Thai visas for travellers from Japan, South Korea & Taiwan
Visitors from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan often come for business, manufacturing and investment projects, retirement, or golf and long holidays. Corporate assignments and retiree stays are where the paperwork gets detailed.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Entry rules change; confirm on thaievisa.go.th.
Short answer
Visitors from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan often come for business, manufacturing and investment projects, retirement, or golf and long holidays. Corporate assignments and retiree stays are where the paperwork gets detailed. Rules can change, so confirm the current route with Thai e-Visa, the responsible Thai mission or the receiving authority before travel or work.
Common situations
Corporate assignments
Staff posted to Thai subsidiaries or BOI-promoted companies use Non-Immigrant B with a work permit. BOI projects often have faster, dedicated processing channels.
Short business trips
Factory audits, meetings and inspections are business visits. Hands-on installation or repair work may already count as work — check before travelling.
Retirees and long-stay holidays
Non-O-A, O-X and Thailand Privilege are common choices for retirees who want multi-year stays.
Document notes
- Japanese, Korean and Chinese-language company documents usually need an English or Thai translation.
- Assignment letters should state position, duration and the Thai entity receiving the employee.
- Retirees applying from abroad need home-country police and medical certificates in the required format.
Mistakes we see most
- Doing technical work on a business-visit entry
- Missing Thai-side company documents for Non-B
- Forgetting re-entry permits on business trips home
Visa types to read next
Frequently asked questions
Can an engineer install machinery on a business visit?
Short technical tasks may still count as work in Thai law. Check with the Thai company and immigration whether a work permit or urgent-work notification is needed.
Do I need a re-entry permit for trips home?
Yes, if you hold an extension of stay and want to keep it. Get it before you leave Thailand.
Official starting points
These links are starting points, not proof of the requirements for every passport or case. Also check the Thai mission responsible for your place of residence and the office receiving your documents.
Other nationality guides
Get your case reviewed before you apply
Offices in Bangkok and Khon Kaen, serving clients across Thailand. No approval outcome is guaranteed.