Employment and work-permit documents
Employment contracts, employment certificates, company records and work-permit paperwork — used for work-category visas both into Thailand and abroad.
Work-category visas examine two things together: the employer's standing and the employee's qualifications. On the Thai employer side that means the company affidavit from the Department of Business Development, the shareholder list, financial statements and tax filings; on the employee side, the employment contract, employment certificate and proof of qualifications.
For foreigners working in Thailand, work permits fall under the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, while permission to stay falls under the Immigration Bureau. They are separate processes that must line up, and foreign supporting documents must be certified and translated into Thai as those agencies require.
For Thai nationals taking up work abroad, Thai-side documents such as employment certificates, salary letters and company affidavits usually need the signatory's signature certified first, then legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy, because they are privately issued rather than public records.
Consistency across the file matters: the job title in the contract should match the employment certificate and the application form. Mismatches typically lead to requests for further documents or a returned file.
Supporting-document requirements vary by visa category, nationality and the embassy or consulate receiving the file, and they change over time. Always check the current checklist published by the receiving authority before you start.
Documents in this family
- Employment contract or offer letter
- Employment certificate and salary letter
- Company affidavit from the Department of Business Development
- Shareholder list and financial statements
- Existing Thai work permit, where applicable
- Corporate power of attorney where a representative files
Order of steps
- Collect current employer records from the issuing agencies
- Translate the Thai-language items with a certificate of accuracy
- Certify the director's or authorised signatory's signature for private documents
- Legalise at the Department of Consular Affairs
- Legalise at the destination embassy, or file with the Department of Employment or Immigration Bureau as applicable
Preparation checklist
- The job title is identical across every document and the application
- The company affidavit is recent enough for the receiving agency
- The signatory matches the authorised director named in the affidavit
- The company seal is affixed where the affidavit requires it
- Foreign documents were certified in the issuing country before Thai translation
Frequently asked questions
Is a work permit the same as a work visa?
No. Work permits are issued by the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, while the visa and permission to stay sit with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau. Both must align.
How recent must the company affidavit be?
Each receiving agency sets its own rule; in practice a recently issued affidavit is expected, so obtain a fresh copy close to the filing date.
Does an English employment contract need a Thai translation?
For filings with Thai government agencies a Thai translation is generally required, since Thai is the language of the proceedings. Check the receiving agency's document list.
Can privately issued company documents go straight to legalisation?
Usually not — the authorised signatory's signature must be certified first, because the consular stage certifies the preceding certifier's signature.
Visa approval rests solely with the embassy, consulate or immigration authority. For a review of your document set, send scans to our team by phone, LINE or email.