As mentioned in our previous blog, when you’re visiting a foreign country, you will need to secure a visa that is appropriate to the intention in which you’re visiting the nation for.
For example, if you’re in Thailand for leisure purposes only like vacations, you will need to secure for yourself a tourist visa. Bear in mind, however, that if you’re staying in Thailand for less than 30 days, you will most likely not need to secure a tourist visa before flying to the Kingdom.
Now, what if you’re traveling to Thailand for business purposes? What type of visa will you need to secure?
For business travels, the most appropriate visa would be the Non-Immigrant B visa, otherwise known as the Business Visa.
Specifics About the B Visa
You will need to apply for the B-visa beforehand, but you will need to vet out first if your intentions qualify for the said document, or else you will be disapproved.
The B visa is intended specifically for travelers who are:
- Conducting business transactions in Thailand in proprietary or assistant capacity.
- Traveling under sponsorship of a Thai company, on an employed or consultant capacity.
Like all visas, the Non-Immigrant B visa imposes restrictions on its holders, particularly on his or her length of stay in Thailand.
Now, there are two types of business visas that business travelers can apply for. These are, namely, the single-entry and the multiple entry visas.
The single entry visa will allow you to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days, after which you will have to exit the country. The initial restriction is only 60 days, but it can extended for another 30 days if you still have unfinished business in the Kingdom.
The single entry visa is ideal for the following:
- Business travelers who don’t expect to return for a while after a single trip.
- Foreigners who are not interested in visiting Thailand frequently and were only there for that single business purpose.
On the other hand, if the traveler expects to travel in and out of Thailand to conduct business affairs and for a sustained period of time, they can upgrade the 90-day single entry visa to the multiple entry visa.
The multiple entry visa allows holders to stay up to one year in a single entry, subject to issuance of a work permit. They can return to Thailand after ending one entry, provided that the visa is still valid when they do so.
The multiple-entry visa is perfect for business travelers who expect to return to Thailand multiple times to manage affairs that they couldn’t otherwise delegate to their local subordinates.
Requirements for Applying for the Business Visa
To apply for a business visa, foreign nationals will need to prepare the following:
- Recent passport, which must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive in Thailand.
- An invitation or sponsorship letter from the organization or business that invited you to travel to the country.
- Travel itinerary
- Proof of financial capacity
The Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country may require additional documentation as they see fit.
