| Thai work permit rules may soon be revised. This | | | | the Kingdom of Thailand. |
| article looks at the possible impact these changes | | | | Changes in Thai work permit rules could possibly |
| will have upon the visa extension process. | | | | have an effect on business visa extensions as |
| There are many administrative rules, regulations, | | | | these two official documents are linked insofar as |
| and procedures that are involved when discussing | | | | a person must first obtain a work permit |
| a Thai business visa extension. This is caused by | | | | extension before they can obtain a Thai business |
| the fact that many Thai government agencies | | | | visa extension. In most cases, a foreign Citizen |
| have varying degrees of jurisdiction over different | | | | enters the Kingdom of Thailand on a single entry |
| aspect of the Thai Immigration and work permit | | | | 90 day business visa. The foreign national who |
| process. In the weeks leading up to the writing of | | | | decides to register a Thai company can then |
| this article there has been discussion regarding the | | | | extend this Thai visa for one year provided they |
| implementation of new Thai work permit rules. In | | | | obtain a properly issued Thai work permit to |
| many ways, the revisions made to the Thai work | | | | work for the company. |
| permit rules can have an impact upon business | | | | There was a time when it was possible for small |
| decisions made by foreign citizens working, | | | | and medium sized companies to use the "One |
| residing, and doing business in the Kingdom of | | | | Stop" visa and work permit service so that the |
| Thailand. | | | | whole work permit and visa extension process |
| The current work permit rule changes are | | | | could be completed at the same time. At the |
| connected to discussions about the liberalization of | | | | time, of this writing usage of the "One Stop" |
| the Thai Foreign Business Act which precludes | | | | service has been effectively prohibited for smaller |
| foreign nationals, or companies owned primarily by | | | | businesses, but expedited visa extensions similar |
| foreign nationals, from undertaking certain types | | | | to those provided by "One Stop" could be |
| of business activity in the Kingdom of Thailand. | | | | enjoyed by Thai Board of Investment Companies |
| Even though a draft of this legislation has not | | | | as well as companies with a high registered capital. |
| been promulgated at the time of this writing, talk | | | | For those who opt to use a long term multiple |
| of this impending liberalization makes it sound as if | | | | entry Thai visa as the basis for presence in the |
| these changes are coming very soon. Correlative | | | | Kingdom of Thailand, the issue of visa extension is |
| to the relaxation of the rules which underlie the | | | | a less pressing concern, but a multiple entry visa |
| Foreign Business Act is the tightening up of the | | | | requires the bearer to leave the Kingdom of |
| rules regarding foreigners who are employed in | | | | Thailand at least once every 90 days. |