Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), as amended
Governs visa categories, extensions of stay, residence notification and grounds of inadmissibility.
Practice area
Immigration & Foreign Nationals
Visas, work permits, residency and lawful status
Legal advice and filings on the status of foreign nationals in Thailand — visa categories, extensions, work permits, 90-day reporting, and difficult cases such as overstay, refusal and appeals.
What this practice covers
- Business, work, family, retirement and long-term visas
- Work permits and change of employer
- Extensions of stay and re-entry permits
- Overstay, entry refusal and review requests
- Permanent residence and naturalisation
- Supporting documents requiring certified translation and legalisation
How we work on your matter
- 1Review current status and immigration history
- 2Select the category with the strongest prospects on the facts
- 3Produce a tailored document checklist and verify completeness
- 4Translate and legalise foreign documents as required
- 5File the application and follow up until decision
Documents to prepare
- Passport with latest entry stamp and TM.6 where issued
- Proof of address and lawful accommodation notification
- Financial evidence or employment certification
- Civil-status documents such as marriage or birth certificates with certified translation
- Police clearance certificate where required
Points to watch
- Even one day of overstay is recorded and affects future applications.
- Requirements vary between immigration offices; verify before travelling to file.
- Never submit financial or employment documents that misstate the facts — it is an offence and leads to blacklisting.
Typical timeframe
Extensions are usually decided within weeks; permanent residence and naturalisation take years.
Timeframes are indicative only and depend on the authority, the court calendar and the completeness of your documents.
Maintaining lawful status in Thailand: what many people miss
Lawful stay does not end with the visa. Most long-term holders must report their address every 90 days to Immigration, ensure the TM.30 residence notification is filed by the property owner, and obtain a re-entry permit before travelling abroad. Missing any of these can void the visa or attract fines.
Working in Thailand requires a work permit separate from the visa. Even a business visa only permits stay for work purposes — starting work without the permit is an offence for both employee and employer. Certain occupations are reserved for Thai nationals under the Emergency Decree on Foreigners’ Working Management.
If a visa is refused or revoked, there is usually a route to appeal or reapply by addressing the stated grounds. We analyse the refusal notice, prepare supporting documents and file correctly — but the final decision always rests with the immigration officer or embassy.
Foreign documents used in immigration matters
Marriage certificates, birth certificates, police clearances and financial documents from abroad submitted to Thai Immigration generally must be authenticated in the issuing country, translated into Thai or English, and the translation legalised at the Department of Consular Affairs. The exact chain differs by country.
A common mistake is submitting documents with an incomplete legalisation chain or an uncertified translation, which suspends the application until corrected. Preparing documents properly the first time avoids repeat travel and extra cost.
Our office combines certified translation, consular legalisation and embassy liaison in one place, so clients avoid dealing with multiple authorities. We check each authority’s current requirements before every filing, because regulations change.
Laws that govern this matter
Summarised for general understanding only. The application of each provision depends on the facts of your case.
Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Foreigners B.E. 2560 (2017)
Governs work permits and permissible occupations for foreigners.
Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (1965), as amended
Sets the criteria for Thai nationality and related permanent-residence considerations.
Example situations and how they are handled
These are constructed examples used to explain procedure. They are not client matters, and no outcome is implied or guaranteed.
Illustrative scenario: extension refused over financial evidence
Situation: The applicant meets the amount but not the required seasoning period.
Usual approach: Verify seasoning rules and evidence format before the filing date and allow time for bank letters; document practice varies between immigration offices. (Hypothetical.)
Advice for your specific situation
Long-stay foreign residents
- Never overstay even by a day — it affects future applications.
- Keep arrival cards, residence notifications and receipts — they are often requested later.
Employers hiring foreign staff
- Keep the work-permit position aligned with actual duties to reduce inspection risk.
- Prepare company documents in advance — financial statements and tax filings are commonly required.
Every matter — what to do in the first 7 days
- Gather every original document in one place, keep scanned copies, and note the date you received each one.
- Write a dated timeline — the date you received a notice or learned of the event usually starts the limitation or appeal clock.
- Do not sign a settlement, debt acknowledgement or withdrawal before a lawyer reviews it — it may extinguish existing rights.
- Preserve digital evidence unaltered (full screenshots, original files, emails with headers) — edited files are easy to challenge.
Official sources you can check
Rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before filing.
This service in your province
Province pages set out the courts and authorities with jurisdiction locally, and answer the questions people in that area ask.
Immigration & Foreign Nationals — BangkokImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Chiang MaiImmigration & Foreign Nationals — PhuketImmigration & Foreign Nationals — ChonburiImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Khon KaenImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Udon ThaniImmigration & Foreign Nationals — SongkhlaImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Surat ThaniImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Chiang RaiImmigration & Foreign Nationals — RayongImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Nonthaburi
Frequently asked questions
Does a visa alone allow me to work?
No. Working in Thailand requires a valid work permit, which is separate from the visa.
What must be done with foreign documents?
They generally need authentication in the issuing country, translation into Thai or English, and legalisation of the translation at the Department of Consular Affairs.
Does Thailand accept Apostille yet?
Thailand acceded to the Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, entering into force on 28 February 2027. Until then, consular and embassy legalisation remains the route.
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Speak with an attorney about your matter
Tell us the facts and we will explain the options, the documents required and the realistic timeframe before you decide.