Thailand Temporary Work Permit: 15-Day Urgent Work Rules, Requirements and Application Guide

Thailand temporary work permit rules allow certain foreign nationals to perform specific urgent, necessary, or short-term assignments in Thailand through a special notification procedure. However, this arrangement is limited to qualifying activities and is not available for every type of employment.

Under Section 61 of Thailand's Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 (2017), as amended, eligible foreigners may notify the Department of Employment (DOE) of qualifying work lasting no more than 15 days. An additional period of up to 15 days may be requested under the applicable conditions.

This guide explains who can qualify, which activities are covered, the required documents, the WP.34 notification form, extension procedures, fees, and important considerations for foreign workers, expatriates, international professionals, employers, and businesses operating in Thailand.

Important: Thailand's 15-day urgent-work notification is not a general temporary employment permit. The assignment must fall within the work categories prescribed by the Department of Employment, and the notification must be properly acknowledged before the foreigner begins the work.

1. What Is a Thailand Temporary Work Permit?

The term "temporary work permit" is commonly used to describe Thailand's special arrangement for foreigners performing urgent, necessary, or ad-hoc work. Legally, however, this process is a notification procedure under Section 61 rather than an ordinary work permit issued for regular employment.

It is designed for assignments that require a foreign specialist, professional, or other eligible worker to perform a specific task in Thailand within a limited period.

Examples include:

• Installing or repairing specialized machinery.
• Inspecting industrial equipment.
• Resolving technical problems.
• Conducting qualifying product quality inspections.
• Organizing specific training sessions or seminars.
• Delivering a special academic lecture.
• Performing qualifying film or photography assignments.

The assignment must meet the applicable legal definition and fall within the officially prescribed categories. A company cannot simply classify an ordinary job as urgent to avoid the regular work permit process.

2. Understanding Section 61 of Thailand's Foreign Workers Law

Section 61 of the Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 provides a special procedure for foreigners who enter Thailand temporarily under immigration law to perform work of a necessary or urgent nature, or specific ad-hoc work.

The procedure is administered by the Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour.

Item	Rule
Legal provision	Section 61
Initial work period	Not more than 15 days
Possible extension	Up to another 15 days
Extension deadline	Before the original permission period expires
Extension limitation	Cannot exceed the remaining period of immigration permission
Initial notification form	WP.34 (แบบ บต.34)
Extension application	WP.35 (แบบ บต.35)
Government notification fee	No fee
Responsible authority	Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour

For example, a foreign machinery specialist entering Thailand for a 10-day installation assignment may qualify if the work meets the prescribed requirements.

If the assignment cannot be completed within the initial period, an extension may be requested. However, approval is not automatic.

3. Who Can Apply for the 15-Day Urgent Work Notification?

Foreign nationals of different nationalities may qualify for the Section 61 procedure if they enter Thailand temporarily under immigration law and their intended work meets the prescribed urgent, necessary, or ad-hoc work categories.

The procedure is not restricted to citizens of a particular country. Eligibility depends primarily on the nature of the assignment, the foreigner's immigration status, and compliance with the applicable requirements.

Foreign workers and professionals who may need this procedure

• Foreign technical specialists and engineers.
• International machinery and equipment technicians.
• Foreign consultants performing qualifying technical assignments.
• International business representatives conducting qualifying work.
• Foreign academics invited to deliver special lectures.
• Film production and photography professionals.
• Foreign specialists participating in qualifying inspections or training activities.
• Other foreign professionals whose assignments fall within the officially prescribed categories.

Important eligibility considerations

• The foreigner must have entered Thailand lawfully and have valid permission to stay.
• The intended assignment must fall within a qualifying category.
• The assignment must be limited to the applicable 15-day period.
• The prescribed notification and supporting documents must be submitted.
• The work must not exceed the scope of the accepted notification.
• Any extension must be requested before the original period expires.

Whether an assignment qualifies depends on its actual nature, not simply the worker's nationality, job title, or the employer's description.

Visa reminder: A Section 61 notification does not issue a visa, extend your permission to stay, or automatically change your immigration status. Your immigration permission must remain valid throughout the assignment.

4. What Types of Work Qualify for the 15-Day Notification?

The Department of Employment's announcement dated October 14, 2020, identifies 16 categories of necessary, urgent, or ad-hoc work.

The following is a practical English summary of the categories.

No.	Qualifying work category	Examples
1	Organizing meetings, training, or seminars	Setting up and organizing a qualifying business conference or training event.
2	Special academic lectures	Delivering a specific invited academic lecture.
3	Aviation management or supervision	Specialized aviation supervisory activities.
4	Occasional internal auditing	Carrying out a specific internal audit assignment.
5	Technical monitoring and troubleshooting	Investigating and resolving technical problems.
6	Quality control of goods and products	Inspecting products or checking product quality.
7	Inspection or improvement of production processes	Assessing manufacturing procedures and identifying technical improvements.
8	Machinery and electric generator system inspection or maintenance	Inspecting or maintaining specialized machinery and generator systems.
9	Machinery maintenance or installation	Installing or repairing industrial machinery.
10	Electric railway technician work	Specialized technical work involving electric railway systems.
11	Aircraft or aircraft equipment technician work	Specialized aircraft maintenance or equipment-related technical assignments.
12	Machinery maintenance or control-system consulting	Providing specialized technical advice on machinery and control systems.
13	Machinery demonstrations and testing	Demonstrating or testing specialized equipment.
14	Film and still photography	Qualifying film production and photography assignments.
15	Recruitment for overseas employment	Recruiting workers for employment outside Thailand.
16	Technical skill testing for overseas employment	Assessing technical skills of candidates for overseas employment.

Source: Department of Employment announcement on necessary or urgent work or ad-hoc work dated October 14, 2020, and official BOI employment guidance.

Does every business meeting qualify?

No. The nature of the activity matters. Simply attending a business meeting is not necessarily the same as organizing a qualifying event or performing work covered by Section 61.

Similarly, an ordinary business visit, regular administrative assignment, or routine professional engagement should not automatically be treated as urgent work.

5. Can Foreign Teachers Apply for a Thailand Temporary Work Permit?

Foreign teachers and education professionals should understand the difference between a qualifying special academic lecture and ordinary employment in a Thai educational institution.

A regular teaching position in a Thai school is not automatically covered by the 15-day urgent-work notification simply because the employment contract is short or the school urgently needs a teacher.

Section 61 includes a category for special academic lectures. However, this should not be confused with ordinary classroom teaching or an ongoing teaching assignment.

Activity	Section 61 consideration
Delivering a specific invited academic lecture	Potentially eligible, subject to approval.
Teaching regular classes at a Thai school	Not automatically eligible under the urgent-work procedure.
Working as a full-time foreign teacher	Generally requires the appropriate employment and work authorization arrangements.
Conducting an ongoing teaching assignment for several months	Should be assessed under the regular work authorization framework.
Attending a professional education seminar	Attendance alone should not be confused with organizing or performing qualifying work.

Foreign teachers should also distinguish between a work permit and professional teaching authorization.

Read PPESO's guide to Krusapa Teacher's License Thailand 2026 for information about professional licensing and temporary teaching permission.

These are separate regulatory requirements. Having professional teaching authorization does not automatically replace immigration and employment authorization requirements.

6. Required Documents for the Thailand WP.34 Application

Foreign nationals applying under Section 61 must prepare the prescribed notification form and supporting documents.

According to the Department of Employment's official service manual, the following documents are required.

Document	Requirements
WP.34 notification form	Completed Section 61 notification form.
Passport	Original passport and a copy.
Immigration permission	Copy of the evidence showing permission to enter Thailand.
Photograph	One recent half-body photograph, 3 × 4 cm, taken within six months according to the government service checklist.
Employer identification	Identification document for an individual Thai employer, or passport/residence evidence for an individual foreign employer.
Company registration	For a corporate employer, a company registration certificate issued within six months.
Government employer document	Official letter from the government agency, if applicable.
Contract or supporting agreement	For applicants without an employer, a service contract, purchase agreement, or other evidence showing the necessity of the assignment.
Power of attorney	Required when the foreigner does not submit the notification personally.

Photograph discrepancy: The published WP.34 form and the online government service checklist have different photograph instructions. The form indicates three photographs, while the government service checklist specifies one. Confirm the current requirement with the receiving office. Bringing three recent photographs is a practical precaution.

Additional supporting documents to prepare

Although not all of the following are separately listed as mandatory items in the government service checklist, they can help explain the assignment and support the assessment:

• Invitation letter from the Thai company or organization.
• Detailed explanation of why the assignment is necessary or urgent.
• Work schedule or project timeline.
• Technical assignment description.
• Relevant service or project agreement.
• Contact details of the employer or contracting party.

Ask the receiving employment office whether additional documents are needed for your particular type of work.

Document preparation reminders

• Complete the prescribed form in Thai.
• Foreign-language documents must be translated into Thai and certified as required by the government service instructions.
• Copies of the foreigner's documents must be signed by the foreigner.
• Employer documents must be signed by an authorized representative and stamped with the company seal, if applicable.
• Ensure that company registration documents are within the required validity period.

7. How to Apply for a Thailand Temporary Work Permit

The Section 61 process is administered by the Department of Employment. The official procedure involves submitting WP.34 and the necessary documents, having them checked, and receiving the registrar's acknowledgment.

Step 1: Confirm that your work qualifies

Identify which of the 16 qualifying categories applies to your assignment.

Ask the responsible employment office to confirm whether the actual duties are covered by Section 61.

Step 2: Prepare the WP.34 form

Download and complete the official notification form:

Download WP.34 – Section 61 Notification Form (PDF)

Provide accurate information about:

• Full name and nationality.
• Passport number and details.
• Date of entry into Thailand.
• Description of the work.
• Employer or contracting party.
• Workplace address.
• Intended start and end dates.

Step 3: Gather the supporting documents

Prepare the passport, immigration permission evidence, photograph, employer documents, and other applicable supporting documents.

Check the signatures and translations before submission.

Step 4: Submit the notification

Submit the WP.34 notification and supporting documents through an available Department of Employment service channel.

The government service manual identifies the following channels:

• Department of Employment, Foreign Workers Administration Office.
• Visa and Work Permit Service Center.
• Bangkok Employment Offices Areas 1–10.
• Provincial Employment Offices.
• Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi employment checkpoints.
• Designated email or fax channels.
• Electronic e-WorkPermit system.

In general, use the employment office responsible for the location where the foreigner will work. Confirm the correct receiving office and submission arrangements before sending the documents.

Step 5: Wait for the registrar's acknowledgment

The official service procedure describes three main stages:

1. Submission and document verification.
2. Review of the notification and supporting information.
3. Registrar acknowledgment and issuance of the WP.36 notification acknowledgment.

The published service manual estimates a total processing time of approximately one hour once the required documents are complete and accepted for processing.

Important: Do not assume that merely sending an application or receiving an email confirmation means you can begin working. Confirm that the notification has been acknowledged by the registrar and that you have the relevant WP.36 acknowledgment.

8. Where to Submit the WP.34 Application

The Department of Employment provides several submission locations depending on the foreigner's workplace and the available service channel.

Office or channel	Location or details
Foreign Workers Administration Office	Department of Employment, Mitmaitri Road, Din Daeng, Bangkok.
Visa and Work Permit Service Center	Chamchuri Square Building, 18th Floor, Phaya Thai Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330.
Bangkok Employment Offices	Bangkok Employment Offices Areas 1–10.
Provincial Employment Offices	Provincial offices serving the location of the workplace.
Employment checkpoints	Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.
Electronic submission	Designated email, fax, or e-WorkPermit channels, subject to the applicable service arrangements.

For foreigners working outside Bangkok, the provincial employment office responsible for the workplace is an important starting point.

Official Department of Employment website:

Department of Employment – Thailand

For the electronic service, visit:

Thailand e-WorkPermit System

9. How Much Does a Thailand Temporary Work Permit Cost?

One advantage of the Section 61 urgent-work notification is that the official government service manual lists no notification fee.

Item	Government fee
Initial WP.34 notification	THB 0
WP.35 extension notification	THB 0
Government notification acknowledgment	No separate fee listed

The zero-fee figures refer to the official Section 61 notification services, not visa applications, translation services, private agency assistance, or other unrelated expenses.

If you hire a private consultant or immigration service provider, their professional service charges are separate from government fees.

10. Can You Extend the 15-Day Temporary Work Period?

Yes. If the qualifying urgent or ad-hoc assignment cannot be completed within the original 15-day period, the foreigner may request an extension of up to another 15 days.

However, the extension must be reported to the registrar before the original period expires.

The extension must also remain within the period for which the foreigner has permission to stay in Thailand.

Extension requirements

• Completed WP.35 extension notification form.
• Passport or equivalent travel document and a copy.
• Evidence of permission to stay in Thailand.
• Recent photograph.
• Copy of the original WP.36 notification acknowledgment.
• Power of attorney, if an authorized representative submits the application.

Extension procedure

1. Review the original work authorization period.
2. Prepare the WP.35 extension notification.
3. Gather the required supporting documents.
4. Submit the extension request before the original period expires.
5. Wait for the registrar's acknowledgment and obtain the relevant WP.37 document.

The extension service manual identifies a processing time of approximately one hour after complete documentation is submitted.

Do not wait until the last day. The extension must be notified before the original period expires. A pending extension request should not be treated as automatic permission to continue working beyond the original period.

Download the extension form from the Department of Employment's official forms directory:

Department of Employment – WP.34, WP.35, WP.36 and WP.37 forms

11. What Is the Difference Between WP.34, WP.35, WP.36 and WP.37?

These forms and documents are used for the initial Section 61 notification and its possible extension.

Form	Purpose
WP.34	Initial notification for necessary, urgent, or ad-hoc work lasting no more than 15 days.
WP.35	Notification requesting an extension of the urgent or ad-hoc work period.
WP.36	Registrar's acknowledgment of the initial work notification.
WP.37	Registrar's acknowledgment of the extension notification.

Always use the latest forms published by the Department of Employment. Some older websites still refer to WP.10 or other historical form numbers, which can create confusion.

12. What Happens If You Work Without Proper Authorization?

Foreign nationals should not assume that a short assignment, unpaid activity, business visit, or urgent project automatically exempts them from Thailand's foreign-worker regulations.

Working without the required authorization, performing duties outside the scope of the accepted notification, or continuing after the permitted period can create legal problems.

Possible consequences include:

• Administrative or criminal penalties under applicable foreign-worker laws.
• Problems with future work permit applications.
• Immigration complications.
• Employer compliance issues.
• Potential restrictions on future employment arrangements.

Employers should ensure that the foreigner's assignment, workplace, duration, and actual duties match the accepted notification.

Foreigners should also keep copies of the acknowledgment documents and passport or immigration records available while performing the assignment.

13. Temporary Work Notification vs. Regular Work Permit

Understanding the difference between Section 61 and a regular work permit is essential when planning to work in Thailand.

Comparison	Section 61 urgent-work notification	Regular work permit
Purpose	Qualifying urgent, necessary, or ad-hoc work.	Regular authorized employment.
Duration	Up to 15 days initially, with a possible extension of up to 15 days.	Depends on the applicable work authorization and immigration conditions.
Eligible activities	Limited to prescribed categories.	Subject to the applicable employment and occupational restrictions.
Initial form	WP.34	Applicable regular work permit application forms.
Government notification fee	No fee listed.	Fees depend on the applicable application and permit category.
Suitable for ongoing employment?	No, not as a general employment route.	Yes, subject to the relevant requirements.

Foreigners planning to accept long-term employment with a Thai company should investigate the regular visa and work permit process rather than relying on the 15-day procedure.

For a broader overview of immigration pathways, read PPESO's Thailand Visa Guide 2026: DTV, LTR, Work and Long-Term Stays.

14. Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners work in Thailand for 15 days without a regular work permit?

Yes, potentially. Foreigners performing qualifying necessary, urgent, or ad-hoc work may use the Section 61 notification procedure. However, the work must fall within the prescribed categories and the required notification must be acknowledged before work begins.

Is the Thailand temporary work permit free?

The official Section 61 initial notification and extension service manuals list no government notification fee. Private service charges and other expenses are separate.

Can I apply for the 15-day notification with a tourist visa?

The Section 61 procedure applies to foreigners who have entered Thailand temporarily under immigration law. The Department of Employment must assess the notification, and the person's immigration permission must remain valid. A tourist visa or visa-exempt entry does not independently authorize work.

Can I extend the 15-day work period?

Yes. An extension of up to another 15 days may be requested before the initial period expires. The extended period cannot exceed the remaining immigration permission.

Can I use the temporary work notification for a one-month job?

Potentially, if the assignment qualifies under Section 61 and the extension is accepted. The initial period is limited to 15 days, and a further period of up to 15 days may be requested. This is not a general one-month employment permit.

Can foreign teachers use the 15-day temporary work notification?

Not automatically. Regular classroom teaching is different from a qualifying special academic lecture. Foreign teachers accepting ordinary employment in Thailand should follow the applicable employment, visa, work permit, and professional teaching requirements.

Does a company need to apply for the foreign worker?

The notification identifies the foreigner and employer or contracting party, where applicable. Supporting employer documents are required depending on the type of employer. The foreigner or an authorized representative may submit the notification according to the prescribed procedure.

How long does the application take?

The Department of Employment's published service manual estimates approximately one hour for the initial notification after complete documents are received and processed. Incomplete documentation or additional review may cause delays.

Where can I download the WP.34 form?

You can download the official form from the Department of Employment WP.34 PDF.

Where can I check the latest requirements?

Consult the Department of Employment or the provincial employment office responsible for the workplace. You can also contact the Department of Employment hotline at 1506, press 2.

15. Final Checklist Before Starting Urgent Work in Thailand

Before beginning a short-term assignment, make sure you have completed the following:

• Confirmed that the assignment falls within a qualifying Section 61 category.
• Checked your passport and immigration permission.
• Completed the WP.34 notification.
• Prepared the required photograph and supporting documents.
• Submitted the notification to the correct employment office or approved channel.
• Received the registrar's acknowledgment (WP.36).
• Confirmed that the work, employer, location, and dates match the accepted notification.
• Recorded the expiry date of the authorized work period.
• Applied for an extension before expiry if necessary.

Conclusion: Understand Thailand's 15-Day Urgent Work Rules

Thailand's temporary work arrangement under Section 61 offers a practical solution for foreign specialists and professionals who need to perform qualifying urgent, necessary, or ad-hoc assignments.

The procedure is available to eligible foreign nationals regardless of nationality. However, it is limited to specific types of work and should not be treated as a substitute for a regular work permit.

The initial period is limited to 15 days, with a possible extension of up to another 15 days. Applicants must use the appropriate WP.34 and WP.35 forms, prepare the required documents, and obtain the registrar's acknowledgment.

Whether you are an expatriate, international professional, foreign technician, academic, business representative, or employer hiring overseas specialists, the most important step is to confirm the correct employment authorization before starting any assignment in Thailand.

Official reminder: Government procedures and forms may change. Always confirm the latest requirements with the Department of Employment or the responsible provincial employment office before submitting an application.

Last reviewed: November 1, 2026. This article provides general information for foreign nationals and employers. It is not a substitute for legal advice or an official determination of eligibility.