New BOI Rules for Hiring Foreign Talent in Thailand: What You Need to Know
Thailand is opening its doors to skilled professionals from around the world — but with clearer guidelines.
In 2025, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) announced new regulations for BOI-promoted companies when hiring foreign talent. These changes aim to balance welcoming foreign expertise while creating more opportunities for Thai nationals.
If you’re a business looking to hire foreign staff or an expat exploring work opportunities in Thailand, here’s what you need to know:
Minimum Salary Requirements for Foreign Employees
If your business plans to hire foreign professionals under BOI promotion, knowing the salary benchmarks is now essential. Thailand’s BOI has introduced clear, position-based minimum salary requirements that companies must meet to remain compliant:
| Position | Minimum Monthly Salary |
|---|---|
| Executives | 150,000 THB or more |
| Management / Engineer / IT Specialist / Researcher | 75,000 THB or more (or 50,000 THB with a related degree) |
| Operation Staff | 50,000 THB or more |
| IBPO / TISO Operator | 35,000 THB or more |
What does this mean for businesses?
Before hiring or renewing work permits for foreign employees, you’ll need to provide:
- For new hires: a valid employment contract showing the agreed salary.
- For renewals: official tax forms such as PND 1 Kor or PND 1 as salary evidence.
These clear benchmarks help ensure fair pay for foreign talent while simplifying compliance checks for employers.
Thai-to-Foreigner Workforce Ratios
The BOI isn’t just focused on foreign expertise, supporting the local workforce is part of the mission too. That’s why there are now specific rules about the balance of Thai and foreign employees in certain companies:
- Manufacturing firms with over 100 employees must maintain at least 70% Thai staff.
- Smaller businesses and service-related industries with fewer than 100 staff members are exempt from this rule.
- Companies in high-priority industries can request special consideration if meeting the ratio isn’t feasible.
Proof of compliance requires submitting social security contribution documents showing your company’s Thai-to-foreigner staffing ratio.
For growing businesses, this ensures a healthy balance between local employment opportunities and the value foreign talent brings.
Exemptions for Short-Term Foreign Workers
Not every foreign hire needs to follow the new salary and workforce ratio rules.
If your company employs a foreign expert, consultant, or specialist for a short-term project specifically, a period of less than six months under BOI promotion, these requirements don’t apply.
That means no minimum salary threshold and no Thai-to-foreigner staff ratio obligations for short-term hires.
This exemption helps BOI-promoted companies bring in highly specialized skills or fill urgent project needs without getting tied up in additional paperwork or compliance hurdles.
When Do the New Rules Come into Effect?
BOI is giving businesses time to prepare for the new hiring regulations, with clear start dates based on when your BOI certificate was issued:
If your BOI certificate is dated after 5 June 2025: the new rules apply starting 1 October 2025.
If your BOI certificate was issued before 5 June 2025: you’ll need to comply from 1 January 2026.
This phased approach gives both new and existing companies a fair window to adjust salary structures, contracts, and staffing ratios.
Why These Updates Matter
Thailand’s BOI regulations have always been designed to attract international expertise while supporting local economic growth. These latest updates make things clearer for both employers and foreign professionals by:
- Setting clear guidelines for salary levels and staffing ratios.
- Ensuring a fair balance between foreign talent and opportunities for Thai nationals.
- Strengthening Thailand’s position as a competitive, business-friendly destination in Southeast Asia.
By planning ahead and understanding what’s required, BOI-promoted companies can continue to operate smoothly, stay compliant, and maintain the right mix of Thai and international talent.
If you’re looking to hire foreign talent or work in Thailand under BOI promotion, now is the perfect time to get familiar with these new rules. Understanding salary benchmarks, ratio requirements, and effective dates will help you stay ahead of the curve.
ATA Outsourcing Thailand can help guide your business through these updates with ease, whether you need support adjusting employment contracts, managing visa processes, or ensuring compliance with BOI workforce regulations.
To learn how ATA Outsourcing Thailand can support your hiring plans and BOI compliance needs, feel free to reach out to us today.