Work Permits for Foreign Teachers and Lecturers
Foreign teachers in state and private schools, language teachers and university lecturers.
Filing order at a glance
Non-B visa → teaching licence or a waiver letter from the Teachers' Council of Thailand (Kurusapha) → work permit → TM.7 extension.
Conditions you must meet
- The school or institution must be lawfully established and issue an employment certificate.
- Under Teachers' Council rules, teachers in the formal system need a teaching licence or a waiver letter permitting practice without a licence.
- Academic documents and a police clearance / character reference as required by the school and the authorities.
Documents to prepare
- Degree and transcript, translated and legalized as required.
- Police clearance or character certificate from the home country.
- Letter from the school plus the Kurusapha licence or waiver letter.
- Medical certificate and photographs in the prescribed format.
Process
- The school issues the employment letter and files with Kurusapha for the licence or waiver.
- The applicant obtains a Non-B visa and files the work-permit application at the provincial employment office.
- File TM.7 for the extension with supporting letters from the school.
Common pitfalls
- Teaching before the Kurusapha waiver and the work permit are issued.
- Teaching at extra schools without adding those workplaces to the permit.
- Foreign degree documents not legalized in the manner the authorities require.
Deciding authority
Teachers' Council of Thailand (Ministry of Education) and the Department of Employment.
Talk to our team
Ask about scope, documents and timelines by phone, LINE or email. We cannot guarantee an authority's decision, but we review your file before submission to reduce the risk of rejection.
Contact our teamOfficial sources
Information as of August 2026. Confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before acting.
Other routes
Work Permit with an Ordinary Thai Company (Non-B)BOI Work Permits and the One Stop Service CentreRepresentative Offices and Regional OfficesSMART Visa and LTR — Routes Replacing the Standard Work PermitOccupations Prohibited or Conditionally Open to ForeignersRenewals, Changing Employer and Notifying ChangesForeign Documents, Translation and Legalization for Work Permits
More: Work Permit FAQ · All Thai visa types