave and fax back the exit stamp to include in the application and wait overseas for the letter to be sent to you. This has been reported from the Surat Thani Labour Office - hopefully someone just got the wrong end of the stick! Crazy policy if it's true!!

HI, I spoke to someone at Chonburi Labour Office and they stated as you said, my prospective employer has to wait till I'm out of the country before submitting the documents for the WP3. Then it takes them about 2 weeks to issue the letter (receipt is not acceptable). Some embassies don't require it but it seems to be essential for some. I was told that I would have to leave the country, get my company to submit the documents then wait outside of Thailand for 2 weeks so the new employer can email the letter to me which I would then have to take to the Thai Embassy. It does seem a bit weird to me but there you go....

It can vary and it does depend on the 'acceptability' of the application paperwork.

If your paper work is for some reason not 'OK', then it can take a long time.

In Phuket, where the current Labour Department Foreign Work Permit Section Head is extremely strict, at best it takes 10 working days to get the Acceptance Letter to go with the WP3 receipt. However I know of at least two applicants who are still waiting for an Acceptance Letter/WP3 Receipt after over 4 months.......