Thailand Teacher Visa & Work Permit Guide
Everything you need to teach English legally in Thailand — the Non-B visa, work permit, and step-by-step process.
Working legally as an English teacher in Thailand
Thailand has a clear legal framework for foreign English teachers. The two documents you need are a Non-Immigrant B visa and a Work Permit. Both are mandatory to teach legally. Working on a tourist visa is not legal and carries serious consequences.
The short version
You need a Non-B visa (obtained before you enter Thailand) and a work permit (processed by your school after you arrive). TEFL Heaven guides every teacher through this process as part of the program.
Obtained before entering Thailand at a Thai embassy in your home country.
Applied for by your school on your behalf after you arrive in Thailand.
The Non-Immigrant B Visa
The Non-B visa must be obtained before you enter Thailand — you cannot convert a tourist visa to a Non-B inside the country. You apply at the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate in your home country with a job offer letter from your Thai school.
Documents required
| Valid passport (6+ months remaining) |
| Completed visa application form |
| Passport photos |
| Job offer letter or contract from Thai school |
| Copy of school's business license |
| Degree certificate (apostilled copy recommended) |
| TEFL/TESOL certificate |
| Criminal background check |
Initial validity
The Non-B visa is initially valid for 90 days. Your school then extends your permission to stay by processing the work permit and annual extension at the local immigration office.
The Thai Work Permit
Your work permit is applied for by your school — not by you independently. Your employer submits the application to the Department of Employment on your behalf.
What you provide to your school
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Original degree certificate | Plus certified copy — apostille strongly recommended |
| TEFL/TESOL certificate | 120-hour minimum, internationally accredited |
| Criminal background check | From your home country, issued within 3–6 months |
| Medical certificate | From a Thai hospital after arrival |
| 3–4 passport photos | White background — your school will advise |
Step by step: from home to legal teacher in Thailand
Gather degree certificate, TEFL certificate, and apply for a criminal background check. Apostille your degree if possible — it can take several weeks.
TEFL Heaven matches you to a school. The school provides a job offer letter required for your Non-B visa application.
Visit your nearest Royal Thai Embassy with your documents. Processing typically takes 3–5 business days.
Join the TEFL Heaven program in Hua Hin for your certification training.
Your school collects documents and submits the work permit application to the Department of Employment.
Work permit arrives in 1–2 weeks. Your school handles the annual Non-B extension. You are fully legal to teach.
Visa FAQ
Ready to teach legally in Thailand?
TEFL Heaven handles visa guidance as part of every program — you won't navigate this alone.
See the Thailand program