Choosing a Company for Migrant Worker Documents: What to Check Before Paying

Migrant worker documentation is a process where results are slow and difficult to verify along the way. By the time you find out if the service provider you hired is competent, it's often when documents are nearing expiration or officials have conducted an inspection. This article therefore compiles things you can check before making any payment, rather than waiting to assess results at the end.

Summary in 30 Seconds

• Request the work permit number and verify its existence — This single point screens out the most providers.
• The price must clearly separate government fees from service fees. If not separated, it means you cannot compare providers.
• Anyone who promises "guaranteed approval" without seeing the employee's documents, walk away.

1. Request the work permit number and verify its existence

Companies legally handling migrant worker matters will have a work permit number that can be provided immediately upon request. Once you have the number, verify it with the Provincial Employment Office in the area. This takes only a few minutes and screens out most problems from the start.

2. See what they ask you

This point checks "professionalism" better than a fancy website. Competent providers will ask before quoting a price: When does the employee's work permit expire? · Which Cabinet resolution group and round are they in? · What is their nationality? · Have they changed employers before? This is because each round has different deadlines and document sets. Providers who quote a price immediately without asking anything are often the ones who will later say, "This case cannot be done."

3. The price must itemize what constitutes government fees and what constitutes service fees

Government fees are fixed and verifiable figures, for example, the current renewal round includes an application fee of 100 Baht and a work permit fee of 900 Baht. Service fees are specific to each provider — a good quotation must separate these two amounts. If they are bundled into a single amount without itemization, you will never know what you are paying for.

4. There must be a contract and receipt every time

• Contract specifying scope of work, deliverables, timeline, and conditions in case of non-completion.
• Receipt in the company's name, not just a transfer to a personal account.
• Government fee receipts — always request a copy for your records. This is proof that the submission was made.

5. Ask how progress will be reported

Documentation work takes weeks to months. What should be agreed upon beforehand is how you will be informed of progress, how often, and when you will be notified if there are document issues. Providers who remain silent until the collection date are the ones from whom you will learn about problems the latest.

6. Check if they are truly knowledgeable about the current amnesty rounds

A simple test question that always works: "Which round is currently open, and what is the submission deadline?" If they answer with a round that has already closed, or give a vague answer like "can be renewed anytime," be cautious — deadlines for each round are fixed and cannot be reversed if missed.

7. Signs to walk away immediately

• Offering "shortcuts" that do not require the employee to appear in person or undergo a health check.
• Promising guaranteed approval without having seen the employee's documents.
• Asking for money to be transferred to a personal account and not issuing a receipt.
• Telling you to "let them work first, the documents will follow" — during that time, you are the one who will face penalties (a fine of 10,000–100,000 Baht per person according to Section 102, see Employer Penalties with Section References).
• Agreeing to process documents that cannot be traced — how to identify them is at 4 Checkpoints for Fake Documents.

Things even a good company cannot do

The criteria above help distinguish competent providers from incompetent ones, but there are some matters that no one can truly do on your behalf, no matter how much you pay — if anyone promises these things, consider it an immediate red flag.

• Matters requiring the employee's personal appearance, such as biometric data collection and health checks.
• Documents that the employer can print for free from the system, such as the temporary work permit form BT.62 — the Department of Employment specifically warns against those who claim they can process this for you (see BT.62 Latest Status and Scams to Watch Out For).
• Guaranteeing approval results — the approving authority is the registrar, not the company you hire.

Exworker also operates under these same criteria. If we or anyone else promises these three things, be suspicious.

Checklist before the first payment transfer

1. You have seen the work permit number and verified its existence.
2. There is a written contract specifying the scope of work and what happens if it is not completed.
3. The quotation separates government fees from service fees.
4. Payment is transferred to a corporate account, and you receive a receipt for every installment.
5. You know how progress will be reported to you and who your contact person is.
6. They asked for all your employee's information before quoting a price, not quoted a price before asking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do companies processing migrant worker documents need a license?

The work of bringing foreign nationals to work is a licensed activity. Request the license number and verify its existence. Do not just accept verbal assurances or a picture of a license sent to you.

Why do prices from different providers vary so much?

Because some providers include government fees in a single price, while others separate them, and the scope of work also differs. The effective way to compare is to ask for an itemized breakdown. You can see the items that should be included at Annual Cost of Hiring One Migrant Worker

What if I've paid but the work isn't progressing?

First, gather all contracts, receipts, and communication evidence, then consult the Provincial Employment Office in your area or the Ministry of Labour hotline 1506, press 2 — and do not let the employee work in the meantime, because you are the one who will face penalties.

Can I let the employee work while waiting for documents?

No. Employing a foreign national without a work permit carries a fine of 10,000–100,000 Baht per person according to Section 102, and the employer, not the company you hired, is the one who will face penalties.

If I want to change providers, do I have to start all over again?

Not necessarily. It depends on how far the process has progressed. Request copies of all documents already submitted from the previous provider before making a decision — these copies belong to you.

If you are still undecided whether to do it yourself or hire a company

Compare the pros and cons of both approaches at MOU Migrant Worker Import: Do It Yourself or Hire a Company? And if you've read the 7 criteria above and want to check us, start at the MOU Migrant Worker Import Services page — feel free to ask any question.

Information as of August 22, 2569 · Fees referenced from the current Ministry of Labour announcement for the renewal round