When Can You Change a Tourist Visa to Non-B Inside Thailand?

You can change a tourist visa to Non-B inside Thailand if you entered on a tourist or transit visa, or under one of the visa-exemption categories the immigration page lists, have a Thai employer ready with documents, still have at least 15 days of permitted stay, and have not overstayed, according to the Immigration Bureau. The fee is 2,000 THB and the first permission is up to 90 days.

Other entry types are not covered by what we have verified. Check with immigration directly or contact us before you book travel or make plans.

Who can change inside Thailand, and which form applies?

The Immigration Bureau's change of visa type page says holders of a Tourist or Transit visa apply with form TM.86, and people who entered under the visa-exemption categories it lists use form TM.87. The table follows the page as written; we do not extend it to categories the page does not list.

If you entered some other way, we cannot confirm from verified sources whether you can change inside Thailand. Ask the Immigration Bureau or contact us.

What are the rules on remaining stay, fee and permitted period?

The Immigration Bureau page states that permission is up to 90 days, that at least 15 days of stay must remain, and that if you have overstayed you cannot file. In short:

• At least 15 days of permitted stay must remain on the filing day.
• Anyone who has already overstayed cannot file.
• The first permission is up to 90 days.
• The fee for changing visa type is 2,000 THB, per the Immigration fee schedule and the same change page.

The English version of the page, dated 2020, words the timing slightly differently: submit more than 15 days before the visa expires (see the English page). So do not wait for the last days; file while you still have comfortably more than 15 days. Some company documents take time to issue, and as a practical recommendation we suggest starting to prepare at least 45 days before the date you need to file.

Which documents do you need?

The list below is for the company-based Non-B route, as Immigration states. The applicant must appear in person and bring the originals. Note that this list does not include a work permit or a WP3 approval letter.

The applicant must also sign every page, and the company's authorised signatory must sign and stamp the company documents. For more on first-time work permit paperwork, read our article on first work permit documents and use the visa document checklist.

In practice, the item that most often causes delay is the degree and experience evidence that must be certified through the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since that work is often done outside Thailand. We recommend asking the employee for these documents at the very start, and checking that every company document is the latest version before the filing appointment, so you are not fixing them on a day when little stay remains.

What happens after you file the change?

Once the Non-B is granted inside Thailand, the next step is the work permit from the Department of Employment. The Department of Employment manual sets a 100 THB application fee and permit fees by period, for example 750 THB for up to 3 months. The order in which the two filings are made depends on the officer and the office, so ask before you file.

As the first 90 days approach, you apply for an extension of stay (TM.7), fee 1,900 THB per the Immigration fee schedule, under the work extension criteria. For an ordinary company these set paid-up capital of at least 2 million THB, audited financial statements for 2 years and 4 permanent Thai staff per foreign employee; representative offices, regional offices and multinational companies are exempt from the capital and financial tests and use a 1:1 ratio.

We recommend setting a reminder for every due date and using the visa deadline calculator to count days. When renewal comes round, see the work permit renewal checklist. Anyone staying in Thailand longer than 90 days must also report every 90 days, per Immigration.

Should you change inside Thailand or apply for Non-B at an embassy abroad?

The other route is for the employer to obtain the Ministry of Labour approval letter (WP3) first, after which the employee applies for a Non-B visa at a Thai embassy or consulate, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fee is 2,000 THB (single entry, 3 months) or 5,000 THB (multiple entry, 1 year). A comparison:

As practical advice, changing inside Thailand makes sense when the employee is already here, matches an entry type above and the company is ready with documents, because no round trip is needed. The embassy route makes sense when the employee is still abroad, has fewer than 15 days left, or is unsure whether the entry type can be changed here, since the outcome is clearer. Remember the WP3 must be ready first, and processing times differ by embassy.

A third consideration is risk. Changing inside Thailand runs against a fixed clock: the stay you have left. If the company documents are not ready in time, there is no way back. The embassy route gives you more time to prepare, but you must wait for the WP3 and travel to file. We recommend that HR put every key date on one sheet: the stay expiry, the issue date of each company document (use the most recent company affidavit), and the appointment at immigration, and then count backwards from the firmest date.

It is also worth telling the employee plainly not to start work before the correct permission is in place. Exactly what is allowed while a file is pending depends on the case and the officer, so always ask the agency first.

What if you entered another way or are unsure of your status?

The rules above apply only to the categories the Immigration page lists. If you entered under another type, or are not sure what the stamp in your passport means, we will not give a number or a guess, because it depends on the officer, the office and your case. Take your passport to the Immigration Bureau before you decide, or contact us.

Before filing, check three things: the stay you have left, the entry type shown by the stamp, and whether the company documents are ready. If you overstay, you cannot file the change, per Immigration.

Information as of 20 October 2026, taken from the government pages linked above. Rules can change — check with the agency before you file.

If you would like help checking your status and preparing documents, see our visa and work permit service or send us a message through the contact page whenever it suits you.