Thailand Business Visa: requirements, documents, fees and application process

What Is a Thailand Business Visa?

A Thailand Business Visa is commonly understood as a Non-Immigrant B visa, issued to foreign nationals entering Thailand for business, meetings, working with partners, attending conferences, negotiations, contract signing or certain work-related activities as permitted.

However, it is important to distinguish between short-term business activities and paid employment in Thailand. If the applicant intends to work officially, receive salary or work long-term for a company in Thailand, the case may involve a work permit and related procedures after entry.

Identifying the correct travel purpose from the beginning helps clients choose the right visa type, prepare the proper documents and reduce the risk of additional requests.

Who Should Apply for a Thailand Business Visa?

A Thailand Business Visa is suitable for cases such as:

• Traveling to Thailand for meetings with business partners;
• Attending conferences, seminars, exhibitions or professional events;
• Negotiating, signing contracts or conducting market research;
• Being assigned by a company in Vietnam for a business trip to Thailand;
• Investors or business representatives with business activities in Thailand;
• Persons entering Thailand for work-related purposes where a Non-Immigrant B visa is required and a work permit may later be involved.

If the travel purpose is tourism, family visit or transit, clients should check another suitable visa type instead of using a business visa for every situation.

Common Types of Thailand Business Visa

Thailand Single-Entry Business Visa

A Thailand single-entry business visa is generally valid for 03 months from the date of issuance. The visa holder may enter Thailand once and stay for up to 90 days from the date of entry, depending on the decision of the immigration authority at the port of entry.

Once the holder leaves Thailand, a single-entry visa is generally no longer valid for another entry. If the person needs to leave and re-enter Thailand during the permitted stay, re-entry permit rules should be checked with the Thai immigration authority.

Thailand Multiple-Entry Business Visa

A Thailand multiple-entry business visa is suitable for applicants who need to enter and exit Thailand frequently for business purposes. According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi, the Non-Immigrant B multiple-entry visa fee is USD 200 and the visa validity is 01 year.

Even with a multiple-entry visa, each stay must comply with the period permitted by the immigration authority. Applicants should not assume that a multiple-entry visa allows them to stay continuously in Thailand for the full year without checking stay conditions.

Is a Thailand Business Visa the Same as a Work Permit?

No. A Thailand Business Visa and a Thailand Work Permit are not the same.

A Non-Immigrant B visa allows the applicant to enter Thailand for the relevant purpose. A work permit, on the other hand, authorizes a foreign national to work legally in Thailand under an approved position, employer and conditions.

If the applicant intends to work for salary or long-term employment in Thailand, a work permit may be required after entry. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City also notes that foreign workers must apply for a work permit with the relevant labor authority after entering Thailand.

Thailand Business Visa Requirements

To apply for a Thailand Business Visa, the applicant must prove a clear purpose of entry that matches the Non-Immigrant B category and provide supporting documents from the company in Vietnam, the partner or the inviting company in Thailand.

Basic requirements usually include:

• Passport valid as required, generally at least 06 months;
• Clear business, work or professional purpose;
• Invitation letter or documents from a partner/company in Thailand;
• Business assignment letter or employment confirmation from the company in Vietnam;
• Suitable financial evidence;
• Travel itinerary, round-trip flight ticket and accommodation information where required;
• No entry restriction or serious history of violating stay conditions.

Depending on the purpose and receiving authority, additional documents may be requested. Therefore, a single fixed checklist should not be applied to every application.

Required Documents for a Thailand Business Visa

Applicant’s Personal Documents

• Passport valid for at least 06 months with blank pages;
• Completed visa application form;
• Passport-sized photo according to the required specification;
• Residence document in Vietnam if the applicant is a foreign national applying from Vietnam;
• Contact information such as phone number, email and residential address.

According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi, a Non-Immigrant B application requires a passport valid for at least 06 months, a visa application form, a recent photograph and supporting documents based on the business purpose.

Documents from the Company in Vietnam

• Business assignment letter or guarantee letter from the company in Vietnam;
• Confirmation of position, employment period and employment contract where required;
• Business travel schedule in Thailand;
• Business registration or legal documents of the Vietnamese company where requested;
• Documents proving the business relationship with the Thai partner.

If documents from the Vietnamese company are in Vietnamese, they may need to be translated into English or Thai and certified/legalized according to the receiving authority’s requirements.

Documents from the Partner or Company in Thailand

• Invitation letter from the company or organization in Thailand;
• Information on travel purpose, working period and business activities;
• Legal documents of the Thai company;
• Business registration, shareholders list, company profile and business operation information where required;
• Financial statements, tax documents or related evidence where applicable;
• Copy of identification documents of the authorized signatory of the Thai company where required.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi indicates that a conducting business application may require an invitation letter from the Thai company and corporate documents such as business registration, shareholders list, company profile, financial statements and tax documents depending on the case.

Financial, Travel and Accommodation Documents

The dossier may also require:

• Bank statement or financial evidence;
• Round-trip flight ticket;
• Hotel booking confirmation or accommodation information in Thailand;
• Travel insurance if needed;
• Additional documents requested by the Embassy or Consulate-General.

According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi, financial evidence may include a bank statement for the past 06 months showing a minimum fund of THB 20,000 per person.

Thailand Business Visa Application Process

Step 1: Identify the Correct Visa Type

First, clients need to identify whether the purpose is short-term business, attending a conference, meeting partners, investment or formal employment in Thailand. Each purpose may involve different document requirements.

Step 2: Prepare Documents Based on the Suitable Checklist

After identifying the visa type, the applicant prepares personal documents, invitation letter, business assignment letter, company documents, financial evidence, flight ticket and accommodation information as required.

Documents not in English or Thai may need translation and certification according to regulations.

Step 3: Book an Appointment or Submit the Application According to Instructions

Depending on location and submission timing, the applicant must follow the instructions of the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Some cases require prior appointment booking, in-person submission or certain steps through an online system. Clients should check the latest instructions before submission to avoid repeated visits.

Step 4: Track the Application and Supplement Documents if Requested

After submission, the applicant should monitor notices from the receiving authority. If documents are missing or further verification is required, the reviewing authority may request additional documents or an interview.

If the application is incomplete, processing time may restart from the date the additional documents are resubmitted. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City also states that if a visa application is incomplete, the processing time resets on the day the applicant resubmits the additional documents.

Step 5: Receive the Visa Result

If the application is approved, the applicant receives the visa according to the receiving authority’s instructions. Before traveling, clients should carefully check visa details, validity, number of entries and permitted stay period.

Thailand Business Visa Fees

Thailand Business Visa fees depend on visa type, submission location and payment method applied by the receiving authority.

According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi for Non-Immigrant B conducting business:

• Single entry: USD 80;
• Multiple entries: USD 200;
• Visa fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome.

According to the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City, the fee is USD 80 for single entry and USD 200 for multiple entries, with payment methods applied according to the receiving authority’s instructions.

In addition to visa fees, clients may incur translation, notarization/certification, legalization, dossier support service fees, travel expenses or additional document costs depending on the case.

How Long Does Thailand Business Visa Processing Take?

Thailand Business Visa processing time depends on submission location, visa type, applicant nationality, dossier completeness and additional requests if any.

According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi, processing time for a complete application generally takes 1–3 working days; certain nationalities may require 1–2 weeks.

According to the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City, processing time is generally 5 working days, not including the submission day; the Consulate also advises applicants to submit at least 2 weeks before travel time and states that regular expedited processing is not available.

However, when using Nhị Gia’s service, the actual timeline also includes consultation, dossier review, document preparation guidance, translation/certification if required, appointment or submission coordination, result tracking, handling additional requests if any and result delivery to the client.

Therefore, Nhị Gia will advise the estimated timeline after reviewing the client’s specific dossier and does not commit to one fixed timeline for all cases.

Important Notes When Applying for a Thailand Business Visa

When preparing a Thailand Business Visa application, clients should note:

• Choose the correct visa purpose: business, investment or work;
• Do not use a short-term business visa for long-term employment if requirements are not met;
• Carefully check invitation letters, business assignment letters and company documents;
• Ensure Vietnamese documents are translated into English or Thai if required;
• Prepare early, especially if the business schedule is fixed;
• Avoid booking non-refundable flights if the application is not yet secure;
• Monitor email, phone and notices from the receiving authority;
• Check visa details immediately after receiving the result.

A complete, clear and consistent dossier can make the assessment process smoother, although the final decision remains with the competent Thai authority.

Thailand Business Visa Support Service by Nhị Gia

Thailand Business Visa applications may seem simple because Thailand is geographically close, but errors can still occur if the entry purpose is incorrectly identified, the invitation letter is missing, company documents do not meet requirements or documents are not properly translated/certified.

With more than 20 years of experience in visa and international dossier support, Nhị Gia assists clients in preparing Thailand Business Visa applications based on each specific case.

Nhị Gia supports clients with:

• Advising on the suitable Thailand visa type based on travel purpose;
• Reviewing personal documents, invitation letter, business assignment letter and company documents;
• Guiding financial evidence, flight ticket and accommodation preparation;
• Supporting translation, notarization/certification where required;
• Supporting appointment booking or submission coordination according to the receiving authority’s guidance;
• Tracking application status;
• Advising on additional requests if any;
• Maintaining confidentiality of clients’ personal information and dossiers.

Nhị Gia does not guarantee visa outcomes for every application, as the final decision belongs to the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General or competent Thai authority. However, preparing the dossier according to the correct purpose, with complete and consistent evidence, can help reduce errors and strengthen the application.

Nhị Gia’s Thailand Business Visa Service Process

• Step 1: Receiving the request. Nhị Gia receives information on travel purpose, expected travel date, submission location, Thai partner and available documents.
• Step 2: Checking eligibility and advising on the dossier. The specialist reviews the specific case to advise on visa type, document checklist and suitable handling direction.
• Step 3: Guiding document preparation. Nhị Gia guides clients in preparing passport, photo, invitation letter, business assignment letter, company documents, financial evidence, flights, accommodation and additional documents if any.
• Step 4: Reviewing and completing the dossier. Nhị Gia’s team checks dossier completeness, consistency and suitability before submission coordination.
• Step 5: Tracking and delivering the result. Nhị Gia tracks application status, supports additional requests if any and delivers the result to the client as agreed.

If you are preparing to travel to Thailand for business, partner meetings, conferences, investment or company-assigned work, you should check the correct visa type before submitting the application.

Please contact Hotline 1900 6654 or email info@nhigia.vn for Nhị Gia’s case-specific Thailand Business Visa consultation.