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Can I get a work permit on an ED visa if I have a job offer?

ED VisaWork PermitVisa RulesNon-Immigrant Visa
Jan 22, 2025
a month ago
Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
As an ED visa holder, can I get a work permit if I get a work contact. Thank you🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An ED visa holder cannot obtain a work permit directly while on that visa. To work legally in Thailand, one must switch to a suitable visa for work, such as the Non-Immigrant B visa, which requires leaving Thailand to apply. While some comments suggest that theoretically, it might be possible under certain circumstances or with document adjustments, the consensus is that an ED visa alone does not allow for work and a proper visa is needed to secure a work permit.
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Pertti *************
Yes and no. It is under consideration by the authorities. You can look job and apply to upgrade your staying status🙏 You can work here if your company/you applies new initial visa to spouse, business or investment segment and starts WP processing
a month ago
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Rich *****
Yes, Non immigrant or resident visa is required to apply for a work permit and an Ed Visa is a non immigrant visa so theoretically you can.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Rich ****
 cannot .
a month ago
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Frank **********
@Rich ****
 you are wrong.
a month ago
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Frank **********
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Nathan **********
Nope
a month ago
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Andre ***********
100 % NO
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
you cannot work on an ED visa. You would need to grab the documents supplied by your employer, exit Thailand without a re-entry permit, which will invalidate your ED visa, and apply for the Non-Imm-B visa by a neighbour country E-visa system.Wait until the visa is issued, re-enter Thailand and get a work permit at the Labour office before you take up work
a month ago
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Gregory ********
No
a month ago
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Bart **************
No, can't.
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much for your time and advice guys 🙏🙏🤍
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes they told me they will do the sponsorship, then I'll need to go to Malaysia or Laos get the non-B visa then come back
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Omar *****
 this is they right way to proceed. Your employer seems to know how the process is done. I would rely on his advice
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Omar *****
 so they told you what to do? Then why ask us here?
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
 because I don't know the process and I wanted an opinion from people who has more experience than me about rules in this country
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Omar *****
 your prospective employer sounds serious and knowledgeable about the matter. I trust they'll guide you through the process. As any respectable employer would, by the way.
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
 thank you🙏
a month ago
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Omar ******
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
 what I have to do I get an offer from a restaurant and they said that they can do me a contract and a sponsorship letter to change my visa statue and get a work permit ,but I don't know🤷‍♀
a month ago
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Tevis *******************
@Omar *****
 they also have minimum pay requirements and you’ll need to show a bank statement from your home country with a sufficient amount of funds. I forget what the the balance is but the wage has to be at least 59,000 baht per month.
a month ago
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Gregor **********
@Tevis ******************
 over 55,000 THB is the minimum wage for westerners. For Indians and Arabs, the required minimum wage is lower
a month ago
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Gregor **********
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Nongnuch ********
@Omar *****
 you would need to exit and re-enter on a visa exempt, in order to "change the visa status". The other option is, exit and apply in a neighbour country for the Non-Imm-B vis using the paperwork of oyur employer. I reckon the first option I mentioned is the easiest, maybe need the service of an agent to process the application properly
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Nongnuch *******
 the first option requires less time abroad but unlike with other visas, the requirements for in-country switching to non-B are a little heavier than abroad, so various companies kindly ask prospective employees to stay abroad for some time.

So, if it's a respectable employer, it gets you a free trip to a neighboring country 😊
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Bart *************
 true
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
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John **********
@Omar *****
 you would need to lose the ED visa and get a Non-B visa to be able to work and get a work permit. Speak to the company you say will sponsor you as they need to supply the paperwork. Most likely you will have to leave Thailand and apply for the Non-B elsewhere
a month ago
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John **********
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Garrett ***********
No, you cannot work on an ED visa
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 even if the company is offering me a work contract and sponsorship?
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Omar *****
 a company CANNOT give you a work permit. Only the Thai Labour Department can issue a work permit. If a company tells you that you can work for them on a "contract", they are SCAMMING YOU, they are allowing to let you work illegally. You need to cancel your ED visa, exit Thailand and use the paperwork from your employer to apply for a Non-Imm-B visa in a neighbour country
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Nongnuch *******
 hang on, no one is scamming anyone. Where in the whole story did anyone suggest that something illegal was intended?
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
 no they said we do you sponsorship and Everything about my visa change but I was a little bit worried because I don't know the process, that's why I asked here
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
did they really say "visa change", or did they say "change of reason" ? You could actually exit Thailand, re-enter visa exempt and apply for the "change of visa" from an exempt entry to a 90-days Non-Imm-B visa
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Garrett ***********
@Omar *****
 As Brandon said, the company would have to sponsor you for a Non-B visa and work permit. You'd have to cancel your ED visa, leave the country, and reenter on the Non-B.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Omar *****
 no
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Omar *****
 sponsorship means they will sponsor your visa. You would have to cancel your education visa and get a work visa. Education visas are work prohibited.
a month ago
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Omar ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 exactly what I'm asking, so they telling the truth
a month ago
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Tyler *******
@Omar *****
 we don’t know what they told you. But to answer your question, you can not work on an ED Visa. You would need to get a new type of visa that allows for a work permit, such as Non-B. Once you enter Thailand on that visa, then you can apply for work permit. Your job should walk you through this or get you an agent to help you.
a month ago
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Tyler *******
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