If you are thinking of purchasing property in Thailand or moving to the Kingdom to permanent residence, you will probably face the issue of finding employment in the country. Are there any restrictions on the employment of foreigners? How does one go about finding a job? You can read about these issues in this article.
Employment issues in the Kingdom are important. First, you need to understand that the Thailand government and laws protect the rights of the local population and maintain a low unemployment level in the country, which is currently 0.94% according to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council for the first quarter of 2026. The minimum wage in Thailand ranges from 337 to 400 baht ($10.2 to $12.1) per day. The amount of wages usually varies depending on the province chosen for life. The highest rate applies in Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao and on Koh Samui, and the lowest one in the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.
There are certain occupations “forbidden” for foreigners in Thailand. To work, you must also have an appropriate visa to Thailand and a work permit. Working in a “prohibited” sector or without a permit is punishable by deportation and a ban on entry into the country for many years. However, there are still foreigners who, at their own peril and risk, conduct illegal labor activities.
Content:
- Forbidden occupations
- Work permit
- What are typical jobs for foreigners in Thailand?
- When working in Thailand is not your option
- Where to hunt for a job?
- What changed in the rules by 2026
- We will help you buy property in Thailand
- Frequently asked questions
"A work permit is tied to the employer and the position, not to the person. Change company and the document has to be reissued from scratch — and that is not a formality: you cannot work during that period. Half of the problems foreigners run into start right here."
— a labour migration lawyer working in Thailand
Forbidden occupations
These are mostly jobs that do not require a high skill level in employment sectors traditionally set aside for Thai nationals.
The current list has 40 entries split into four categories. Of these, 27 occupations are fully closed to foreigners. The rest are open under certain conditions: through intergovernmental agreements or the memorandum of understanding system. The Ministry of Labor reaffirmed the list in July 2025.
The list of forbidden occupations includes:
- Employment in the agricultural sector, animal husbandry, forestry, and fishery
- Construction works
- Wood carving
- Making musical instruments
- Tourism business, tour guiding
- Jewelry
- Sewing clothes and making shoes
- Pottery
- Street hawking
- Front shop sales
- Hairdressing, or beautification
- Printing and publishing business
- Working as a driver of any vehicles except autonomous ones
- And others
Work permit
Procuring a work permit costs the employer a fair amount of money and requires preparing multiple documents. Unethical employers do not want to deal with the documentation and tax payments and offer informal work. As already mentioned, this may result in a Thailand travel ban.
To procure a work permit, an employee must have a non-immigrant visa making them eligible for work. Most often, this is a Non-Immigrant B (Business) Visa.
If you are employed before coming to Thailand, you will need an original letter from the employer and copies of company registration documents and financial reporting to obtain a non-immigrant visa at the embassy. You need to apply for it 30 days before your supposed entry into Thailand.
If you found a job when already in Thailand and you do not hold a non-immigrant visa, you will need to apply for visa status alteration at an immigration office.
When you have the right visa, you may apply for a work permit, which is a small blue book.
The employee must submit the following documents:
- Passport
- Arrival details: the paper TM 6 form has been replaced by the digital arrival card filled in online before departure
- Education diploma (in some cases, a copy of the diploma needs to be stamped and certified by the embassy)
- Resume with a full outline of previous jobs
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
The employer needs to submit the following documents:
- Business registration certificate from the Department of Commercial Registration
- List of company shareholders from the Department of Commercial Registration
- VAT certificate (PP.20)
- VAT returns (PP.30)
- Tax deduction certificate
- Social benefits payment
A company cannot hire a foreigner simply because it wants to. Each foreign employee requires 2 million baht ($60,400) of registered capital and four Thai employees, with a maximum of 10 foreigners under this scheme.
The state fees are modest: 100 baht for filing the application, 750, 1,500 or 3,000 baht for a permit valid for 3, 6 or 12 months, and 1,900 baht for the visa extension.
A work permit is issued for a job at a specific company with a specific address. If you find another job, the company moves to a different address or you are transferred to another branch; your work permit needs to be re-issued. If you quit your job, you have to submit the work permit book to the Ministry of Labor within 10 days.
You must remember to extend your visa and work permit in due time. Along with all the other foreigners living in Thailand, you will need to submit a 90-Day Report to the immigration authorities. In many provinces, you can now do it online on the official website or via a mobile app. Holders of the long-term LTR visa report differently: once a year, also online.
How much you must earn to have your visa extended
A work permit is issued without reference to your salary, but when your visa is extended, the immigration authorities look at your income. The threshold depends on your nationality.
| Nationality | Minimum monthly salary |
|---|---|
| USA, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, Japan | 50,000 baht ($1,510) |
| Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea | 45,000 baht ($1,359) |
| Russia, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, South Africa | 35,000 baht ($1,057) |
| ASEAN countries and the rest of Africa | 25,000 baht ($755) |
For a Russian citizen this means a simple thing: a vacancy paying 25,000 to 30,000 baht will not get the visa extended, even if the employer completes every document properly. Teachers are a separate case — no salary threshold is set for them, but a license from the Teachers’ Council of Thailand is required.
What counts as work and what a mistake costs
Thai law treats far more than paid employment as work. The term also covers:
- volunteering and unpaid help;
- one-off paid talks and consultations;
- freelance assignments for foreign clients if you carry them out from Thailand without a suitable visa.
Since May 2026, the Department of Employment has been inspecting employers in all 76 provinces. Inspections used to focus on construction sites and markets; the list now includes tourism, hospitality, education, agriculture and online content production.
| Violation | Consequences |
|---|---|
| Working without a permit | A fine of 5,000 to 50,000 baht ($151 to $1,510), deportation and a two-year ban on obtaining a new permit |
| Working in an occupation closed to foreigners | Up to 5 years in prison |
| Hiring a foreigner without a permit | The employer pays 10,000 to 100,000 baht ($302 to $3,020) per worker |
| Hiring for a closed occupation | The employer pays 400,000 to 800,000 baht ($12,077 to $24,155) per worker |
This is why the offer to “work like this for now, we will sort out the papers later” is a bad deal for both sides.
What are typical jobs for foreigners in Thailand?
It will be easier for highly qualified professionals with a good education and work experience to find a job in Thailand. We have prepared a list of employment areas in Thailand in which foreign citizens can apply their professional skills.
English language tutor
The most popular occupation is an English teacher. Not only native speakers but also any foreigners with higher education and adequate knowledge of the English language can secure this job. A native speaker will make more money than those for whom English is not their mother tongue. You may need a language exam certificate like TEFL. The salary depends on the type of school: language schools pay 25,000 to 40,000 baht ($755 to $1,208) a month, while international schools pay from 80,000 to 170,000 baht ($2,415 to $5,133). You can find work of this kind in any Thai province. In Bangkok, the selection process is more rigorous and vacancies are fewer.
IT professionals
The IT industry is happy to employ foreigners. This area is now actively developing in Thailand, as new apps are being created, corporate websites improved and online services expanded. Salaries are quite high in this sector. A developer earns 30,000 to 50,000 baht ($906 to $1,510) a month on average across the country and about 99,000 baht ($2,989) in Bangkok. Cloud technologies, machine learning and cybersecurity pay best.
Marketing
Foreign professionals are also hired in the marketing field. Salary depends on the company and specific duties.
For example, a sales manager with knowledge of English can earn an average of 35,000 baht per month ($1,057).
Real estate agent
Agencies often need professionals with knowledge of foreign languages to attract foreign customers. You can sell apartments in Thailand. A fixed salary is rare for agents: the income is mostly commission on sales, so earnings depend heavily on the market and the number of closed deals.
Hospitality
Employees with knowledge of different languages are also required in hotels. However, foreigners can officially work only in managerial positions with special education. Wages in this case can reach 120,000 to 180,000 baht ($3,623 to $5,434) per month.
Modeling and cinema business
Another popular activity for foreigners is the modeling and film business. In Asia, models of both sexes with a European appearance are in demand. Salaries in this niche can vary quite a lot depending on the studio and the specific project, but most often it ranges from 2,000 to 100,000 baht ($60 to $3,020) or more per shoot.
Self-employment and remote work
A foreigner may open their own business in Thailand. However, the company must be 51% owned by a partner who is a Thai citizen, and there are restrictions concerning the ratio between foreign and Thai workers. There are exceptions to this rule: projects approved by the Board of Investment and US citizens covered by the Treaty of Amity may hold one hundred percent of the capital.
A popular way to make money is remote work for companies in your home country. This way, you do not need to procure a work permit. Since 2022, such work has also gained a legal basis. The DTV visa was launched in July 2024: it is valid for 5 years, costs 10,000 baht ($302) and grants 180 days per entry with an option to extend for another 180. It only covers work for a foreign client, and no Thai work permit is issued under the DTV. The second option is the LTR visa for those earning from $80,000 a year.
If you do find a job in Thailand, the minimum rate is 337 baht ($10.2) per day. Most likely, the salary of a foreigner will vary from 20,000 to 100,000 baht ($604 to $3,020) per month, depending on your qualifications.
When working in Thailand is not your option
Moving to the country does not always have to be tied to employment. In some situations, looking for a Thai employer makes no sense.
- You are counting on unskilled work. Almost all of it is closed to foreigners, and illegal employment now costs more than several months of earnings.
- You work remotely and earn more than 35,000 baht. Moving to a Thai company will most likely cut your income and add obligations to two states at once.
- You are coming with a family and counting on a language school teacher’s salary. Such pay covers the expenses of one adult; it will not be enough for a family, so calculate the costs in advance.
- You want to open a small business “for yourself”. The controlling share held by Thai partners and the staff quotas make this scheme heavy for a micro business.
| Your situation | Route | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Employment with a Thai company | Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit | An invitation from the employer and a salary at or above the threshold for your nationality |
| Remote work for a foreign company | DTV | A fee of 10,000 baht ($302), proof of funds from 500,000 baht ($15,100), 180 days per entry |
| High income from abroad | LTR | From $80,000 a year over the past two years, insurance from $50,000, one report a year instead of the 90-day one |
| Your own business in Thailand | A Thai company or a BOI-approved project | 51% held by Thai partners; BOI projects may be one hundred percent foreign-owned |
| You only need legal status and your income is not from Thailand | An investment visa or Thailand Privilege | An investment or a membership fee instead of employment |
Where to hunt for a job?
Nowadays, job hunting is mostly done online, just like in all other countries. For instance, there are Facebook groups with job openings for foreign employees and vacancies in Thailand. LinkedIn is also widely used. There are job board websites like Monster, Careerjet, Robert Walters, and Michael Page. The main local platforms are JobsDB and JobThai, which also list vacancies marked as open to foreigners. You can also apply at an employment agency or arrive in person and ask about a vacancy at a place you like a hotel or a real estate firm.
If you want to work in Thailand and move to the “Land of Smiles,” it is best to start looking for a job before moving, since this may take a long time. Another thing to remember is that you need to know at least one foreign language (English) to work abroad.
What changed in the rules by 2026
- The minimum rate has risen to 337–400 baht per day. In Bangkok it went up to 400 baht on July 1, 2025.
- The paper TM 6 card has been replaced by the digital arrival card, mandatory since May 1, 2025.
- The Ministry of Labor reaffirmed the list of closed occupations in July 2025: 40 entries, 27 of them fully closed.
- Since May 2026, inspections have been running in all 76 provinces, and fines for employers have grown.
- Two routes for remote work appeared that did not exist in 2022: the DTV from July 2024 and the LTR.
We will help you buy property in Thailand
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Frequently asked questions
Can I work remotely for a foreign company?
The DTV visa, available since July 2024, is designed for remote employees and freelancers. It does not allow you to work on the Thai market itself.
How much do I need to earn for a visa extension?
The threshold depends on nationality and position. For most Western nationals it starts around 50,000 baht a month, evidenced by a contract and tax payments.
Which occupations are closed to foreigners?
The list covers tour guiding, hairdressing, retail sales, driving and several dozen other roles. It is revised periodically, so check it again before taking a job.
What counts as working without a permit?
Almost any activity for payment, including one-off commissions and helping out in someone else's business. Fines and deportation are applied in practice, not just on paper.
Does employment lead to residency?
Not directly. But three years of continuous residence on a work visa with annual extensions opens the path to permanent residency, with a quota of 100 people per country per year.