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Non-Immigrant O — state enterprise, social welfare or volunteer duty

ThailandCulture, faith and volunteering

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Thailand Read the five questions ↓

What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

The Royal Thai Embassy lists among the purposes of the Non-Immigrant O visa "To perform duties for the state enterprise or volunteer with social welfare organizations", and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses the same wording nationally for category "O". The qualifying activity is either performing duties for a Thai state enterprise or unpaid voluntary work for a social welfare organisation. Missionary work and other religious activities fall under the separate category "R".

See recorded sources

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

The host must be either a Thai state enterprise or a registered social welfare organisation. The Embassy asks for the registration licence of the NGO, charity or association issued by the competent authority, and a letter confirming the voluntary work signed by an authorised person of that organisation, together with a copy of the signatory's ID card or passport.

See recorded sources

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

The placement is shown by a letter confirming the voluntary work signed by an authorised person, with a copy of that person's ID card or passport; the registration licence of the NGO, charity or association issued by the competent authority; evidence of adequate finance of 20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family; and proof of the applicant's education and work experience. Every O applicant also uploads a signed declaration form, passport pages showing all travel records for the past 12 months since the last international trip, a document verifying current residency and a picture of the applicant holding the passport's photo and information page. The Embassy may request further documents by e-mail.

See recorded sources

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

The Embassy describes the volunteering as unpaid and asks the applicant to show adequate finance of 20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family. The official source does not state whether pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement of expenses may be provided, or whether the holder may do any other work; the Ministry attaches a Ministry of Labour approval letter to the business category "B" and not to category "O".

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Neither source says whether pocket money, board, lodging or expense reimbursement is allowed, nor whether a work permit is needed or any other work is permitted.

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

The Embassy states that a single-entry O visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and a multiple-entry visa for one year, while the Ministry's national page states three months for both with one year additionally possible for multiple entry; the two official figures are not reconciled. The Ministry adds that a Non-Immigrant holder is initially granted a stay not exceeding 90 days unless the Office of Immigration Bureau instructs otherwise. Extension is possible: those qualified may obtain an additional one-year stay permit counting from the date of entry, applied for at the Office of Immigration Bureau and granted at the discretion of the immigration officer. Neither page says whether the volunteer may change host organisation, and neither states any family accompaniment right for this purpose.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The visa validity differs between the two official sources and is unresolved.
  • Neither source addresses changing host organisation or family accompaniment for this purpose.
  • 2. Non-Immigrant O Visa Conditions
    1. O Visa (Single) is valid for 90 days (or Multiple Visa is valid for one year) from the date of issuance.
  • 2. Non-Immigrant O Visa Conditions
    2. Extension of visa is possible. Those qualified may obtain an additional one-year stay permit, counting from the date of entry to Thailand. The extension of stay is at the discretion of the immigration officer. Extension application can be made at the Office of Immigration Bureau. Please visit www.immigration.go.th for more information)
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 5. PERIOD OF STAY
    The holders of this type of visa are initially granted a period of stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days unless otherwise instructed by the Office of Immigration Bureau.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 6. EXTENSION OF STAY
    Those qualified persons can obtain an additional one year stay permit counting from the date of entry in the Kingdom pertaining to the Office of the Immigration Bureau's regulations on extension of stay. The extension of stay is at the discretion of the Immigration officer.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 4. VALIDITY OF A VISA
    Single-entry and multiple-entry visas are valid for three months. Multiple-entry visas could also be valid for one year.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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