Thinking of teaching English in Thailand? One of the most important things for you to get right is the visa, as getting this wrong can lead to fines, detention and even deportation. So lets get into the visa options for teaching in Thailand.
Hi, my name is Ben. I’ve been living in Thailand for around 8 years now, and for 5 of those years I worked in Thai schools as an English teacher. In that time I’ve learned a lot about Thai visas — both from my own experience and from friends who’ve been through the process. I like to share what I’ve learned, and today I’ll be breaking down everything I know about the correct visa for teachers.
In this blog post, we’ll cover:
- What are the visa options for teachers
- Requirements for the visa and visa extension
- Visa costs & financial requirements
- Warnings and considerations
- How to apply
- Maintaining the visa
Requirements can vary slightly depending on the immigration office, and they do change from time to time. So it’s always best to double-check with your local Thai embassy for the initial visa, and with your local immigration office for the extension.
What is the Teaching Visa?
When it comes to working as a teacher in Thailand, my understanding is that you basically have two options:
- The Non-Immigrant B
- The Non-Immigrant O (if it’s been granted on the grounds of being married to a Thai citizen)
Neither of these visas gives you the right to work on its own — but each allows you to apply for a work permit, and it’s the visa-plus-work-permit combination that lets you work legally in the Kingdom of Thailand.
The Non-Immigrant B (Business) Visa is the main visa for foreigners who want to work, teach, or conduct business in Thailand. It is commonly used by teachers, company employees, business owners, and professionals who have been sponsored by a Thai employer or company. A standard Non-B visa usually allows an initial 90-day stay. During that time, your employer can help you obtain a work permit and, if you qualify, extend your stay for up to one year, with annual renewals possible as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
Now it is also possible to work while staying in Thailand on the Non-Immigrant O visa, so long as you have been granted the Non-O visa on the grounds of being married to a Thai citizen. (You can also be granted a Non-O on the grounds of retirement, but you can’t apply for a work permit in that case).
I would like to stress again that simply holding a Non-B or Non-O visa alone does not give you the legal right to work — you must also have a valid work permit before starting employment.
Teaching visa requirements
I’m going to break down the requirements for applying for the Non-Immigrant B visa here — if you want the full breakdown of the Non-Immigrant O (Marriage) visa, go here: [link]
As with most Non-Immigrant class visas, there are broadly two parts to the application: first, the requirements for the initial 90-day Non-Immigrant B visa that you apply for before entering Thailand, and then the requirements for the one-year extension you’ll apply for once you’re in Thailand.
Requirements for Applying for the Non-Immigrant B Visa (Before Entering Thailand)
(Based on the London Thai Embassy — requirements may vary depending on the embassy or consulate).
- Passport or travel document
- Photograph taken within the last six months
- Proof of current residence
(e.g., utility bill showing name and address) - Financial evidence showing at least £700
- Letter from relevant authority such as Ministry of Education, University, or International School
- Certificate of criminal record clearance from the country of residence, e.g., ACRO, DBS, issued by the national police unit (valid for 6 months after the issuing date)
Some embassies may request additional documents such as bank statements, criminal background checks, or extra proof of relationship, so always check the specific requirements of the embassy where you’ll apply.
Requirements for the One-Year Extension (Inside Thailand)
Sourced from Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau’s website;
https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?p=14714
Criteria:
- You hold a Non-Immigrant Visa
- Your school has government-approved permission to operate
- Your school has confirmed you and formally requested your extension
Documents required:
- Application form
- Copy of passport
- Copy of work permit
- Copy of the institution’s evidence of permission to operate
- Letter of confirmation/request for stay from the school (title, salary, employment term) + copy of teacher appointment letter in Private Education Commission (PEC) format
- Copy of teaching license, or Teachers’ Council of Thailand waiver letter/waiver-acknowledgment letter
Both the visa and the visa exemption stages require documents from your employer, so applying only makes sense once you’ve actually landed a teaching job — this isn’t something you can prepare for solo.
Visa Costs and Financial Requirements
Here’s a breakdown of the main costs involved in obtaining and extending a Non-immigrant B visa for teachers.
Visa Fees:
- 90-day Single-Entry Non-Immigrant B Visa: approximately 1,900 THB (applied for at a Thai embassy or consulate before entering Thailand; the exact fee is set in local currency and varies by country)
- 1-Year Extension Based on Employment: 1,900 THB (paid at your local immigration office in Thailand)
- Re-Entry Permit (optional, but necessary if you plan to leave Thailand without cancelling your extension):
single re-entry, 1,000 THB;
multiple re-entry, 3,800 THB
Financial Requirements:
Financial requirements vary by embassy — the Royal Thai Embassy in London lists a minimum of 700 GBP (roughly 30,000 THB) in bank statements or sponsorship evidence. This applies to the initial 90-day visa application, not the annual extension.
Teaching Visa Warnings and Considerations
I always like to include a section like this when talking about visas, because situations can change, rules can be interpreted differently, and it’s important to understand the potential risks before making long-term plans.
Your Visa is Tied to Your Employment Status
Teachers in Thailand are typically offered contracts for a single school year, and the visa extension you apply for will align with the dates of that contract — meaning your visa expires when your contract does. So if you quit or get fired, you won’t just be losing your job, you’ll be losing your visa too. You may be able to apply for a 7-day grace period at your local immigration office if you find yourself unemployed, but this isn’t guaranteed — it’s granted at the immigration officer’s discretion and has to be actively applied for.
At the end of the year, if you and your employer want to continue working together and they offer you a new contract, you can apply for renewal before your visa expires to repeat the process.
The Visa Does Not Automatically Allow You to Work
A Non-B visa makes it possible to get a work permit, but it does not give you the right to work on its own. You must still apply for and be issued a work permit before you can work legally in Thailand. Working without one can lead to fines, visa cancellation, or other penalties.
Moving Schools isn’t always a Simple Process
In some cases you can move employer-to-employer without leaving Thailand — a short transfer window, typically around 21 days — but often you have to leave the country and reapply for a fresh Non-B at an embassy or consulate. That’s extra cost and downtime worth flagging for anyone job-hopping between schools.
Renewal Each Year isn’t Guaranteed
Each extension is granted at the immigration officer’s discretion, year to year, based on the same criteria being met again — valid work permit, valid school confirmation letter, valid license or waiver. It’s not automatic just because you had it last year.
How to Apply – Step-by-Step Process (Application Process)
Let’s go through the actual application process. Here is a simple step-by-step guide to how it works from start to finish:
Step 1 — Apply for the Non-Immigrant B Visa (90 days)
Your first step is to apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa at a Thai embassy or consulate outside Thailand. You’ll need to provide proof of employment, potentially financial evidence, and basic supporting documents. Once approved, you’ll receive a 90-day entry visa.
Step 2 — Enter Thailand and Get Your Work Permit
After arriving in Thailand, your school will apply for your work permit through the Ministry of Labour. You’ll need this in hand before you can legally start teaching, and it’s also one of the required documents for your one-year extension.
Step 3 — Apply for the One-Year Extension at Your Local Immigration Office
Visit your local immigration office. You may go as a group with other teachers from your school, or be sent alone with all your documents. You’ll have your documents checked, answer a few basic questions, and pay the 1,900 THB fee. You should receive your extension the same day, as long as you have all the correct documents and the immigration officers are satisfied with your application.
Step 4 — Maintain the Visa
After approval, you must keep your visa in good standing. This means reporting your address every 90 days, updating your TM30 if you move, and obtaining a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand.
Maintaining the Visa
Once your one-year extension is approved, there are a few responsibilities you need to keep on top of throughout the year to avoid problems at your next renewal.
90-Day Reporting:
Every 90 days you must report your current address to immigration. This can be done online, in person, or by mail. Missing a report isn’t the end of the world, but it may lead to a fine and can complicate future renewals. Keep in mind that the 90-day count resets every time you leave and re-enter Thailand.
Re-Entry Permits:
If you plan to leave Thailand at any time, you must obtain a re-entry permit before you travel. Without one, your entire one-year extension is automatically cancelled the moment you leave the country. A single re-entry permit costs 1,000 THB, and a multiple re-entry permit costs 3,800 THB.
TM30 / Change of Address:
If you move house, you or your landlord must update the TM30. Immigration may refuse future extensions if your address isn’t properly registered.
These are the main things to stay on top of each year. As long as you handle 90-day reporting, re-entry permits, and TM30 updates correctly, maintaining the teacher’s visa is generally straightforward.