What Sets Our Approach Apart
Work permit services vary considerably in how they are delivered and what they actually cover. This page sets out what Mekong Counsel does differently, and why that difference matters when your employee needs to be working legally in Thailand.
Back to HomeSix Reasons to Work With Us
Specialist Focus
Work permits are our practice area, not a sideline. Every member of the team works on permit and compliance matters daily, which means familiarity with current Department of Employment procedures that a general practice cannot replicate.
Structured Process
Each file follows a defined sequence of stages. You receive written confirmation at each step — document collection, pre-submission review, filing, and issuance — so the status of your application is never unclear.
Employer-Side Coverage
Thai law makes the employer legally responsible for maintaining permit conditions. We prepare both the employee's file and the employer's supporting documentation, and we explain the employer's ongoing obligations in plain terms.
BOI Case Capability
Cases routed through the Board of Investment's one-stop service require knowledge of a different process. We coordinate visa and work permit applications together for BOI-promoted entities, handling the additional liaison required.
Clear Communication
We do not use technical language when plain language works. HR managers and foreign employees receive instructions in straightforward English, and we respond to queries within one business day.
Transparent Pricing
Three fixed-fee engagements cover the range of typical situations. Pricing is published, and our scope document at the start of each engagement confirms exactly what is included so there are no subsequent additions to the bill.
Each Advantage Explained
Professional Expertise in Thai Labour and Immigration Law
The Thai work permit framework is updated periodically through ministerial notifications, and the procedures at different filing offices are not always consistent with the written regulations. Our team follows these developments and adapts our document preparation accordingly. When a case officer makes an unusual request, we know whether it is a standard requirement or an office-specific practice, and we handle it accordingly.
- Up-to-date knowledge of Department of Employment procedure
- Familiarity with BOI one-stop service requirements
- Experience across multiple industry sectors
A Defined Process That Reduces Delays
Delays in work permit applications most often arise from incomplete employer documentation or from requests for additional information that could have been anticipated. Our pre-submission review checks every document against the current checklist before we attend the filing office. This reduces the number of cases that return with requests for supplementary material, and it keeps the timeline predictable.
- Detailed pre-submission document review
- Written stage updates throughout the process
- Predictable timelines from the outset
A Single Point of Contact for the Whole File
Each client works with one adviser who manages the file from opening to close. There is no handover between junior and senior staff, no need to re-explain your situation each time you write in, and no risk that instructions given at the start of the engagement are lost as the file moves between people. The person who prepared your documents is the same person who attends the filing office and who answers your queries during the review period.
Fixed Fees With No Hidden Additions
Our three engagement types are fixed-fee. The fee stated on our solutions page is the professional fee for the work described. Government filing fees are charged separately and explained in advance. There are no hourly charges for telephone calls or email correspondence within the engagement scope. If additional work arises that falls outside scope, we discuss and agree on any additional charge before proceeding.
Outcomes That Extend Beyond the Permit
A successfully issued permit is the minimum outcome. For employers, the Compliance Programme engagement also produces a reusable document infrastructure and an internal handbook, which means each subsequent hire takes less time and effort to process. For companies with BOI promotion, we ensure the permit and visa are coordinated so that neither expires while the other is still current.
Specialist Counsel vs. General Practice
Typical General Practice
- Work permits handled as a minor administrative task
- Files prepared by junior staff with limited permit experience
- Employer obligations explained only when something goes wrong
- Billing by the hour for correspondence and follow-up calls
- File may transfer between staff during the process
- Renewal dates tracked only if specifically requested
Mekong Counsel
- Work permits are the sole practice area
- All files handled by experienced permit counsel
- Employer obligations covered in every engagement
- Fixed-fee engagements, no billing by the hour
- Same adviser manages the file from start to close
- Renewal tracking included as standard
What You Will Not Find Elsewhere
The Employer Compliance Programme
A structured engagement that builds your HR function's internal capacity to manage permit applications and renewals. Most providers file on request; we create the system so you need less external help over time.
Quarterly Updates for Complex Cases
Senior executive and BOI cases can remain under review for extended periods. We provide quarterly written updates confirming status, pending items, and expected next steps — not just a response when you ask.
Written Scope Before Any Work Begins
Before we prepare any document, you receive a written scope confirming what we will do, the fee, what is not included, and the expected timeline. This eliminates misunderstandings about billing and scope after the fact.
Practical Visa Coordination
A work permit without a valid non-immigrant visa is of no use, and yet the two documents are often managed separately. For senior and BOI cases, we track both and coordinate renewals so the employee is never caught with one valid and one expired.
Milestones and Professional Standing
11+
Years in Practice
640+
Permits Filed
85+
Employer Clients
22+
Nationalities Served
Thailand Law Society
Member, Immigration and Labour Law Committee, since 2017.
ASEAN Business Network
Recommended specialist for cross-border employment formalities in Thailand, 2022–2024.
PDPA Compliant Practice
All client data handling reviewed and aligned with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act.
Put Our Approach to Work on Your File
A brief consultation by telephone or email is all that is needed to confirm which engagement fits your situation and what the process will involve.
Request a Consultation