Work Permit turnaround time in Penang

[RiverT]

Hi, wondering if anyone can tell me how long a Thai Work Permit applied for in Penang might take? And what documentation would I need? If someone has done so here before I would appreciate hearing from you.

[Don Mega]

Penang issue work permits these days ?

 

Or are you taking about a Non immi B visa ?

[RiverT]

Not sure of what the difference is. I'm applying for work on Koh Samui at places that use work permits. I heard you need to apply for them outside the country and Penang is nearest. Don't they issue them?

[Don Mega]

7 minutes ago, RiverT said:

Not sure of what the difference is. I'm applying for work on Koh Samui at places that use work permits. I heard you need to apply for them outside the country and Penang is nearest. Don't they issue them?

 

Am pretty sure work permits are issued in country.

 

Good to hear you are applying for jobs that use work permits though !!

[Doiger]

as far as I'm aware work permits can only be got in Thailand.

just out of interest, what type of jobs are you applying for?

[stevenl]

Apply for work permit in samui, go to Penang for non-immigrant B visa, back to samui for workpermit collection.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[RiverT]

59 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Apply for work permit in samui, go to Penang for non-immigrant B visa, back to samui for workpermit collection.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

Ahh that makes sense! Thx for clarifying.

 

So how long do each of those take to process and what kind of documentation will I need?

 

 

[RiverT]

1 hour ago, Doiger said:

as far as I'm aware work permits can only be got in Thailand.

just out of interest, what type of jobs are you applying for?

As a therapist in Health Spas, the 5 star ones use work permits.

[Gulfsailor]

20 minutes ago, RiverT said:

Ahh that makes sense! Thx for clarifying.

 

So how long do each of those take to process and what kind of documentation will I need?

 

 

 

For the workpermit application you need quite a few company documents. Normally your employer will handle this. When the paperwork is in order, the labor department will accept the application. That should be no more than an hour. However, if your employer has little experience with this, it will take a couple of days to get it right. First thing to do would be to visit them to get the latest list of requirements. 

The labor department is just before the Amphur in Nathon on the right side. 

 

With the workpermit application in hand you can then go to Penang to apply for a single entry non-B visa. Requirements for that should be on the consulate website. 

 

Upon your return to Thailand you can pick up your work permit (application normally around a week as they send it to main office in Suratthani).

 

then after 2.5 months you can either go back to Penang to apply for a non B visa multiple entry for a year, showing your workpermit with more than 9 months left on it. This means you need to leave the country every 3 months. OR

You can apply for an extension of stay for employment from immigration. That will allow you to stay one year without the need to leave. You do have to show your face every 90 days at immigration though. Extension of stay requires even more docs than the workpermit. 

 

I have been been doing both myself together with my employer for the past years, and although it's doable it does cost a lot of time, stress and aggravation. There are lawyers on the island who can also do it for you. Prices range from 10,000 to 15,000 for the workpermit and 15,000 to 25,000 for the extension. 

 

[RiverT]

3 minutes ago, Gulfsailor said:

 

For the workpermit application you need quite a few company documents. Normally your employer will handle this. When the paperwork is in order, the labor department will accept the application. That should be no more than an hour. However, if your employer has little experience with this, it will take a couple of days to get it right. First thing to do would be to visit them to get the latest list of requirements. 

The labor department is just before the Amphur in Nathon on the right side. 

 

With the workpermit application in hand you can then go to Penang to apply for a single entry non-B visa. Requirements for that should be on the consulate website. 

 

Upon your return to Thailand you can pick up your work permit (application normally around a week as they send it to main office in Suratthani).

 

then after 2.5 months you can either go back to Penang to apply for a non B visa multiple entry for a year, showing your workpermit with more than 9 months left on it. This means you need to leave the country every 3 months. OR

You can apply for an extension of stay for employment from immigration. That will allow you to stay one year without the need to leave. You do have to show your face every 90 days at immigration though. Extension of stay requires even more docs than the workpermit. 

 

I have been been doing both myself together with my employer for the past years, and although it's doable it does cost a lot of time, stress and aggravation. There are lawyers on the island who can also do it for you. Prices range from 10,000 to 15,000 for the workpermit and 15,000 to 25,000 for the extension. 

 

Wonderful, that's just what I needed to know.  Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such a detailed answer.  It does sound like quite a tricky and expensive process but in the long run I guess its not so bad.