BOI Work Visa and Work Permit Documents Checklist | Z&X Finance and Taxation Group

What documents are needed for a BOI work visa and work permit, and where do applications usually get stuck?

2026-10-03

For a BOI company, documents for the work visa and work permit fall into five groups by stage. The main categories are below; the BOI's and the Immigration Bureau's current requirements prevail.

1. Documents by stage

Stage	Main documents
Position approval (e-Expert)	Degree certificate (translated into Thai and certified by a Thai translation agency), proof of at least 5 years of work experience, company organization chart showing the position, employment contract and company social security payment records
Personal documents	Passport and copies (valid for more than 6 months), photos on a white background, proof of education and work experience, CV
Company documents	Registration documents from the Department of Business Development (DBD), articles of association, financial statements and tax records, BOI promotion certificate and position approval letter
After arrival	E-visa page, scans of passport entry stamp pages, electronic arrival card, proof of address (TM30 receipt), residence and workplace details with residence proof attachments, digital photo
Interview day	Original passport, the Thailand Digital Work Permit app, and the on-site fees (per current official rates)

2. Four common sticking points

Certified translations: every non-Thai document needs a certified Thai translation, and the BOI checks the translation agency's credentials. Translations from unqualified agencies are rejected.
Residence proof attachments: BOI companies must provide a copy of the house registration book, a copy of the owner's ID card, a power of attorney (with a 10-baht stamp duty stamp) and a copy of the attorney's ID card. For rented housing, the landlord's documents are what most often go missing.
Passport entry stamps: scan both facing pages; for TM30, submit the receipt page, not the application page.
Dress code: wear a collared shirt for both the photo and the interview.

3. How to prepare

Certified translation of the degree takes the longest; send it for translation as soon as the candidate is chosen.
For employees in rented housing, ask the landlord for copies of the house registration book and ID card when signing the lease.
Prepare the company documents (DBD registration, articles, financial statements, tax records, BOI certificate) once and reuse them for every employee.

4. Basis and scope

This checklist reflects current requirements of the BOI One Start One Stop Investment Center and the Immigration Bureau. Individual cases may require more; the authorities' current notices prevail.

Related services: BOI Work Visa and Work Permit Services

What does it take to obtain a Foreign Business License (FBL) for a restricted business, and how long does approval take?

If a foreign-controlled company wants to operate a business listed in List Three of the Foreign Business Act and is not going the BOI route, it must apply to the Department of Business Development for a Foreign Business License (FBL). The statutory review period is 60 days after acceptance, but from preparation to licence you should plan for several months.

A BOI position approval is valid for only 90 days. What if it expires, and how can we avoid that?

An expired position approval cannot be extended; you must apply again. The key to avoiding this is to confirm when the applicant can enter Thailand before applying, and to start the visa application abroad on the day you receive the approval letter.

1. Company Registration & Approvals

2. BOI Investment Promotion

3. Advisory & Training

4. Audit & Assurance

5. Strategic & Special Advisory

6. Accounting & Tax Outsourcing

FAQ

1. Documents by stage

2. Four common sticking points

3. How to prepare

4. Basis and scope