(THAILAND) Thailand has launched a nationwide e-Work Permit System for foreign workers, moving almost every step of the process online in what officials describe as a major break from paper files and in‑person queues. The platform went live on October 13, 2025, and is now mandatory for nearly all new work permit applications, renewals, and cancellations for foreigners employed in the country. Authorities say the shift to a Fully Digital Process is meant to cut waiting times, reduce errors, and create one standard system for employers and foreign staff across all provinces, as Thailand tries to draw more international business and skilled workers.
How the system works
Under the new system, employers and foreign employees begin their work permit journey on the official e-Work Permit portal, which offers 24/7 online access. Companies register their details, foreign workers create personal profiles, and both sides upload supporting documents in PDF or JPEG format.
Fees are now paid electronically through the same platform, and applicants can follow their case in real time instead of calling local offices or visiting labor departments to ask about progress. Status updates are sent by email, SMS, or through an official Line OA channel, replacing much of the old back‑and‑forth with local officials.
Despite the Fully Digital Process, the system still includes an in‑person step at the end. Once an application is approved online, the foreign worker must visit one of more than 50 designated Foreign Work Permit Service Centers around the country. There, officers collect biometric data — including face, iris, and fingerprints — and issue the physical work permit card.
The in-person visit usually takes about 12 minutes, a fraction of the time applicants once spent waiting in crowded offices. The new work permit is a credit‑card‑sized document carrying both a QR code and a barcode, allowing authorities or employers to quickly confirm a worker’s status.
Who must use the e-Work Permit System
The change affects a wide range of people:
- All foreign workers seeking employment in Thailand, including holders of:
- Non‑Immigrant B visas
- Long‑Term Resident (LTR) visas
- Smart Visas
- Employers (Thai or foreign‑owned), from small local firms to large multinationals.
- BOI‑promoted companies are now tied into the same digital framework, though some exemptions and fast‑track options remain.
Existing permit holders are not immediately cut off from the old model, but once current permits expire, renewals and amendments must run through the new platform.
Eligibility and documentation
The Ministry of Labor states that core eligibility rules are unchanged. Applicants still need:
- The proper visa status
- A valid job contract
- A medical certificate using Form TMC No. 2 issued within 30 days
Companies must continue to meet Thailand’s capital and Thai‑to‑foreign employee ratio rules, except for BOI‑promoted firms that enjoy special treatment under investment laws. What changes is the path these documents follow: scanned files now move through a single national database, with decisions recorded electronically.
Ministry guidance is available through the official Ministry of Labor portal, which frames the move as part of a broader government modernization effort.
BOI‑promoted companies and the Single Window System
BOI‑promoted companies — often hiring engineers, regional managers, and IT specialists — continue to benefit from a faster lane:
- Their cases pass through a Single Window System.
- Government says processing can finish in one to three working days.
- They remain exempt from some usual requirements that apply to regular employers.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, integrating BOI procedures into the same digital backbone while retaining speed advantages reflects Thailand’s dual aim: attract foreign capital while imposing clearer controls and data trails on all work permits.
Transition period and temporary exceptions
Although launched on October 13, 2025, the government allowed a transition period:
- Paper‑based applications for renewals accepted until December 31, 2025 due to reported technical issues.
- Manual submissions may be allowed on an exceptional basis into January 2026, especially for unusual cases or connectivity problems.
These are temporary measures while authorities work to resolve platform issues and move all cases online.
Important: paper renewals accepted only until December 31, 2025 (with possible exceptional manual allowances into January 2026). Authorities emphasize these are temporary.
Practical impacts for employers and workers
For employers:
– Fewer repeated trips to local labor offices.
– Ability to upload corrected documents from the office.
– Platform status messages indicate missing or incorrect information before final decisions.
– Reduced reliance on informal phone calls and in‑person visits.
For foreign workers:
– Ability to track applications directly (less dependence on employer updates).
– Short, final biometric appointment (about 12 minutes) to collect data and receive the physical card.
– Need to ensure scanned documents meet portal requirements (personal files should be clear and within upload limits).
Standardization, transparency, and data benefits
Officials say the digital system brings standard procedures across regions, reducing past inconsistencies such as:
– Some labor offices asking for extra documents while others did not
– Unwritten local rules that surprised applicants
A national platform with required fields and centralized document lists means decisions are logged uniformly in a single database. The Ministry argues this will improve transparency and data integrity, and make it easier for central authorities to:
– Track the number and distribution of foreign workers
– Monitor permit expiry dates
– Inform future labor and migration policies
Remaining challenges and user considerations
The digital shift does not remove all hurdles:
- Applicants still need the right visa — often involving Thai embassies, consulates, or immigration offices.
- Medical certificate (Form TMC No. 2) must be arranged with a licensed doctor.
- Employment contracts must comply with Thai law.
- Passports and visas must remain valid throughout the process.
Smaller employers without IT support may face difficulties with:
– Scanning and uploading documents
– Managing passwords
– Using online payment systems
However, by limiting most in‑person interaction to a short biometric visit, the system aims to reduce time spent away from work.
Practical checklist for applicants and employers
- Register company and personal accounts on the e-Work Permit portal.
- Scan and upload required documents in PDF or JPEG, ensuring each file is under 5 MB.
- Pay fees electronically via the portal.
- Track application status via email, SMS, or Line OA.
- Schedule and attend the biometric appointment at a Foreign Work Permit Service Center to receive the physical card.
Strategic context and expected outcomes
The launch on October 13, 2025, aligns with Thailand’s broader strategy to position itself as a hub for:
– Regional headquarters
– High‑tech manufacturing
– Digital services
A Fully Digital Process for work permits, alongside visa categories like LTR and Smart Visa, aims to:
– Offer faster, more predictable procedures for investors and skilled professionals
– Reduce fraud by linking authorizations to a modern database and scannable cards
– Simplify workplace inspections via QR code verification
Final notes and recommendations
- Prepare early for renewals under the new system if your permit expires after the end of 2025.
- Coordinate with employers to ensure company accounts are set up on the portal.
- Keep personal documents clear and within the 5 MB upload limit.
- Plan ahead for the biometric visit to a Foreign Work Permit Service Center.
As Thailand refines the platform and addresses early technical problems, officials, companies, and foreign workers will monitor whether the promised faster and clearer procedures are realized in practice. For now, the move to a Fully Digital Process represents one of the most significant changes to Thailand’s foreign worker permit system in years, affecting factory technicians, language teachers, regional executives, and start‑up founders alike.
Thailand’s e-Work Permit System, effective October 13, 2025, digitizes most foreign work permit processes nationwide. Employers and foreign workers register, upload PDF/JPEG documents, pay fees online and receive status updates via email, SMS, or Line OA. Approved applicants visit designated centers for a short biometric appointment to obtain a credit-card‑sized permit with QR and barcode. Paper renewals remain accepted until December 31, 2025 while authorities address initial technical issues.
