Business Visa for Thailand
A Business Visa, Work Permit or Investment Opportunities in Thailand requires a complex process in which various Thai documents are needed. You would be required to apply for one or more of these visas at a Thai consulate or Embassy in your home country or any Thai consulate outside the borders of Thailand. Should you be in Thailand and wish to apply, your best bet would be to go to the closest Thai consulate at Penang Malaysia.
Please be aware that should you be a foreigner carrying a passport from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, Libya or Egypt, then you will be required to apply for these visas at a Thai consulate or Embassy where you have permanent residence. Should you wish to establish a company and build a business in Thailand, it is essential that you be aware that you would be obliged to take on a Thai national as a business partner. Your Thai associate would retain a majority stake within the company with no less than 51 percent of the total shares. This could also be achieved with multiple Thai shareholders retaining a combined 51 percent of the shares. You would be allowed no more than a 49 percent share in the company.
For further information you can visit
www.thaivisa.com
There are various types of non-immigrant visa that are currently available for your specific and individual needs. One is the Non-Immigrant B or Business Visa, another is the Non-Immigrant B-A or Business Approved Visa and one other is the Non-Immigrant I-B or Investment and Business Visa.
Business Visa Categories
Non-Immigrant (B) Business Visa
A Non-Immigrant Business Visa shall allow you a stay in Thailand for a maximum period of up to 90 days. Once this period is completed, a further extension of stay in the Kingdom for a period of one year calculated from the date of arrival can be applied for at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok. Once this period is completed, the whole process would have to revert to the beginning again. A tedious process no doubt.You will be required to provide the following documentation 1) A completed Visa application form. 2) A passport with no less than 6 months validity. 3) Two recent 5x6 cm full-faced quality photos. (no hats or sunglasses) 4) A Document displaying correspondence with a trading partner or partners in Thailand. 5) Indication of adequate finances. 6) List of shareholders. 7) Business registration and business license. 8) Details of company profile and business operations. 9) List of foreign workers with their full names, nationalities and work assignments.
Non-Immigrant (B-A) Business Approved Visa
Should you qualify for a Non-Immigrant Business Approved Visa and your application is approved to conduct business or investments in Thailand, the administration of justice at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok will advise the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Consulate-General via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue you with the required visa. You shall then be permitted to stay for a period of one year from the date of your first entry into the Kingdom.
Non-Immigrant (I-B) Investment Business Visa
A Non-Immigrant Investment and Business Visa shall be issued to allow you employment to work on investment projects with the approval of the (BOI) Board of Investment of Thailand. Projects such as the promotion of export, the increase of local employment, the utilization of local raw materials, the encouragement of new technology are just a few of the benefits leveraged towards the various provinces throughout the country. This should ultimately bring substantial benefit to Thailand and it's people.
For further information you can visit the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Although I have never worked or started a business in Thailand, I have conducted some business in the country. As an art gallery owner, I had purchased many paintings and metal art sculptures which I then shipped back home. This of course is a very simple procedure for which I can offer some assistance to help you with both air and sea freight.
Application for a Work Permit
To obtain a permit for the purposes of working in Thailand, you must first apply for a work permit at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration Department of Employment (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare) in which you will be obligated to pay income tax accordingly. If the company to which you are to be employed is located in one of the provinces, you would need to apply at the Employment Office of that particular province. You will be required to provide the following documentation 1) Non-Immigrant B Visa. 2) Signed copies of all your pages of your passport. 3) A departure card Tm.6. 4) A signed copy of your education certificate. 5) Signed copies of any certificates or licenses you may have. 6) A detailed resume or CV. 7) Three recent 5x6 cm quality photos. (no hats or sunglasses)
A One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits was established in July 1997 in Bangkok to simplify and speed up the process of these visa extensions and work permits. The Centre can be located at 207 Rachadapisek Road, Krisda Plaza, 3-5th Floors,Dindaeng, Bangkok 10310 Tel: (662) 693 9333-9, Fax: (662) 693 9340. Once you have acquired all these details, the Thai government requires that all the documents have the seal of a company stamp or approval by your prospective employer.
The perfect book should you be thinking of starting or buying a business in Thailand. This very well written guide is full of information on how to run a business in Thailand including practical tips by successful foreign business people from various industries such as e-commerce and exporting. This book also provides tips on how to own a guest house, restaurant or bar. This book will also save you lots of headaches, time and money.
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