Hi

hopefully one of you experienced posters can point me in the right direction.

Been in Thailand and Asia for a number of years and have not had to work during this time as I have investment income. I am under 50 and from the Uk currently on a Double tourist visa.

I have now been offered a job in a Thai company which I can start at the end of May, and as I am the first foreign employee so I said I would get a lawyer myself so as to keep things running smooth and easier for all. The company is fine about this.

Contacted one company and the man was very helpful, however when I asked for a break down of costs they wanted upwards on 7000 baht for the workpermit application letter service (wp 1 i think) then they wanted another 7000 for the work permit application. I thought (correct me if I am wrong) that one you have applied for the work permit and got the approval letter it was only a matter of getting the non B outside the country, returning to Thailandt and then collecting the work permit.

In addition another 8000 for Non B extension.

Should I also pay 3100 for wp1 and another 3100 for work permit applcation. I do know goverment fees are this but was surprised that the lawywer wants it twice!!!

So just for the lawyers service I am looking at about 23,000 baht. Hopefully someone can help with these points and costs.

Also does anyone recommend a lawyer in Bangkok?

thanks for any help

Edited April 4, 201511 yr by Protoss

On successful application for a Work Permit you pay a 100 THB fee, for this you get the WP3 Receipt and the required Letter of Acceptance (if you request it).

The 90 Day Single Entry Non Immigrant 'B' visa will cost you around 2,000 THB in Malaysia (not listed by you as a lawyer's cost)

On collection of the Work Permit from Labour once you have the 90 day non 'B' stamp in your passport you pay an additional 3,000 THB for the Work Permit to be actually issued.

One year extension of stay based on working in the Kingdom of Thailand costs you 1,900 THB.

Now you can calculate the lawyers fees and figure out if you feel it's worth it.

Lawyers fee is thus 18.000 THB for what represents about half an hour's work plus about 4 hours for a clerk to do the actual filing work toing/froing, etc.

All the above processes can be effected without the use of a lawyer.

On successful application for a Work Permit...

The operative word here is "successful" and I fear that Protoss would have no success trying to this on his own. A lot of input and help will be needed from his prospective employer. Let us for example, take the following form:

FORM OF EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATION

• The reason why not to hire Thai person
• Documents for supporting the above reason

Then there is also this document, which is only in Thai and I do not know whether it is needed for the application of Protoss:

FORM FOR INFORMING THE DEMAND ON ALIEN LABOUR EMPLOYMENT

After the above is done, the job description will have to be written carefully to support the claim that none of the rejected Thai applicants met the requirements, or that no Thai national even applied. Subsequently, the employment contract must be drawn up to match the job description.

Then, Protoss would turn up at the Department of Employment (DoE) on his own with his work permit application and the may attachments. If he is told that the reason and supporting documents for not hiring a Thai are insufficient, what is he to do?

Thank you both for you replies.

I have no problem to use a lawyer as it makes things so much easier and less running around for me and better for the company.

My main concern was what appears to be double charging for lawyers fees for the workpermit application and then another 7000 baht just to collect it.

Also the government fees requested twice which as digitalcromakey pointed out should only be paid once.

Anyone recommend a Bangkok based lawyer?

thanks

It can be done on your own with assistance of the HR department of your future employer.

First steps are: visits to Labor and Immigration and ask for a list of required documents. (Labor as well as Immigration usually require the same documents)

Most time consuming is gathering all the documents, but PLEASE take care that all documents (+possible originals) are on hand. Most problematic are the employer's documents: balance-sheet, pordor1, 90 and 91, all recent and legalized!!

From then it is "just" a matter of some visits to Labor and Immigration ACCOMPANIED by a Thai person, preferably from your future employer.

After receiving your WP and obtaining a non-B and extentions, you'll be able to judge for yourself whether the lawyer's fees are reasonable.

Rest assured, that at some point during the application process you may think: If I had just hired the lawyer, but hang in there.........you'll survive.

I was in your shoes juts a few months ago and all is now smooth. I left for cambodia with all of the necessary documents, got a non immigrant B visa and returned with my wife as an O and then company applied form inside. The company paid for everything and I will be happy to share with you the lawyer information that the Company used. I believe they paid him 20,000 plus another 4000 to get my multiple entery visa.... Best is to work with you company HR.

If your lawyer is from a good firm, and is experienced with this process, those prices are not out of line.

I strongly recommend you use a professional for this process the first time around.

I had a friend who tried to do everything on his own, trying to save a little money. He thought he had is all figured out. He booked a flight to Malaysia, two nights in a hotel, only to discover when he arrived at the embassy that he was missing one critical document that they would not overlook. So, he wasted his time and money just trying to save a little money on the lawyer. These applications are not terribly complicated, but there are many documents that have to be exactly right. One mistake and you can waste a lot of time and money. So, it is better to use a lawyer for the first application. After the first time, you will have copies of everything the lawyer did, and that will make it easier to do on your own next time.

No-one has mentioned the biggest problem here ! The actual work permit is only around 800Bht, I believe, but in order to achieve your goal you must sign a document stating that you are receiving at least 80,000 Bht salary, and on this basis will you be charged income tax ! I ended up paying around 23,000 Bht per month to have this document (blue book), and to tell you the truth it is not worth the hastle. Fly low to the ground and do what everyone else is doing.

No-one has mentioned the biggest problem here ! The actual work permit is only around 800Bht, I believe, but in order to achieve your goal you must sign a document stating that you are receiving at least 80,000 Bht salary, and on this basis will you be charged income tax ! I ended up paying around 23,000 Bht per month to have this document (blue book), and to tell you the truth it is not worth the hastle. Fly low to the ground and do what everyone else is doing.

Incorrect. There is no minimum salary for a work permit, otherwise teachers would never get one.

For westerners, there is a minimum salary of Bt 50,000 for an extension of stay when working as non-teacher

The two things are different.

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No-one has mentioned the biggest problem here ! The actual work permit is only around 800Bht, I believe, but in order to achieve your goal you must sign a document stating that you are receiving at least 80,000 Bht salary, and on this basis will you be charged income tax ! I ended up paying around 23,000 Bht per month to have this document (blue book), and to tell you the truth it is not worth the hastle. Fly low to the ground and do what everyone else is doing.

23,000 Bht a Month ? For a work permit? 276,000 Bht a year ?

Something very wrong with this tale !

No-one has mentioned the biggest problem here ! The actual work permit is only around 800Bht, I believe, but in order to achieve your goal you must sign a document stating that you are receiving at least 80,000 Bht salary, and on this basis will you be charged income tax ! I ended up paying around 23,000 Bht per month to have this document (blue book), and to tell you the truth it is not worth the hastle. Fly low to the ground and do what everyone else is doing.

Incorrect. There is no minimum salary for a work permit, otherwise teachers would never get one.

For westerners, there is a minimum salary of Bt 50,000 for an extension of stay when working as non-teacher

The two things are different.

This is correct. For my work permit, I am required to get a salary of 50,000 baht per month. The income and social security taxes combined total 4,250.

There are reasons to be here on a retirement visa, and reasons to be here on a work permit. I qualify for both. But I got very bored and wanted to work. And the extra income means that I am not spending my savings. I meet more people. I enjoy being here more. But it is not for everyone. There are more hoops to jump through. And taxes to file. Etc.

No-one has mentioned the biggest problem here ! The actual work permit is only around 800Bht, I believe, but in order to achieve your goal you must sign a document stating that you are receiving at least 80,000 Bht salary, and on this basis will you be charged income tax ! I ended up paying around 23,000 Bht per month to have this document (blue book), and to tell you the truth it is not worth the hastle. Fly low to the ground and do what everyone else is doing.

Incorrect. There is no minimum salary for a work permit, otherwise teachers would never get one.

For westerners, there is a minimum salary of Bt 50,000 for an extension of stay when working as non-teacher

The two things are different.

This is correct. For my work permit, I am required to get a salary of 50,000 baht per month. The income and social security taxes combined total 4,250.

There are reasons to be here on a retirement visa, and reasons to be here on a work permit. I qualify for both. But I got very bored and wanted to work. And the extra income means that I am not spending my savings. I meet more people. I enjoy being here more. But it is not for everyone. There are more hoops to jump through. And taxes to file. Etc.

To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary. Even charity workers with no salary can have a WP

To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary. Even charity workers with no salary can have a WP

Even for extensions of stay, volunteers and teacher do not have a minimum salary. A different clause of the regulations is used.

Edited April 6, 201511 yr by paz

i just love these guys trying to save a few baht

then end up paying more

i can tell you that when you have you little blue book and someone comes down to take pics, do an audit etc and sees you doing something not related then you will pay!

Do it once

Do it right

get a Lawyer

Hi

This thread seems to be going away for my orginal question and thoughts regarding my key points.

1: I want to use a lawyer (saves time and hassle) I don't want to do it myself the first time round.

2: While I am happy to pay, what I don't like to pay is for a lawyer charging me 7000 x 2 baht for the work permit application (wp1) then when collecting the work permit. As once the workpermit is applied for and then approval letter is issued I get a non b outside the country and return and collect the workpermit itself.

3: The lawyer saying that their is a government fee of 3100 baht for government fee for approval letter, and the another 3100 baht for workpermit application. (i thought it was jsut paid once)

thanks again

Hi

This thread seems to be going away for my orginal question and thoughts regarding my key points.

1: I want to use a lawyer (saves time and hassle) I don't want to do it myself the first time round.

2: While I am happy to pay, what I don't like to pay is for a lawyer charging me 7000 x 2 baht for the work permit application (wp1) then when collecting the work permit. As once the workpermit is applied for and then approval letter is issued I get a non b outside the country and return and collect the workpermit itself.

3: The lawyer saying that their is a government fee of 3100 baht for government fee for approval letter, and the another 3100 baht for workpermit application. (i thought it was jsut paid once)

thanks again

As for 2. If I remember correctly, when I collected my work permit, there was an actual process involved. And the permit was paid for at that time. So maybe they are separating the cost of producing the application and submitting it, from the cost of collecting it and paying for it. And since I had a lawyer escort me when I went to acquire the permit, I am sure that lawyer's time was not "free".

As for 3. It is possible that you are seeing the infamous "Official Government Translation" scam expense. The government will require certain documents that are created in English (or another language) to be translated to Thai, then "certified" by a government official that the translation is correct. This may be the "government fee" involved here.

The important point is that overall the price seems to be inline with my experience, plus or minus a couple thousand baht.

Do it once

Do it right

get a Lawyer

No need to use a lawyer except to waste money. What is needed is to have paperwork in order. In that case you will have nothing to be afraid.

To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary. Even charity workers with no salary can have a WP

Even for extensions of stay, volunteers and teacher do not have a minimum salary. A different clause of the regulations is used.

I wrote even charity workers can have a WP. (not an extension) (Ididn't talk about charity workers extension at all)

The 50k extension was a reply to the other post from the person who wrote he need it to get a WP

Edited April 7, 201511 yr by bangkoklasse

To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary. Even charity workers with no salary can have a WP

Even for extensions of stay, volunteers and teacher do not have a minimum salary. A different clause of the regulations is used.

I wrote even charity workers can have a WP. (not an extension) (Ididn't talk about charity workers extension at all)

The 50k extension was a reply to the other post from the person who wrote he need it to get a WP

This is an important distinction, and can confuse many people. The 50K income is a requirement of the Visa extension, not of the work permit. But for most people, getting the work permit requires that you have a Non-O visa first.

For example, in my case, I had to go to Singapore to get a Non-O "B" (for doing business in Thailand) Visa. That Visa was valid for 90 days. Once I returned with the Non-O visa, I then applied for a work permit. I was allowed to apply for the work permit because I had the Non-O "B" visa. Getting the work permit allowed me to get a job that paid me a salary of 50K baht. With this provable income, I was able to extend the Non-O visa for one year. Every year, I must renew my work permit, which allows me to continue working, which provides me with a salary, which qualifies me to extend my visa. The 50K income is a requirement of the visa extension.

To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary. Even charity workers with no salary can have a WP

Even for extensions of stay, volunteers and teacher do not have a minimum salary. A different clause of the regulations is used.

I wrote even charity workers can have a WP. (not an extension) (Ididn't talk about charity workers extension at all)

The 50k extension was a reply to the other post from the person who wrote he need it to get a WP

This is an important distinction, and can confuse many people. The 50K income is a requirement of the Visa extension, not of the work permit. But for most people, getting the work permit requires that you have a Non-O visa first.

For example, in my case, I had to go to Singapore to get a Non-O "B" (for doing business in Thailand) Visa. That Visa was valid for 90 days. Once I returned with the Non-O visa, I then applied for a work permit. I was allowed to apply for the work permit because I had the Non-O "B" visa. Getting the work permit allowed me to get a job that paid me a salary of 50K baht. With this provable income, I was able to extend the Non-O visa for one year. Every year, I must renew my work permit, which allows me to continue working, which provides me with a salary, which qualifies me to extend my visa. The 50K income is a requirement of the visa extension.

No such thing as a Non-O "B" what you got from Singapore was a Non Immigrant Category "B" Visa - see Thai MFA link below for non 'B' categories:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

As far as I know you don't need to get a B Visa from outside the country.

You can get this in Thailand. One point of the list is to take pictures in the office with you and the staff.

AND now you have a great chance to apply WP and Visa at the same time. Than every year you can extend them for another year at the same time. Because usually WP and B Visa not come together.

But if you have the chance to apply for both at the same time. That is very good.

As far as I know you don't need to get a B Visa from outside the country.

You can get this in Thailand. One point of the list is to take pictures in the office with you and the staff.

AND now you have a great chance to apply WP and Visa at the same time. Than every year you can extend them for another year at the same time. Because usually WP and B Visa not come together.

But if you have the chance to apply for both at the same time. That is very good.

Can you? And where exactly? If you mean the "one stop" office, first of all it's only in Bangkok (not everyone lives there), and second, it can be used only by certain companies, like the one under BoI charters, again not everybody's case.

To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary. Even charity workers with no salary can have a WP

Even for extensions of stay, volunteers and teacher do not have a minimum salary. A different clause of the regulations is used.

I wrote even charity workers can have a WP. (not an extension) (Ididn't talk about charity workers extension at all)

The 50k extension was a reply to the other post from the person who wrote he need it to get a WP

I understand, but if you write "To get the extension of stay it's required to get the 50k salary", then people will understand that this is true for everybody, which is not true.

OP, the WP cost is 3000 baht for 1 year(12 months). There is a process/application fee of 100 baht.

You only pay these fees once (a year).