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Foreign citizens who need to come to Thailand for business activities must file for a Thai Business Visa. The Thailand Business Visa is under the Thai Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B.” The Thai authorities grant visas in the “B” category for the reasons below:

  • To do business without receiving pay.
  • To do paid work, for which you will additionally require a work permit.
  • To make a business investment in Thailand.

This essay will tell you about Thailand business visas, how to get them, their requirements, and some common questions about the Thailand business visa.

Who Needs a Thailand Business Visa?

Foreign citizens who will go to Thailand for business purposes, such as attending meetings, negotiating transactions, and so on, but will not be compensated by a Thai firm for their services, require a Thailand Business Visa.

Although several countries offer visa exemptions for Thailand, these are mainly primarily for tourism purposes. As a result, if you are from a visa-exempt nation, you had better check with a Thai embassy to see if you require a business visa even if you will not be working.

Furthermore, if you often go to Thailand to do business, you may obtain a one-year visa that allows repeated visits for up to 90 days each time you visit the country.

Please remember that if you wish to work, you’ll also need a Thai Work Permit, which you won’t be able to get if you don’t have a “B” Category Non-Immigrant Visa.

What is a Thailand Business Visa?

What Are the Thailand Business Visa Types?

Thailand’s government grants two kinds of business visas:

  • A Thai business visa with a single entry permits foreigners to enter Thailand once and remain for up to 90 days.
  • The Thai business visa multiple-entry is valid for one year. This visa allows foreigners to enter Thailand numerous times and remain for up to 90 days per entrance.

What are the Required Documents for a Thailand Business Visa Application?

The following documents are required to complete your Thai business visa application:

  • A valid passport. The passport should be at least six months old and have at least 2 blank pages.
  • An application form for a Thailand business visa that has been completed and signed. You may also be able to get it from the embassy’s website or obtain it in person at the Thai embassy.
  • A passport-sized photo of yourself
    • 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
    • White background
    • Six months old at most.
    • Taken with a neutral facial expression
    • Your face must be fully visible.
    • Headgears for religious purposes are allowed.
    • Glasses that do not have heavy frames are allowed.
  • Evidence of adequate financial resources to fund the period of your stay. If you are going alone, you will require 20,000 Thai Baht and 40,000 Thai Baht if you travel with a family.
  • A letter written by your employer. This letter must specify your position in the company you work for, how long you’ve been there, your income, and why you’re in Thailand.
  • An invitation letter from the Thai corporation.
  • Documents demonstrating your communications and interactions with your Thai business partners.
  • A list of documents related to the company inviting you to Thailand. The corporate documents are signed by the company’s board of directors and managing director and bear the company’s seal.
    • They have a business license and are registered as a business.
    • The following is a list of the company’s shareholders.
    • The organization’s profile
    • The specifics of the company’s operations
    • Balance sheets, Income Tax, and Business Tax statements for the organization’s previous year.
    • The location of the firm is depicted on a map.

Note: You may be asked to provide further papers if the representative office deems it necessary. All papers you provide must be notarized and translated into Thai or English.

How to Apply for a Thailand Business Visa?

You must file for a Thai business visa through one of Thailand’s diplomatic missions in your country or a nation nearby.

  1. Initiate contact with the Thai embassy. On their website, you can also find out about their special criteria for appointments, visa application submissions, operating hours, and visa payment of fees and payment methods. Different embassies may have their unique set of needs.
  2. Gather the necessary documentation for a Thai Business Visa.
  3. Submit an application form for a Thai Business Visa. There are two ways you can use to submit the application.
    1. You can apply in person on the day of your visit to the embassy.
    2. You can apply by mail. You must consider providing a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope in order for the embassy to deliver your passport and documentation.
  4. Wait for the personnel at the embassy to handle your visa application.
  5. Get your passport and other paperwork.
    1. You must pick up the passport personally if you apply in person.
    2. They will be sent to you if you apply via mail.

If the Thai officials approve your Thai business visa, you must visit the country within the time frame specified on the visa.

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How Long is a Thailand Business Visa Application Process?

The time it takes for a Thailand business visa is determined by the representative office where you apply. It regularly takes 5 to 10 business days to process a business visa. However, some offices can process visas in as short as two days.

How Much is the Thailand Business Visa Fee?

The fee of a Thailand Business Visa varies according to the type of visa you get. As an example:

  • The fee of a single-entry visa is about USD 65.
  • The charge for a multiple-entry visa is about USD 164.

Depending on the local currency, the costs may differ somewhat from one nation to the next. Furthermore, the manner of payment for visa fees might vary because some offices only accept payments in cash, while others may need you to pay by a bank transaction.

Can I Bring My Family Members to Thailand Under a Business Visa?

The dependent family members (like your spouse and dependent children) you wish to bring to Thailand must obtain a category “O” Non-Immigrant Visa. This visa allows them to stay for up to a year in the country.

Can I Apply for a Thailand Business Visa on Arrival?

Citizens of certain countries can apply for Thailand visas on arrival, which are strictly for tourism purposes. So, if you want to conduct business in Thailand or work there, you need to obtain a Thailand business visa from a Thai embassy in your country.

Can I Switch a Thailand Tourist Visa to a Business Visa?

You can change your visa category at the Thai Immigration Bureau office in Bangkok if you come to Thailand under a Thai tourist visa and plan to conduct business while there.

If you enter Thailand using a Thai visa on arrival, you may not be able to change visa categories since the visa on arrival is not subject to extensions.

What Is the Difference Between a Business Visa and Work Visa for Thailand?

Business Visas and Work Visas in Thailand are technically the same: they fall under the “B” Category. But, a B Non-immigrant Visa does not allow you the right to work in Thailand. Foreigners who wish to work and get paid in Thailand must file for a work permit.

The words work visa and business visa are not used among Thai officials; instead, they are used by expats and visitors.

To summarize, the distinction between the two visas is as follows:

  • A Thai business visa is a Non-Immigrant Visa of the “B” Category that permits you to visit Thailand for business purposes without being compensated by a Thai organization.
  • A Thai work visa is also a Non-Immigrant Visa of Category “B.” You cannot work with just the visa. A Thailand Work Permit is required to work and get paid by a Thai company. Once you have obtained a work permit, you will be able to live in Thailand under what is known as a “Work Visa.”

Conclusion

A Thailand business visa offers good conditions for foreigners to come to the land of Thailand and perform business. However, this Thai Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” only allows foreign nationals to do business without receiving pay, do paid work (with a work permit), or make a business investment in Thailand. This visa does not allow international students to work in Thailand.

The steps of getting this visa are the same as the other Thai visas. You can apply in person and online. The requirements are also similar to other visas, but some conditions are related to the traveler’s employer and workplace.

If you like to know more about the conditions of Thailand visas, contact our team or write your questions in the comment section.

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