Need a Job Offer for a Thailand Work Visa? Rules for Indians

The rules below come from the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, its linked visa checklists and its September 2026 e-Visa FAQ, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. The employment checklist is dated 25 February 2021 and is still the one linked from the Embassy's visa page; its old fee and processing notes have been replaced by the 27 April 2026 fees and the e-Visa system. For tourist and other visas, see our Thailand visa guide for Indians.

What must the Thai employer provide before you apply?

The employment visa is built around the employer's paperwork. The Embassy's Non-immigrant B (Employment) checklist asks for these documents from the Thai side:

The invitation, contract and WP.3 or BOI letter are core items on the checklist, so the employer's side has to be in place before you can file. That is why a job offer comes first.

What do you add from India?

• A passport valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages, a signed application form and two colour photos
• A letter of recommendation from your previous employer and evidence of work experience or education
• A confirmed inbound ticket and accommodation evidence, such as a hotel reservation or rental agreement in your name
• If you have worked in Thailand before, a copy of your old work permit and personal income tax statement (Por Ngor Dor 91)
• For the e-Visa, proof of current location in India such as a house agreement, Aadhaar card or monthly electricity bill; Thai visas are issued only to applicants physically present in India throughout the e-Visa process
• A photo upload in colour, 630 x 810 pixels, on a plain white background, with the face filling 80-85% of the frame, taken within the last 6 months, as a JPG/JPEG of up to 3 MB

Enter your given name and surname exactly as in your passport and leave the middle-name field blank; the Embassy lists this among the common e-Visa mistakes.

Can you go to Thailand first and find a job there?

Indian ordinary passport holders can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days from 15 September 2026 until further announcement, but only for tourism and short-term business. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card notice states that foreigners are not allowed to work unless granted a Work Permit. A visa-exempt entry is therefore not a way to start working, and any job you find still depends on the employer completing the paperwork above.

Every arriving passenger must also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card, which foreigners submit 3 days in advance of their arrival date.

Which Thai visas do not depend on a Thai job offer?

None of these is listed by the Embassy as an employment visa. If your plan is to work for a Thai company, the Non-immigrant B (Employment) or IB route, followed by a work permit, is the one the Embassy describes.

What does the employment visa cost and how long does it take?

These rates apply at the Embassy and all Royal Thai Consulates-General in India from 27 April 2026. VFS Global adds a service charge of INR 500 per application if you use it. Visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when an e-Visa application is withdrawn.

The Embassy gives processing of approximately 14 working days from the date it receives the visa fee payment. It accepts no cash: you pay by bank transfer or UPI to its DBS Bank account, or by cash deposit at a DBS branch, and email the slip with the Payment Info Summary. Consulates-General publish their own payment options.

Which Thai mission handles your application?

You apply to the mission covering where you are located in India:

All applications are made online at thaievisa.go.th, either by you or through processing companies such as VFS Global, BLS International or DU Digital, or a travel agent. VFS put application acceptance at its Bengaluru Thailand centre on hold on 6 August 2026 until further notice.

Before you file: mistakes to avoid

• Treating a visa-exempt entry or a DTV as permission to work for a Thai company.
• Paying before confirming the category. Fees are non-refundable, even if you withdraw.
• Applying while outside India or to the wrong mission. You must be in India throughout and apply where you are located.
• Carrying the e-Visa only on your phone. It must be printed and shown at airline check-in and to Thai immigration.
• Assuming the visa lets you start work. The work permit is a separate requirement.

Your employer supplies the core documents, but your own file still needs accommodation evidence and travel details. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares hotel bookings, flight reservations, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set; for the employment visa, check whether your mission wants a confirmed ticket. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Thai work visa the same as a Thai work permit?

No. The Non-immigrant B (Employment) visa lets you enter Thailand for employment, while the Work Permit is what allows you to work. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card notice states that foreigners are not allowed to work unless granted a Work Permit.

Can a BOI-promoted company hire me without a WP.3?

Yes, a BOI-promoted company provides a BOI visa approval letter (in Thai) instead of the WP.3 (Thor Tor 3). The Embassy lists this as category IB, Investment through BOI, with the same INR 7,000 single-entry fee.

Can I apply for a Thai employment visa through VFS Global?

Every Thai visa is applied for online at thaievisa.go.th. You can apply yourself or through processing companies such as VFS Global, BLS International or DU Digital, or a travel agent; VFS adds a service charge of INR 500 per application.

How long can I stay on a single-entry Thai employment visa?

The single-entry Non-immigrant B or IB visa has 3 months' validity and allows a stay of 90 days. Multiple-entry B visas valid for 1 year (INR 13,500) or 3 years (INR 30,000) allow 90 days per entry.