Thailand's Non-B visa: a Thai job or company comes first
It's the visa for Americans hired by a Thai employer, teaching in a Thai school, or running their own Thai business. The sponsor carries most of the paperwork.
Since September 2026, Americans get 30 visa-free days in Thailand, for tourism only. Business trips and any kind of work now need a Non-B before you fly.
Three Americans this visa fits
Hired by a Thai company
Your employer gets Ministry of Labour approval before you apply, then handles the work permit once you land.
Teaching English
A school sponsors you. Bring a degree and an FBI background check, both legalized before you fly. Most TEFL teachers get a temporary license waiver from the Teachers Council.
Running your own company
The Treaty of Amity lets U.S. citizens own 100% of a Thai company instead of the usual 49%, outside sectors like transportation, land and deposit banking.
Before you apply
The employer has to qualify, not just you
Here's the catch: the Non-B only gets you in the door. You can't work, or be paid, until your work permit is issued.
For a one-year stay, immigration looks for a company with at least 2 million baht (about $59,800) in paid-up capital and four Thai employees for every foreigner. Some jobs stay closed to foreigners whoever hires you, including driving, hairdressing, Thai massage, tour guiding and legal services.
- Working for a Thai company or Thai clients: this is your visa
- Paid remotely from abroad: look at the Destination Thailand Visa, which asks for 500,000 baht (about $14,940) in savings
- Earning $80,000 a year or more for the past two years: the LTR highly-skilled professional visa skips the four-Thai-staff rule
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Work/Business)
For employment or business activities. Initial 90-day stay, extendable with a work permit.
- Government cost
- $80
- Processing time
- ~5 days
- Timeline
- 90 days (extendable up to 1 year with work permit)
- Difficulty
- Hard
Key requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Confirmed job offer or business partnership in Thailand
- Employment contract or business documents
- Supporting documents from sponsoring company
About that data card
The card lists processing at 5 days. The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington says to allow up to 15 business days. The embassy also asks for two things the card doesn't list: the Ministry of Labour approval your employer gets for you (WP32), and three months of bank statements showing at least $1,000 a month per person.
The numbers that matter (September 2026)
$80
90-day single-entry visa
Filed on the Thai e-Visa site
$200
1-year multiple-entry business visa
For frequent business trips
About $93
One-year work permit
3,100 baht in fees
About $57
One-year extension of stay
1,900 baht, every year
About $1,490
Minimum monthly salary for Americans
50,000 baht a month
About $114
Multiple re-entry permit
3,800 baht; single is 1,000
The steps
From job offer to a one-year stay
1. Your employer gets approval
Your Thai employer applies to the Ministry of Labour for your approval letter and gathers its registration, tax statements and shareholder lists.
2. You apply online
Americans file through the Thai e-Visa site only, with a passport valid for six months or more and three months of bank statements.
3. Land and get the work permit
You get 90 days on arrival and 15 days to file for the work permit, with a medical certificate. Permits now run through the online e-Work Permit system, and since July 2026 a temporary WP.62 permit lets you start before the card arrives.
4. Extend for a year
Apply for a one-year extension at immigration, usually with proof of tax and social security payments. Plan on four to eight weeks from signed offer to working legally.
Staying legal
Report your address every 90 days (2,000 baht, about $60, if you're late). Get a re-entry permit before any trip abroad, or leaving cancels your extension. Overstays cost 500 baht a day, up to 20,000 baht (about $600).
People who can help
Baan Thai Immigration Solutions
Thailand Visa Services
Thailand visa and relocation service that handles immigration paperwork for people moving to Thailand.
Padonda Ali
Thailand Local Guide
Bangkok-based local guide who helps newcomers get settled in the city.
International TEFL Academy
TEFL Instruction, Certification
Offers TEFL courses and certification for Americans planning to teach English abroad.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
Healthcare coach who helps expats plan how they'll get and pay for care abroad.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Global health insurance for people living outside their home country.
The bigger picture
Family, taxes and where this leads
Bringing family
Your spouse and children come on a Non-O dependent visa with legalized marriage or birth certificates. It lets them live in Thailand, not work, and it depends on you keeping your work permit.
Taxes on both sides
Spend 180 days in Thailand in a year and you're a Thai tax resident. Thai pay is taxed at 5% to 35%, plus social security of 5%, capped at 875 baht (about $26) a month. The U.S. still taxes you, but the two countries have a tax treaty and the 2026 foreign earned income exclusion covers up to $132,900. There's no U.S.-Thailand Social Security agreement.
Permanent residence
After three straight years of extensions, you can apply if you earn 80,000 baht (about $2,390) a month or pay enough Thai tax. Thailand takes 100 people per nationality a year, and approval costs 191,400 baht (about $5,720).
Non-B visa questions
How much does a Thailand Non-B visa cost for U.S. citizens?
The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington charges $80 for a 90-day single-entry Non-B and $200 for a one-year multiple-entry business Non-B. Once you're in Thailand, a one-year work permit adds about $93 (3,100 baht) and each one-year extension of stay about $57 (1,900 baht), at September 2026 exchange rates.
Can I use a Non-B visa to work remotely for a U.S. company?
The Non-B is built for work done for a Thai employer or Thai clients, and it only lets you work once a Thai work permit is issued. Americans paid remotely from abroad usually look at the Destination Thailand Visa instead, which asks for 500,000 baht (about $14,940) in savings and allows stays of up to 180 days per entry.
What happens if I leave Thailand without a re-entry permit?
Your one-year extension is canceled the moment you leave, and you'd have to start the visa process over. A single re-entry permit costs 1,000 baht (about $30) and a multiple one 3,800 baht (about $114); you can buy one at immigration offices or major airports.
Does a Non-B visa lead to permanent residence in Thailand?
It can. After at least three consecutive years of one-year extensions and work permits, you can apply if you earn at least 80,000 baht (about $2,390) a month or pay enough Thai income tax. Thailand grants 100 permanent residence places per nationality each year, and the fees are 7,600 baht to apply plus 191,400 baht (about $5,720) on approval.
Can my spouse work in Thailand if I have a Non-B visa?
Not on the dependent visa. A spouse joins on a Non-O dependent visa, which allows them to live in Thailand but not to work. To work, they need their own Non-B visa and a work permit from a qualifying employer.
How long does it take to get a Thai work visa and work permit?
The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington says to allow up to 15 business days for the visa. From a signed job offer to working legally in Thailand, employers typically plan on four to eight weeks, or two to three weeks with a company promoted by Thailand's Board of Investment.
Can Americans work in Thailand on the 30-day visa exemption?
No. Since September 2026 the 30-day visa exemption for Americans covers tourism only, and business travelers are expected to get a Non-Immigrant B visa before they fly. Working without a work permit can mean fines of 5,000 to 50,000 baht (about $150 to $1,490) and deportation.
Do I pay Thai taxes on a Non-B visa?
Yes, on your Thai salary. Anyone in Thailand 180 days or more in a year is a Thai tax resident, with rates from 5% to 35%, and foreign income earned since January 2024 is taxable when you bring it into Thailand. Americans also file U.S. returns; the 2026 foreign earned income exclusion covers up to $132,900, and a U.S.-Thailand tax treaty exists.
Not sure the Non-B is your route?
Talk it through with an Expatsi advisor and leave with a plan for your move to Thailand.
Why not you?