Thailand Privilege Card Program by Thailand Elite

Since 2003, Thailand Elite, an organization supported by the Thai government and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (“TAT”), has offered the opportunity to eligible foreigners to obtain a Thailand visitor visa for 5, 10 or …

Read More

Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa has been granted to a highly-skilled professional. How does the 17% personal income tax flat rate work in practice?

Congratulations to highly-skilled professionals whose Long-Term Resident (“LTR”) visa is approved and stamped in their passport.  Those LTR professionals with potential eligibility to pay personal income tax at a 17% flat rate may however now have questions about how this …

Read More

INTRODUCTION OF NEW LONG-TERM RESIDENT (“LTR”) VISA  

Thailand is introducing a new LTR visa to boost economic recovery, investment and domestic spending in a sustainable way after the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Thai economy, particularly on the tourism sector. The government set a …

Read More

THAILAND EXTENDS PERMISSION TO STAY FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS

To support economic recovery and mitigate the negative impact suffered by businesses in the tourism sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved a plan for extension of permission to stay in Thailand …

Read More

Thailand Revokes Test and Go and Sandbox Schemes – Retains Thailand Pass System – Reduces Insurance Requirements

Effective 1 May 2022 Thailand is revoking the Test and Go and the Sandbox Schemes, and reducing Covid-19 insurance requirements for non-Thai citizens entering the Kingdom. For those who for at least 14 days prior to the date of travel …

Read More

Work Permit Law Revised

In spring of this year the Thai government issued a decree to revise the law on foreigners working in Thailand (the “Work Permit Law”).  For many years, the foreign business community has complained about overly restrictive and confusing work permit …

Read More

Urgent Work Permit Requirements Revised

While it is relatively easy for foreigners to come to Thailand as tourists, potential issues often arise when they come for “work”,  which includes such activities as academic seminars, business meetings, or market research, just to name a few.  These …

Read More

New Alien Workers Law

The primary Thai laws and ordinances governing “aliens”, or non-Thai nationals, working in Thailand are the Alien Workers Act, B.E. 2551 (“Alien Workers Act”) and the Royal Ordinance on Bringing Alien Workers to Work with an Employer in the Kingdom …

Read More

Thailand’s New E-Work Permits Bring An End To Blue Books

By Piyawannee Watanasakolpunt and Suthasinee Neamsum Foreigners employed in Thailand are required to obtain an appropriate visa as well as a work permit.  Work permits are issued by the Ministry of Labor and take the form of a small, passport sized …

Read More

Thai Immigration Cracks Down on Visa Overstays

Foreigners who stay in Thailand beyond the period prescribed in their d visas may now effectively be “blacklisted” from re-entering Thailand either temporarily or permanently, depending on the length of their overstay and whether the overstay is voluntarily admitted to …

Read More

Urgent Work Permits – FAQ

When do I require a Work Permit? Any foreigner working in Thailand must have a work permit, and the definition of work is extremely broad. Work is defined as "engaging in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or …

Read More

Work Permit and Visa Rules in Thailand

Overview Work permits, visas and the relationship between the two are a source of considerable consternation and confusion for investors and other foreign business people in Thailand. The process of obtaining a work permit and a long-stay visa is complicated …

Read More

New Criteria for Granting Work Permits

The Director General of the Department of Employment in the Ministry of Labour (DOE) has issued a notification setting out revised criteria for labour officials to consider when issuing work permits under the Alien Work Permit Act B.E. 2551 (2008) …

Read More