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New Filing Documentation Required in Thailand

September 21, 2011— Business visitors to Thailand now face stricter application procedures for Urgent Work Permits, the authorization required to conduct most short-term business activities in the country. Business visitors who do not comply with the new rules could have their permits delayed or denied. Applicants must file for the permit in person or through a representative and must provide an invitation letter from a Thai sponsor. Faxed applications are no longer accepted. Same-day service should continue to be available under the new rules.

Unlike most countries, Thailand requires visitors to get a work permit for nearly all business activities. Business visitors entering for 15 days or less usually seek an Urgent Work Permit after arrival. Urgent Work Permit applications are filed at the Employment Office with jurisdiction over the sponsor’s place of business. If the sponsor is based in Bangkok, the application is filed with the Bangkok office of the Thai Employment Department along with the applicant’s passport.

The application must be accompanied by an invitation letter addressed to the business visitor. The letter must clearly state the purpose of the visit, the duration of stay, and why the visit is urgent and essential for the sponsor. If the reason for the visit is a business meeting, a copy of the agenda must be included.

The Thai government imposed the new filing and document rules after a recent case in which a sponsoring company falsely claimed that a business visitor’s activities were urgent.

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