Working legally in Thailand requires both a Non-Immigrant Visa Category B (Non-B) and a Thai work permit. For Australians, the Non-B is applied for at the Thai Consulate-General in Sydney or Melbourne before travelling. Visa Centre assists Australian nationals and their Thai employers with the full Non-B + work permit process, including the Australian-specific document requirements.
STEP 1 — NON-B VISA (APPLIED FOR IN AUSTRALIA)
Before you travel to Thailand to work, you must have a Non-B visa in your Australian passport. This is applied for at the Thai Consulate-General in Sydney (for NSW/QLD/WA/NT/SA) or Melbourne (for VIC/TAS/ACT).
What your Thai employer provides for the Non-B application:
• Employment offer letter (signed, company letterhead)
• Company registration certificate (DBD)
• VAT registration
• Latest 2 years financial statements
• Current employee list (Thai and foreign)
• Work permit quota approval from the Department of Employment
What you provide:
• Australian passport (minimum 18 months validity; at least 3 blank pages)
• Completed Non-B application form
• Passport photographs
• Degree certificate or professional qualifications (Thai employers often require this at the consulate stage)
• Criminal background check — see ACIC note below
THE ACIC CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
Many Thai employers and some Thai consulate applications require an Australian criminal background check from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). The ACIC check covers your Australian criminal history. This is separate from any overseas history. Processing: 5–15 business days. Order online at acic.gov.au. DFAT apostille may be required on the ACIC certificate — confirm with the Thai consulate.
For roles in education, healthcare, or with minors: the ACIC check is typically mandatory before the employer will proceed.
STEP 2 — WORK PERMIT (APPLIED FOR IN THAILAND)
After you arrive in Thailand on your Non-B, your employer submits the work permit application to the Department of Employment (or the BOI One Stop Service if they are BOI-promoted). Processing: 5–7 business days standard; 1–3 days at BOI OSS.
Your work permit specifies your employer, job title, and work location. Changing employers requires a new work permit.
ANNUAL RENEWAL
Both the Non-B extension (Immigration) and the work permit (Department of Employment) are renewed annually — ideally within the same 2-week window before expiry. Visa Centre tracks both for Australian employees on recurring renewal.
REMOTE WORKERS — DTV INSTEAD
If you work exclusively for Australian clients or employers and will not be an employee of a Thai entity, you may not need a work permit at all — the DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) is designed for this situation. Review the DTV service page.
HOW VISA CENTRE HELPS
We advise on the ACIC process and timing for Australian applicants, coordinate between you and your Thai employer for the Non-B consulate application, handle the work permit process in Thailand, and manage annual renewal for both documents.
General guidance only. Non-B and work permit requirements verified against Thai Immigration and DOE guidance as of June 2025. ACIC requirements vary by employer and role — confirm with your employer. No outcome guaranteed. Independent assistance agency; not affiliated with any government body.