Work permits and foreign worker records
Work permits are issued by the Department of Employment under the Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 (2017). They evidence the period you legally worked in Thailand when filing abroad.
A work permit is an official document, which puts it in a different class from an employer-issued letter. Because a state agency issued it, authenticity can be verified with that agency directly and notarial signature certification is usually unnecessary. The working route is: obtain the agency-certified record or copy, translate it, then legalise the translation at the Department of Consular Affairs.
Under the Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 (2017), as amended by the No. 2 Decree B.E. 2561 (2018), a foreigner working in Thailand must hold a work permit, issued by the Department of Employment. The permit is tied to a specific employer and scope of work, so changing employer produces a separate document. Collect every period, not just the latest permit.
Receivers assessing experience want to see continuity. Where there is a gap between two permits, prepare an explanation and supporting evidence — passport visa stamps, an employer letter — so the gap is not read as a period of unauthorised work.
If an old permit is lost or was surrendered, contact the employment office responsible for the employer's area and request the record from the official register. Register-sourced evidence carries more weight than a copy you kept yourself, and the receiver can verify it.
Documents to prepare
- Original work permits, or Department of Employment register records, for every period of employment
- The passport with the relevant visa and entry stamps
- An employer certificate for each period, confirming the nature of the work
- The employer's company affidavit where the receiver wants proof the employer exists
- A written explanation for any gap between permits
Step order
- Collect permits for every period; where one is missing, request the register record from the employment office for the employer's area
- Check that the name and passport number on the permit match the passport you are filing with now
- Translate into the required language with a translator's certificate
- Legalise the translation at the Department of Consular Affairs
- Obtain destination embassy endorsement where that country requires it
Pre-filing checklist
- Documents cover every period you claim to have worked in Thailand, not just the latest permit
- The passport number on the permit can be linked to your current passport
- The employer name on the permit matches the employer certificate
- The scope of work on the permit is consistent with the position you claim as experience
- Every discontinuity between permits has a written explanation
Practical tips
- If you have changed passports, keep a copy of the old data page so the old and new passport numbers can be linked
- Request register evidence before you leave Thailand; doing it from abroad is considerably harder
- Take colour copies of every page of the permit, including renewal and amendment entries
- For skills assessment, pair each permit with the matching employer certificate period by period
Common pitfalls
- Filing only the latest permit, so earlier experience is not counted
- A scope of work on the permit that contradicts the claimed position, causing the assessor to discard that period
- No explanation for a gap between permits, raising suspicion of unauthorised work
- Translating the issuing authority's name inconsistently with the official name of the Department of Employment, making verification hard
Frequently asked questions
Which authority issues work permits?
The Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, under the Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 (2017) as amended in B.E. 2561 (2018).
Does a work permit need notarial signature certification?
Usually not, because it is a state-issued document. The normal route is translation plus consular legalisation of the translation. Always confirm the destination's specific requirement first.
My permit is lost — can I obtain historical evidence?
Contact the employment office for the employer's area and request the record from the official register. Bring the employer details, the employment period and the passport you used at the time.
Can I keep using the same permit after changing employer?
No. A permit is tied to the named employer and scope of work; changing employer must follow the statutory process and produces a separate document.
Can a work permit replace a certificate of employment?
Not entirely. The permit evidences the right to work and the period; the certificate describes duties and achievements. Experience assessors usually want both.
My passport number changed — is that a problem?
Attach a copy of the old passport data page to link the old and current numbers. Prepare it before filing rather than after a query.
For a document review before you file, contact us on LINE @nycli, call +66-83-249-4999 or email nycli@ilc.ltd. Our team will confirm the steps, any missing documents and a realistic timeline for your case.