The Non-B visa and work permit for teachers
For almost every foreign teacher, the route is the same: a Non-immigrant B visa to enter, a work permit once you arrive and then a one-year extension of stay, renewed each year. Your school drives most of it.
Step 1: documents from you
Once you accept an offer, the school will ask for:
- your passport, with at least 18 months of validity if possible, since some offices check this against the length of the extension
- degree certificates and transcripts, which some schools ask you to have legalised by your country's foreign ministry and the Thai embassy
- a criminal record check from your home country, recent enough to be accepted
- passport photographs
- a CV and copies of teaching qualifications
Start the police check and legalisation early. In some countries they take several weeks.
Step 2: documents from the school
The school prepares an offer or employment letter and company or school registration documents. For some applicants, the school first obtains a pre-approval from the Department of Employment, which the embassy then uses when issuing the visa.
Step 3: the Non-B visa
Thailand now issues most visas through its official e-Visa website, thaievisa.go.th, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You apply online to the Thai embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you live, upload the school's documents and your own, and pay the fee. A single-entry Non-B lets you enter and stay for 90 days.
Step 4: the work permit
After you arrive, the school applies for your work permit with the Department of Employment. You will usually need a Thai medical certificate from a clinic or hospital, issued within the last month. The work permit names your employer, your job and your workplace. It does not allow work for anyone else.
Thailand now issues digital work permits alongside or in place of the old blue booklet in many cases. Your school will tell you which you have.
Step 5: permission to teach
In parallel, the school applies to the Teachers' Council for your permission to teach without a licence, or registers your licence. See teacher licence and permission to teach.
Step 6: the one-year extension
Before your 90 days run out, you and the school apply at the Immigration office for an extension of stay based on employment. Immigration may grant a short period "under consideration" first, then the full extension, up to one year from your entry date. You renew it each year while you remain in the job.
After that
- Report your address to Immigration every 90 days. See 90-day reporting and re-entry permits.
- Get a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand, or your extension ends when you leave.
- If you change jobs, your work permit and extension are tied to the old employer. The new school must start a new work permit, and timing matters, so get advice before resigning.
When to get legal help
Most teachers never need a lawyer. Cases where advice helps include changing employers mid-year, moving from a tourist or DTV visa to work status, a refused application or a dependant visa for a partner who is not your spouse. A Thai law firm that handles work permit and immigration matters can check your situation against current rules.
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.