A BOI position approval is valid for only 90 days. What if it expires, and how can we avoid that?
When a BOI company applies for a work visa for a foreign employee, the first step is a position approval in the e-Expert system. The approval is valid for 90 days, and within that time the applicant must obtain a Non-B business visa abroad using the approval letter. If this does not happen, the approval lapses and the company must apply again, losing the time already spent.
1. Why approvals expire
Applying before choosing the person: the approval is granted but the assignee has not been finalized, or the candidate changes.
Travel delays: handover at home, family arrangements or a passport renewal keep the applicant from going to the embassy or consulate.
Missing documents: degree translations, proof of work experience and similar items are incomplete, and the visa application is returned.
2. How to avoid it
Plan backwards: confirm the earliest date the applicant can enter Thailand, then apply for the position approval 1–2 weeks before that.
Prepare visa documents at the same time: certified Thai translation of the degree, a passport valid for more than 6 months and photos should be ready when you apply for the approval.
Start on the day you receive the letter: begin the Non-B application in the BOI channel of the e-Visa system that day.
Make one person track the 90 days: monitor each applicant's approval expiry date and raise an alert 30 days before expiry if the visa has not been obtained.
3. If it has already expired
Submit a new application for the same position in the e-Expert system. Most documents can be reused, but you will have to wait for approval again. This time, confirm the applicant's travel dates before you submit.
4. Basis and scope
This answer reflects the current validity rule for position approvals in the BOI e-Expert system; the BOI's current announcements prevail.
Related services: BOI Work Visa and Work Permit Services
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