Thailand Work Permit Photo Requirements (2026)
The honest answer first: Thailand work permit (ใบอนุญาตทำงาน) photo dimensions are not definitively confirmed in a single official source. Two specifications circulate widely — 40×60mm (same as the Thai passport) and 30×40mm (3×4cm, used in some older applications). If you're preparing photos, read the current guidance from the Department of Employment before your appointment, or ask your employer's HR team. Applying with the wrong size won't disqualify you, but it creates delays.
That said, here's what the sources do agree on, and how to prepare practically.
What Is Known About Thailand Work Permit Photo Specs
The Department of Employment (กรมการจัดหางาน) issues work permits for foreign nationals in Thailand. The Thai work permit is a physical booklet, not a card, and it includes a photo of the holder on the document page.
Points of agreement across sources
- Background: white
- Glasses: not allowed
- Expression: neutral, facing directly forward
- Photo age: recent (within last 6 months)
- Print format: standard photo paper
The disputed point: dimensions.
Get a compliant passport photo online
Thailand Work Permit Photo: 40×60mm vs 30×40mm Explained
Some HR agencies and employer guides state the required photo size is 40×60mm — identical to the Thai passport. This is a reasonable assumption because the Department of Employment frequently uses the Thai passport as the baseline for photo guidelines, and 40×60mm is Thailand's national biometric standard.
Other sources — including older Department of Employment application checklists — list 30×40mm (3×4cm) as the required photo size for work permit applications. This is a smaller format, common in some East Asian document systems.
What this means for you: If your employer or a licensed work permit agent is managing your application, they will tell you which size to bring. Follow their instruction — they've done this dozens of times and know what the current processing office accepts.
If you're preparing photos independently without an agent, bring prints in both sizes: 40×60mm and 30×40mm. The incremental cost of an extra set of prints is trivial compared to the cost of an extra trip to the Department of Employment. Having both ensures you won't be turned away.
Advise your studio: Tell them "Thai passport size (40×60mm) AND 3×4cm work permit photos, white background, no glasses." Most studios in Bangkok and other major cities can produce both in one session.
About the Thai Work Permit: Fees, Validity, and Process
The Thai work permit (ใบอนุญาตทำงาน) authorises foreign nationals to legally work in Thailand for a specific employer and job role. You cannot work for a different employer or in a different role without updating the permit.
Issued by: Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour
Processing time: Approximately 7 working days with complete documentation
Fee: THB 3,000 (standard work permit issuance fee)
Validity: 1 year, renewable
Work permits are tied to a non-immigrant visa (typically a B visa for business/work). Both must remain valid to work legally. Your employer typically manages the visa extension and work permit renewal concurrently.
What to Bring to a Thailand Work Permit Application
The Department of Employment requires a package of documents that includes more than the photo. For a standard first-time work permit application:
- Completed application form (บต.1)
- Recent passport-size photos (bring both 40×60mm and 30×40mm — see above)
- Copies of passport pages (bio page, visa, entry stamp)
- Employment contract
- Company documents: business registration, tax certificate, list of employees
- Educational credentials
Your employer or their HR representative typically prepares the company documents. Your job is to provide your personal documents, including the photos.
Thailand Work Permit Renewals and Updated Photos
Work permits are renewed annually before expiry. The renewal process follows a similar document checklist. Bring updated photos at renewal — old photos from the original application are not used.
If your appearance has changed significantly since your original work permit photo (different hairstyle, facial hair, etc.), the officer may request additional identification verification. This is routine.
Getting Your Thailand Work Permit Photos
For the 40×60mm format, any studio that produces Thai passport photos will know this size. Tell them "Thai passport photo, 40×60mm, white background, no glasses."
For 30×40mm, this is a common size at studios that serve visa and document applications. Confirm the studio can do both.
The Thailand passport photo guide covers the 40×60mm specification in full — background requirements, expression rules, and what the Department of Foreign Affairs confirms. The Thai driving licence guide explains why Thailand uses a completely different square format for that document.
For digital photo preparation and verification, passportsize-photo.online can help you check your photo before printing.
The Practical Bottom Line on Thai Work Permit Photos
Don't gamble on one size. Bring both 40×60mm and 30×40mm photos to your work permit appointment. Confirm the requirement with your employer's HR team or your work permit agent the week before your appointment. The Department of Employment's requirements can differ between offices and can change with administrative updates.
Unverified specs are frustrating. This is one of those cases where the extra THB 50–100 for a second set of prints is worth more than the certainty of having the "right" size and finding out at the counter that something changed.
Appearance Rules for Thailand Work Permit Photos
- Neutral expression — mouth closed, no smile, no frown
- Eyes open — both eyes fully visible, looking directly at the camera
- No glasses — all types banned without exception, including clear prescription lenses
- Hair away from face — forehead and both eyes clearly visible
- Head coverings — permitted for religious reasons; full face from chin to forehead must remain visible
- Professional attire — while not formally specified, the photo appears on an official government work document
- Clean, even lighting — no shadows on face or background
- Recent photo — taken within the last 6 months
Thai Documents Compared: Work Permit vs Passport vs DL
Thailand uses different photo sizes across different document types — there is no single unified standard.
| Document | Size | Background | Glasses | Smile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Permit | 40×60mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Thai Passport | 40×60mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Driving Licence | 50.8×50.8mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
The work permit and passport share the same 40×60mm format. The driving licence uses a different square 50.8×50.8mm (2×2 inch) format — do not mix sizes between applications. All three Thai documents share the same white background and no-glasses rules.
Common Thailand Work Permit Photo Rejection Reasons
- Wrong photo size — submitting 35×45mm (European standard) or 2×2 inch (US standard) instead of 40×60mm
- Glasses present — even clear prescription lenses are rejected at all Thai government offices
- Non-white background — some international studios default to light blue or grey; Thai documents require pure white
- Too few copies — the Department of Employment typically needs 3–4 prints; arriving with only one causes delays
- Old photo — photos older than 6 months or that no longer resemble your current appearance
Quick Checklist for Thailand Work Permit Photos
- Size: 40×60mm prints (bring 30×40mm as backup)
- Background: plain white
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed
- No glasses (any type)
- 3–4 printed copies
- Photo taken within 6 months
- Confirmed size with employer HR or work permit agent
- Passport copies prepared
- Employment contract ready
