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Work permit for a branch or representative office
Under Ministerial Regulation No. 3, “Service Businesses Which Do Not Require a Foreign Business Licence”, a representative office can now provide services without having to apply for a foreign business licence for its manager.
Keywords: Mazars, Thailand, Legal, Labour Department, OSS, Work Permit, Branch, Representative Office
8 March 2019
We have received an official response in writing stating that a representative office or branch that has obtained a foreign business licence will be exempt from having to apply for Thai work permits for managers.
However, if a new representative office does not have a foreign business licence, it must apply for a registration number, then apply for a Thai work permit for a manager or person responsible for its business operations and activities in Thailand.
The number of work permit will depend on the activities, as follows:
Activities | Number of work permit |
1) Reporting on business trends in Thailand to the head office or its affiliate 2) Providing advice concerning goods of the head office sold to agents or customers 3) Preparing information concerning new goods or services of the head office or its affiliate | A maximum of two work permits (one for the representative office manager one for the representative office assistant manager) |
4) Sourcing of goods or services in Thailand for the head office or its affiliate 5) Checking and controlling the quality and quantity of goods purchased or hired for manufacture in Thailand by the head office or its affiliate | A maximum of five work permits (one for the representative office manager and four for the representative office assistant managers) |
In the event that a representative office did not apply for a Thai work permit for a manager who has already extended a long-term visa, the Labour Department will contact the immigration authorities about this issue. A representative office which has already cancelled a work permit for a manager must apply for a new one before extending his visa, or when extending the visa and renewing the work permit of an assistant manager.
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