Electronic work permit (e-WP) system

The primary legislative foundation for this shift includes the Act on the Electronic Performance of Administrative Duties B.E. 2565 (2022) and the Ministerial Regulation on the Application, Issuance, and Notification of Foreign Work B.E. 2563 (2020). This article provides a legal and functional overview of the e-WP system and analyses key implications arising from the newly mandated electronic permit card. 

I. Electronic channel and system implementation 

The DOE has officially designated the following as the exclusive electronic channels for all services related to foreign work permit applications and notifications:  

1. The website: www.eworkpermit.doe.go.th  
2. The application: DOE Foreigner  

The objective of this digital shift is to enhance the efficiency and quality of services, specifically by reducing procedural steps, decreasing processing time, and minimising the use of physical documents, in line with government policy. This transition officially took effect on 13 October 2025.  

II. Standardised electronic work permit card (BorTor. 42/1) 

The implementation of the e-WP system is accompanied by the adoption of a new standardised model for the versatile electronic work permit or smart card. This card, designated as Form BorTor. 42/1, replaces previous paperbased documentation.  

As stipulated by the DOE Announcement of 23 August 2024, the smart card serves as the official physical proof of authorisation. The card includes critical identifying and authorisation data. 

III. Legal analysis and practical shortcomings 

The e-WP system represents a progressive move toward greater administrative efficiency. However, a legal and practical concern arises from the data fields included on the mandatory electronic form.  

Absence of employer detail: A crucial observation is that the standardised form for the electronic work permit card does not show the name of the employer or the establishment where the foreigner is authorised to work. The card only contains the “Permitted Category of Work”.  

Implications for compliance verification: Under Thai labour law, a work permit is inherently specific, granting authorisation to work for a particular employer in a defined capacity. The absence of the employer’s name on the physical card creates an immediate reliance on the digital verification tools: the QR Code and MRZ* strip.  

*Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) is an area printed on official documents, such as electronic work permit holder ‘s details, that is formatted in a way that can be quickly read by a machine or optical scanner. 

1. Enforcement challenges: In scenarios requiring on-the-spot verification by immigration or labour officials, the lack of a visible employer name necessitates the immediate use of scanning technology to access the DOE’s integrated database. This reliance may impede quick and efficient verification, particularly in areas with limited network connectivity or in the absence of necessary reading devices. 
2. Increased system dependency: The entire compliance check is shifted from a paper-based inspection to a real-time digital query. While this theoretically enhances data security and accuracy, it makes the verification process wholly dependent on the stability and accessibility of the DOE’s electronic database. 

References (in Thai): 

• The Notification of the Department of Employment regarding the prescribed forms and documents or evidence required for submitting applications and notifications under the ministerial regulation on work permit applications, issuance of work permits, and notifications of employment of foreign nationals. Retrieved from the Royal Thai Government Gazette Website. 
• The Notification of the Department of Employment regarding the electronic channels for contacting the department of employment to request services related to work permit applications and notifications of employment of foreign nationals. Retrieved from the Royal Thai Government Gazette Website. 
• Announcement regarding electronic channels for contacting the Department of Employment to request services related to work permits and notifications of employment of foreign nationals (9 October 2025). Retrieved from Department of Employment Facebook Page. 
• Announcement regarding electronic channels for contacting the Department of Employment to request services related to work permits and notifications of employment of foreign nationals (10 October 2025). Retrieved from the Department of Employment Facebook Page.