Getting work permit without earning minimum salary

[Nynke]

Hello,

Last year I did an internship in Bangkok and now that Im graduated, there is a big chance I will go back and work at the same company. I know that the salary will be lower than the minimum 50.000 baht per month, wich I dont mind. But is it still possible to get a work permit and extension for a year when earning a lower salary? Ive read something about that you still need to pay 20% income tax, but that would be OK for me too.

I dont need a higher salary, the experience is more worth to me, and working for this company is good for my resume as well.

The reason they offer me a lower salary is because im just graduated.

Thanks!

[Mario2008]

There is no minimum salary for a work permit, so you will get that. But there is for a 1 year extension of stay (with the exception of soem jobs, like teachers). So you will not get an extension of stay, meaning that you will apply for a WP, get a single non-B and than the actual work eprmit. Once you have the workpermit you can apply for a 1 year non-B visa in Penang.

So you can stay, but will have to leave the country every 90 days for a border run.

[Nynke]

Thanks for your reply! Yesterday I have been searching the internet, but never found the information you give me right now, so I got a bit worried.

So I will just apply for a single Non B visa in my home country, once I'm in Thailand, get a Work Permit (A Work Permit is valid for a year, right?) And then get the 1 year / mutiple Non B visa outside Thailand.

I dont mind leaving the country every 90 days, it would be easier to just get a extension of stay, but I'm already happy if I can just work there And with the cheap airline tickets, it's easy to leave the country every 3 months

[digitalchromakey]

Thanks for your reply! Yesterday I have been searching the internet, but never found the information you give me right now, so I got a bit worried.

So I will just apply for a single Non B visa in my home country, once I'm in Thailand, get a Work Permit (A Work Permit is valid for a year, right?) And then get the 1 year / mutiple Non B visa outside Thailand.

I dont mind leaving the country every 90 days, it would be easier to just get a extension of stay, but I'm already happy if I can just work there And with the cheap airline tickets, it's easy to leave the country every 3 months

Outside of SE Asia, there is still a slim chance you can get a one year multiple entry non immigrant 'b' visa without first having your WP; no harm in trying.

If you are not a teacher and below the minimum salary, then you won't get an extension based on working in the Kingdom of Thailand.

What some (non Teachers) do is to pay the required tax in Thailand over the year to make one's salary appear to be 50,000 THB pcm, since you only are asked to show evidence of tax/social insurance paid on salary, but do not have to show pay slips or bank statements.

[technologybytes]

There are a few "friendly" consulates that are fairly easy going with B visas and may issue you a 12 month multi entry with a letter from the company.

Remember, consulates are much more flexible than an Embassy.

[BlackJack]

The whole system needs a complete overhaul.

ASEAN just around the corner and who knows whats going on

[ubonjoe]

The whole system needs a complete overhaul.

ASEAN just around the corner and who knows whats going on

ASEAN has been around since 1967. I assume you mean the ASEAN Economic Comunity (AEC).

It really has nothing to do with getting visas and etc. There are no provisions in it for that.

[Nynke]

Thanks for the replies guys! So if I can get a 1 year visa here in The Netherlands (I don't think the consulate will issue it, because on the website they state that they only issue a 90 day visa when you are working for a Thai company, but I can always try). But with that visa, I can get a WP in Thailand, but I still have to cross the border every 90 days right? (Last year I had an 1 year ED visa / student visa, and also had to cross the border after 90 days, because I was not a student at a Thai university and I couldnt not get an extension)

But I can work legally for a year, right? And after 1 year, can I apply for another WP when the company gives me another year contract?

Even with the lower salary?

[ubonjoe]

You can work legally with a multiple entry non-b for a year and then renew you work permit before it expires.

[thefactoryoutlet]

So why did I read here many times that the minimum salary was 50000 to get a work permit ?

Please clarify ?

[paz]

So why did I read here many times that the minimum salary was 50000 to get a work permit ?

Please clarify ?

You did not read that here, or show us where you did.

Minimum salary is needed for an extension of stay based on employment (non-teacher), not for a work permit. The two things are very different.

[Soutpeel]

So why did I read here many times that the minimum salary was 50000 to get a work permit ?

Please clarify ?

no you didnt, and if you did who ever wrote that is wrong,

the 50k/m relates to getting the extension of stay from Immigration, while the WP is from the DOL

further, if there truely was salary minumum for a WP, how would a volunteer get one ?....they get paid nothing but still need a WP ?

[bobbymack]

The minimum salary for foreigners from countries such as UK, rest of Europe etc. is THB 50,000 per month. Although many employers pay less than this, this amount has to be declared for income tax purposes. This amount has to be declared when the job offer is made to a foreigner.

[Mario2008]

The minimum salary for foreigners from countries such as UK, rest of Europe etc. is THB 50,000 per month. Although many employers pay less than this, this amount has to be declared for income tax purposes. This amount has to be declared when the job offer is made to a foreigner.

As has been said, you only declare 50,000 a month if you want a 1 year extesion of stay. For a work eprmit to be apporved there is no need to be paid 50,000 baht and many people earling less than 50,000 baht simply leave the country every 90 days.

[CWMcMurray]

Of course many are correct in the Legal sense that no Min requirement in the regulations for getting work permit , only for getting visa extension...

Although the reality on the ground is that each labor department (like most other gov agencies) may do their own thing.... Given this, have seen that some labor departments may take it i themselves to require the min salary to issue WP, other wont..

[BlackJack]

The whole system needs a complete overhaul.

ASEAN just around the corner and who knows whats going on

ASEAN has been around since 1967. I assume you mean the ASEAN Economic Comunity (AEC).

It really has nothing to do with getting visas and etc. There are no provisions in it for that.

Ubonjoe, I have read and highly respect your valued contribution to the ThaiVisa forum. However, if you think that the ASEAN AEC will not have any impact on Thailand and getting visa's and Work Permits then you are sadly mistaken.

There will be a huge impact.

Just one example is in the Law area. This is one of the sectors reserved for Thai's only. But when AEC kicks in at the end of the year this is not the case. It will be open to other members of ASEAN community.

The miniumum wage, the 4 Thai workers for each work permit, the social security payments, taxes, special tax free sectors, visa's and free trade all come into play. So whats going to happen.

Will they have the a similar system as now where they can pick and choose who gets what visa, what salary, what work they can or cant do?

Will Indonesia or another ASEAN country demand that for every Thai worker wanting to work in another country have 4 nationals working and on the pay roll paying taxes and health schemes?

Will there be business permits and no need for work permits, will low paid Philippians be allowed to work here without permits, the list goes on and on.

So all I am saying is that the system is going to favour one group and disadvantage another. Examples, Thailand has free trade agreements with other countries like Australia and Australians can work in the tourist business here in Thailand whereas the Russians cant. Australia allows students studying in Australia to WORK and no need for a work permit. However, Australians studying in Thailand cannot work.

Like I said I think the system is in need of an overhaul.

What about Singaporeans, Philippines or Malaysian will they get the same deal?

Asean, AEC and AFTA or free trade agreements go hand in hand. There will be competition on all fronts.

Is this why Thailand is putting the administration of this online? Will this work? Its a huge task that even developed countries have been grappling with for decades. How to put together a system that manages all these resources?

[bigwhitewarrior]

I don't get it.. sorry...1 year work permit and you need to leave the country every 3 month ? And still do a report as well ? Only Teachers are exempt from this?

Sorry got my non sense hat on today ;-)

[Mario2008]

If you need to leave the country depends on the fact if you get an extension of stay and that is based on (among others) how much you earn (unless you are a teacher).

[bigwhitewarrior]

So even with a work permit and/or extension of stay..you still have to leave the country?

[paz]

So even with a work permit and/or extension of stay..you still have to leave the country?

With an one year extenesion of stay you do not need to leave country.

With a multi-entry, non-imm 'B' visa you need to leave country every 90 days.

[bigwhitewarrior]

So even with a work permit and/or extension of stay..you still have to leave the country?

With an one year extenesion of stay you do not need to leave country.

With a multi-entry, non-imm 'B' visa you need to leave country every 90 days.

Thank you for clarifying this one :-)

[phuketsub]

Can anyone confirm if teachers are [still] exempt from any minimum salary requirement to get the 1-year extension based on work?

Due to a disabling injury I had to quit my job at a state university, so I want to transfer my work permit to a new school owned and operated by my wife in her hometown. My previous understanding was that I was only exempt from the 50000 baht requirement because I was employed by the State, but comments on this thread suggest otherwise and that all teachers are exempt.

I am still concerned about the Immigration's minimum salary for a 1-year extension. I would dread having to do a visa run in my current condition (broken hip)

So is there a minimum for teachers at private schools and, if so, what is it? If I can find out that is what I will be making...

Anyway help appreciated.

Broken Hipster

The minimum salary for foreigners from countries such as UK, rest of Europe etc. is THB 50,000 per month. Although many employers pay less than this, this amount has to be declared for income tax purposes. This amount has to be declared when the job offer is made to a foreigner.

As has been said, you only declare 50,000 a month if you want a 1 year extesion of stay. For a work eprmit to be apporved there is no need to be paid 50,000 baht and many people earling less than 50,000 baht simply leave the country every 90 days.

[ubonjoe]

Can anyone confirm if teachers are [still] exempt from any minimum salary requirement to get the 1-year extension based on work?

Due to a disabling injury I had to quit my job at a state university, so I want to transfer my work permit to a new school owned and operated by my wife in her hometown. My previous understanding was that I was only exempt from the 50000 baht requirement because I was employed by the State, but comments on this thread suggest otherwise and that all teachers are exempt.

I am still concerned about the Immigration's minimum salary for a 1-year extension. I would dread having to do a visa run in my current condition (broken hip)

So is there a minimum for teachers at private schools and, if so, what is it? If I can find out that is what I will be making...

Anyway help appreciated.

Broken Hipster

The minimum salary for foreigners from countries such as UK, rest of Europe etc. is THB 50,000 per month. Although many employers pay less than this, this amount has to be declared for income tax purposes. This amount has to be declared when the job offer is made to a foreigner.

As has been said, you only declare 50,000 a month if you want a 1 year extesion of stay. For a work eprmit to be apporved there is no need to be paid 50,000 baht and many people earling less than 50,000 baht simply leave the country every 90 days.

There is no minimum salary requirement to get an extension based upon teaching. The type of school or university does not matter.

Only extensions based upon working for a company require a minimum salary.