Visas and work permits for teachers
Working legally in Thailand takes several separate approvals. They come from different offices and each one depends on the last. This section puts them in order.
The pieces
| Approval | Issued by | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Non-immigrant B visa | Thai embassy or consulate, mostly via the e-Visa system | Lets you enter Thailand for work, initially for 90 days |
| Work permit | Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour | Lets you do a specific job for a specific employer |
| Permission to teach or licence | Teachers' Council of Thailand | Lets you teach in a Thai school |
| Extension of stay | Immigration Bureau | Extends your stay for up to a year based on your job |
| Re-entry permit | Immigration Bureau | Keeps your extension valid when you travel abroad |
Guides
The Non-B visa and work permit for teachers
Step by step: how teachers get a Non-B visa, a Thai work permit and a one-year extension of stay, which documents schools need and how long each stage takes.
90-day reporting, TM30 and re-entry permits
The routine immigration tasks for teachers living in Thailand: reporting your address every 90 days, the landlord's TM30 notification and getting a re-entry permit before you travel.
If you are already in Thailand on another visa
Changing to a Non-B inside Thailand is sometimes possible, but it depends on the visa you hold and the immigration office's practice at the time. Ask your school's HR team or a lawyer before you assume it can be done without leaving the country.
Written by the Charlie House editorial team. Last checked October 2026. Thai rules change often. Check with the school, the immigration office or the agency concerned before you act on anything here.