ThailandWork / student / family residence permit

B/ED/O visa in Thailand

A family of visas for those going to Thailand with a long-term purpose: to work, to study or to live with relatives. The work category is intended for employees and entrepreneurs who need official status and a work permit. The study category is for students and course participants at accredited institutions. The family category is for spouses, children and close relatives. The visa opens the way in; the status is then extended inside the country.

Visa term

Usually 90 days, extendable to 1 year; annual extension

Processing time

The visa takes several days to several weeks; the work permit 1-4 weeks

Work

B: work only with a permit held through the employer; ED and O: no work

Residence

Presence in the country; 90-day reporting

Source: mfa.go.th — non-immigrant visas, categories B, ED, O

Work, study or family: three routes on one visa

Three different scenarios are hidden inside one visa category — read which one matches the purpose of your trip.

For work (category B)

You have a job offer from a Thai employer or your own business in Thailand
The employer is prepared to file documents with the Department of Employment before the visa is issued
After entry you must obtain a work permit before you actually start work

For study (category ED)

You have been enrolled at a school, university or accredited courses in Thailand
The educational institution is prepared to issue a confirmation letter and documents on its own registration
Working on this visa is not allowed under any circumstances

For family (category O)

You have a spouse, child or parent who is a Thai national or the principal applicant for a B or ED visa
You have official documents confirming the relationship
Working independently on this visa is prohibited without a separate permit

When the programme is not suitable

You are going to Thailand only as a tourist or on a short trip, without work, study or family

An ordinary tourist visa or visa-free entry, if your nationality allows it

You want to stay long term after the age of fifty without work and without a Thai family

The Non-Immigrant O-A visa for a long stay

You intend to work remotely for a foreign employer while living in Thailand

Dedicated visas for remote workers, if you meet their conditions

You need permanent residence straight away, without intermediate visas

Thailand's permanent residence programme — a separate track taken only after years of stay on Non-Immigrant status

What it costs

Visa, single entry, valid for 3 months (categories B, ED, O)The basic rate for a single entry under any of the three categories	2 000 THB
Category B visa, multiple entry, valid for 1 yearA longer visa for business and work trips	5 000 THB
Category B business visa for 3 years, multiple entry, without the right to workFor business visits only; employment on such a visa is strictly prohibited	+10 000 THB
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Category B business visa for 3 years, multiple entry, without the right to work” adds 10 000 THB. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	7,000–17 000 THB

Paid separately

Work permit — Arranged separately at the Department of Employment of the Ministry of Labour; it is not included in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa fee
Extension of the permission to stay at the Immigration Bureau — Charged by the Immigration Bureau separately from the embassy visa fee; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not publish its rate
Notarised translation and legalisation of documents — Paid by the applicant separately; the amount depends on the provider

Documents to gather

The basic set is common to all three categories; beyond that, what is added depends on the purpose of the trip.

A passport valid for at least 6 months, with blank pages for the visa
A completed visa application form and a 4×6 cm photograph taken no more than 6 months earlier
Proof of financial means — at least 20,000 baht for the applicant alone or 40,000 baht for a family (or the equivalent in the local currency of the embassy)
For the B visa — a letter of permission from the Department of Employment (form W.P.3), an invitation from the Thai company and its corporate documents: registration, list of shareholders, tax returns
For the ED visa — a letter of enrolment or confirmation of a place from the educational institution, a copy of its registration and licence, a criminal record certificate, a bank statement for the last 3 months
For the O visa — a document confirming the relationship (a marriage, birth or adoption certificate); for reunion with a Thai national, also a copy of their Thai identity card and house registration book

How the process runs

The standard route from the invitation in Thailand to extending the status on the spot.

1
The inviting party in Thailand prepares the documents
The employer files an application for the W.P.3 permission with the Department of Employment (for the B visa), the educational institution prepares a letter of enrolment (for ED), and the Thai relative prepares documents confirming the relationship (for O).
2
Filing the visa application at a Thai embassy or consulate
the visa is valid for entry for 3 months from the date of issue
The applicant submits the full set of documents in person (in most cases) at the Thai diplomatic mission for their place of residence.
3
Entry into Thailand and the initial permission to stay
up to 90 days
At the border crossing the passport is stamped with the permitted period of stay — no more than 90 days unless the Immigration Bureau states otherwise.
4
Arranging the status inside the country
The holder of a B visa obtains a work permit at the Department of Employment before actually starting work; the ED holder confirms that the studies are continuing; the O holder keeps up the documents on living together with the family.
5
Extending the permission to stay at the Immigration Bureau
up to 1 year per extension
The extension is at the discretion of the immigration officer and requires the grounds to remain valid — a work permit, a certificate of study or confirmation of family ties.
6
Obtaining a re-entry permit for a temporary departure from Thailand
If a visa holder with an extended period of stay wants to leave and return without losing the status, a Re-entry Permit must be obtained in advance at the Immigration Bureau or at the airport before departure.

Who you can bring with you

Accompanying relatives apply for a separate visa of category O.

The spouse and minor children of the principal applicant for a B or ED visa

They receive a separate O visa as dependants; proof of the relationship is required (a marriage or birth certificate) together with the principal applicant's documents — their work permit or letter from the educational institution

A foreign spouse or child of a Thai national

The O visa is arranged on the basis of the relationship with the Thai national; a copy of their Thai identity card and house registration book is also required, and a statement from a Thai bank account with a balance of 400,000 baht over the last 6 months is advisable

Renewal and the grace period

While in Thailand, a visa holder may apply to the Immigration Bureau to extend the permission to stay for up to one year per extension. The decision remains at the discretion of the immigration officer and depends on whether the grounds for the status still hold: a valid work permit for category B, confirmed studies for category ED or a continuing family relationship for category O. Overstaying the permitted period of stay is punished by a fine for each day of excess.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	B/ED/O visa	Digital nomad visa	Thailand Privilege Card
Visa term	Usually 90 days, extendable to 1 year; annual extension	A multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years, stays of up to 180 days with an extension of a further 180	The term depends on the package (5-20 years), multiple entry; renewal is through a new membership fee
Grounds	Work / study / family / retirement	Remote work / courses (Muay Thai, cookery)	Purchase of a membership
Money	A consular fee; for B the employer meets the capital and staffing requirements; for ED — funds for the studies	Funds in the account of about THB 500,000 (or the equivalent); a state fee of about THB 10,000	A membership fee depending on the package (from about THB 900,000); there are no other thresholds
Work	B: work only with a permit held through the employer; ED and O: no work	Not a work visa; working for a Thai employer without a work permit is prohibited	There is no right to work; a separate B visa and a work permit are required
Residence	Presence in the country; 90-day reporting	Lawful long-term stay, renting, bank accounts, medical care	There is no minimum stay; 90-day reporting

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent residence under the general rules; spouses of Thai nationals have easier terms

Route to citizenship

Through permanent residence and long residence

Frequently asked questions about B/ED/O visa

Can you work on a category ED or O visa?

No. Work is allowed only to holders of a B visa who have a work permit; working without a permit on any other category counts as an offence and carries criminal liability up to imprisonment or a fine.

What happens if you stay in Thailand longer than the permitted period?

A fine of 500 baht is charged for each day of overstay; in practice the current permission to stay can be extended at a local immigration office before it expires.

Is a separate permit needed to leave Thailand and return without losing the status?

Yes. If a visa holder with an extended period of stay plans to leave the country temporarily, they must obtain a Re-entry Permit in advance at the Immigration Bureau or at the airport before departure — otherwise the permission to stay is cancelled on departure.

Who counts as a family member for a category O visa?

The spouse and children of the principal applicant for a B, ED or O-A visa, and also a foreign spouse or child of a Thai national — in every case the relationship has to be confirmed by official documents.

Is there a business visa option for several years without the right to work?

Yes, there is a separate three-year category B visa for multiple business visits. It is intended precisely for business trips: carrying out work on it is prohibited.

Other ways to move to Thailand

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Thailand.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.