A European friend is arriving next month on a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa. He already has a job offer from a Thai registered company in Bangkok.

He understands that he will need to get a Non Immigration B Visa before his company can apply for a Work Permit. What is the most efficient way to switch from his Tourist Visa to the Non-Imm B Visa?

Will it be necessary for him to make a Visa Run and apply for the new Visa at a Thai embassy in Laos or in Cambodia? Or is there a legal way for him to get the Non-Immigrant B Visa at Chaeng Wattana in Bangkok? Can he do it himself or does he need to apply for this visa with a thai lawyer?

Your experience and knowledge on this topic and current Thai laws will be appreciated.

He can try to get a conversion to a non-immigrant visa, but often it is simper to get a non-B visa in a neighbouring country. If he is in Europe and has a job offer, he could try and get a non-B visa before he leaves with a letter from the company. Much would depend on the consulate where he would apply, so best to contact them first to see what would be required.

If not:

step 1 would be to apply for a WP with help of the company. if he can get the WP within 2 months time, he can apply for a conversion to a non-B visa if both he and the company meet the qualifications for a 1 year extension of stay. He might need to apply for an extension of his tourist visa, to give him more time to apply for the conversion.

And he does not need a non immigrant B visa to make the application for work permit - only for it to be issued - in fact most local Consulates will not issue such a visa without proof of work permit having been applied for (as well as company paperwork).

step 1 would be to apply for a WP with help of the company. if he can get the WP within 2 months time, he can apply for a conversion to a non-B visa if both he and the company meet the qualifications for a 1 year extension of stay. He might need to apply for an extension of his tourist visa, to give him more time to apply for the conversion.

Is the work permit application also done at Chang Wattana or somewhere else? I'll be doing this very soon as well. I JUST came back from a visa run and am now on a double-entry T, and of course three days after I get back, I get a job offer.

Disregard that, as I've just found the 'how to get a work permit' article here: http://www.thaivisa.com/how-to-get-thai-workpermit.html

It's done at the labor department, not immigration. Now I just have to figure out where the labor department is.

Disregard that, as I've just found the 'how to get a work permit' article here: http://www.thaivisa.com/how-to-get-thai-workpermit.html It's done at the labor department, not immigration. Now I just have to figure out where the labor department is.

Department of Labour Protection and Welfare

Address :Mitrmitree Rd. ,Din Deang District, Bangkok 10400

Website :http://www.labour.go.th

Source: http://www.labour.go.th/en/index.php/contact/2011-06-03-07-15-48

Thanks for all replies to date.

Does anyone have a link to the official Thai Labor Dept. website listing all the rules and procedures for obtaining a work permit in pasa tai?

If so, kindly post the link in this thread.

Start here with the forms: http://wp.doe.go.th/en/downloadform

And keep in mind that next to labour for the Wor Permit, immigration also has rules for giving an extension of stay based on employement, which are stricter than those for getting a work permit.