Case study: preparing a work-permit file for a new foreign employee
A work permit is tied to the employer, the position and the stated work location, so the company-side and employee-side documents must agree. Mismatched job titles or premises details are the most frequent cause of follow-up requests.
The situation
An HR team onboarding a foreign hire
The company had to align employer-side and employee-side documents to apply for a work permit for a newly arrived foreign hire.
What actually blocked the file
- The job title in the employment contract differed from the title on the application form.
- The registered premises on the corporate documents did not match the stated place of work.
- Educational and experience credentials had not been certified and translated as required.
The sequence we ran
- Verified that corporate records were current and consistent with what would be filed.
- Aligned the job title and duties in the contract with the application form.
- Prepared credentials and experience letters with the required translations and certifications.
- Checked that the employee’s visa status was compatible with the application.
- Filed the complete set and handled the officer’s follow-up questions.
Outcome
The application proceeded without consistency-related follow-ups, and the company kept the checklist for future hires.
What to prepare for a Thai work permit application
- Passport bearing a visa category that permits employment
- Medical certificate in the form prescribed by the Department of Employment
- Employment contract or letter of employment from the employer
- Employer's corporate records, such as the company affidavit and financial statements
- Degree certificates and experience letters, translated and legalized as required
This list reflects the requirements published by the responsible authority on the verification date. Authorities may change their conditions, so confirm with the source before lodging. Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour · 2026-07-31 · source
How a Thai work permit application is processed
- Check that the role is not among the occupations reserved for Thai nationals under the Ministry of Labour’s notifications.
- Hold a visa category that permits employment before the work-permit application is filed.
- The employer assembles corporate documents such as the company affidavit, shareholder list and social-security registration evidence.
- The employee prepares the passport, the prescribed medical certificate and evidence of qualifications or experience matching the position.
- File with the employment office for the area where the workplace is located, or through the electronic system the Department operates.
- On approval, verify the position, workplace and employer recorded on the permit, and notify the office whenever those details change.
The steps below are drawn from the procedures the responsible authority publishes itself, with the source and verification date shown. Some steps depend on the case and may change with the authority’s own announcements. Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour · 2026-08-10 · source
Common reasons a Thai work permit application is refused
- The role falls within work reserved for Thai nationals
- The Ministry publishes occupations closed to foreign nationals. If the duties filed fall inside that list the application cannot be approved, and the job scope must be reworked.
- The visa category does not support employment
- A visa category permitting employment must be held before filing; a tourist or otherwise non-working category leaves nothing to process.
- Employer documents are outdated or inconsistent
- The company affidavit, shareholder list and social-security evidence must be current and mutually consistent — for instance the workplace address filed versus the registered address.
- Qualifications do not match the position applied for
- Degree certificates and experience letters must support the stated role, and foreign-issued ones generally need certification and translation in the required form.
Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour · 2026-08-10 · source
What to watch next time
- Make the job title, work location and corporate records agree across every document.
- Have credentials and experience letters certified in advance.
- Check visa status before filing so the steps do not collide.
Questions this case raises
- Is a work permit tied to the employer?
- Yes. It is issued for work with the stated employer, position and location; changes must be processed under the applicable rules.
- What does the company side need?
- Generally current corporate records, evidence of the premises and employment documentation; specifics depend on the business type and the receiving office’s practice.
- Must the employee stay in Thailand throughout?
- Certain steps require personal attendance, such as signing or a required appearance; preparation and filing can be handled on their behalf.
- Can you cover both the company and the employee side?
- Yes. We reconcile both sides, sequence the filing against the visa position and advise HR so the next hire runs smoothly.
Would rather not run this yourself?
We act as advisers from the first document review: we map which authority must sign in which order, prepare the file, and courier it for you. Fifteen-plus years of certification and legalisation work means we flag the usual rejection points before submission, not after.
Related reading
Last reviewed: 2026-08-11