Thailand Launches New Online Service for Work Permits and Visas

September 29, 2017 Posted by ASEAN Briefing Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Dezan Shira & Associates
Editor: Vasundhara Rastogi

Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has launched a new online visa service for BOI-registered companies in order to ease the visa application process. Under the new system, authorities will issue an electronic work permit to the applicants instead of the work permit booklet currently in use. A Single Window System will allow BOI-registered companies to apply for visas, work permits or renewals online.

Once an application is made, a confirmation email will be sent to the applicant’s email ID. After due process, the Single Window System will allow successful applicants to schedule an appointment online to collect their visa from the issuing authority. Previously, applicants had to wait hours in a queue to receive their visas and work permits.

Under the new program, applicants will be able to obtain their digital work permits at employment offices in Chiang Mai and Phuket, or the One-stop Service Center in Bangkok. While collecting the work permit or visa, applicants will be required to provide a photo and digital signature. According to the BOI notification, the program will be implemented in phases over the period of next 12 months starting from October 1, 2017.

RELATED: The Philippines Launches Visas on Arrival Program for Chinese Nationals

Initially, five BOI-selected companies will be trained to use the system and only the companies that have finished the training will be able to use the Single Window System to apply for the visas, work permits and renewals. BOI authorities will conduct four training sessions per week, covering around 30 companies in each session. Training will be available to companies on a first-come, first served basis.

The program will become mandatory from January 1, 2018, for all the companies using the One-Stop Service Center in Bangkok or the immigration offices in Chiang Mai and Phuket. By October 2018 the program will become mandatory across Thailand.

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