How much does it cost to hire an employee through an EOR in Thailand?

EOR pricing typically ranges from $400–$700 per month per employee, plus the employee's base salary and benefits. Beyond the EOR fee, you'll pay: (1) **Base salary**—market rate for the role in Thailand. (2) **Employer contributions**—approximately 5% on top of salary for taxes, social insurance, and mandatory benefits. (3) **Optional benefits**—health insurance, bonuses, stock options. For example, hiring a developer earning $3,000/month would cost approximately $3,000 + (5% = $150) + $500 EOR fee = $3650/month total.

Is using an EOR legally safe in Thailand?

Yes, using an EOR in Thailand is fully legal and compliant when you work with established providers like Deel, Remote, or Oyster. These providers are registered employers in Thailand and handle all legal obligations. Thailand has low employer burden (5% social security) and relatively straightforward labor law. However, work permits for foreign nationals are required and carefully regulated. Severance can be substantial for long-tenured employees. Recent labor law reforms have strengthened worker protections. The EOR assumes the legal employer role, so you avoid misclassification risks that come with contractor arrangements. However, choose reputable EOR providers with proven track records in Thailand—smaller or unregistered providers carry significant risk.

What are the mandatory benefits I need to provide to employees in Thailand?

Thailand requires employers to provide several mandatory benefits: - **Social Security**: Employer contributes 5% to mandatory social insurance. - **Annual Leave**: Minimum 6 days per year (or 1 day per month). Higher after tenure. - **Public Holidays**: 13 public holidays at full pay. - **Severance**: If terminated without cause: 1-10 months salary depending on tenure. - **Gratuity**: End-of-service gratuity often provided (varies by company). These benefits are built into the EOR fee and handled automatically by your EOR provider. You don't need to manage them separately—just pay the total monthly fee and the EOR handles all compliance.

How long does it take to onboard an employee through an EOR in Thailand?

With an EOR, the typical timeline is 14 days from offer acceptance to the employee's first paycheck. The process includes: (1) **Days 1–2**: Background checks and document verification. (2) **Days 3–7**: Employment contract in local language, tax registration. (3) **Days 8–14**: Payroll setup, benefits enrollment, system access. This is dramatically faster than hiring via a subsidiary (which typically takes 2–3 months), making EOR ideal for time-sensitive hiring.

Should I use an EOR or set up a legal subsidiary in Thailand?

Use an **EOR** if you're: hiring your first employee in Thailand, want to avoid legal complexity and ongoing compliance costs, or plan to hire fewer than 5 people. EORs typically cost $400–$700/month per employee and offer simple, predictable pricing with zero additional administrative burden. Use a **subsidiary** if you're: planning to hire 10+ people in Thailand, want direct control over hiring and contracts, or are already established in the country. Setting up a subsidiary takes 2–3 months and costs $2,000–$10,000 in legal and accounting fees, but gives you flexibility and lower per-employee costs long-term. For most small companies hiring their first international team, EOR is the faster, safer choice.

Which EOR providers support hiring in Thailand?

The major EOR providers supporting Thailand are: **Deel** (150+ countries), **Remote** (80+ countries), **Oyster** (130+ countries), **Rippling** (50+ countries), and **Multiplier** (150+ countries). Each offers similar core features—payroll, compliance, tax handling—with varying prices, customer support, and platform quality. Compare based on: (1) **Price**: $400–$700/month, (2) **Support quality**: Check reviews for your timezone, (3) **Feature set**: Some offer built-in benefits, others are payroll-only, (4) **User experience**: Platform simplicity varies significantly.

What happens to my EOR employee if I stop using the EOR service?

If you decide to leave an EOR service, your options depend on your long-term plan: (1) **Switch to another EOR**: The employee transitions to a new EOR provider within days—no job loss. (2) **Set up a local subsidiary**: The employee becomes employed by your subsidiary. Most EOR providers can help facilitate this transition. (3) **Separate from the employee**: You can terminate the employment agreement with notice (typically 30–60 days in Thailand), following all local severance requirements. Because the EOR is the legal employer, any transitions or terminations must comply with Thailand's labor laws—another reason to use established, licensed EOR providers.

Employer of Record in Thailand

Q: What is an Employer of Record (EOR) and how does it work in Thailand?

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party company that becomes the legal employer of your remote workers in Thailand. You define the role, manage the day-to-day work, and set the compensation. The EOR handles all employer responsibilities: payroll, benefits, tax compliance, employment contracts, and labor law compliance. This means you can hire full-time employees in Thailand without establishing a subsidiary or legal entity. The process typically takes 14 days from offer to first paycheck.

Onboarding Time

14 days

Employer Contributions

EOR Providers

Currency

Thai Baht (THB)

Employer Cost Breakdown in Thailand

$250

Monthly cost on $5k salary

~$500

Typical EOR fee/mo

14d

Onboarding time

Thailand is an increasingly popular tech destination, especially Bangkok, with growing software development and digital services sectors. Thai professionals are hardworking, respectful, and eager to learn. Cost of living and salaries are low, making Thailand attractive for cost-conscious hiring (60-75% savings vs US). However, hiring in Thailand requires work permits for foreign nationals (carefully regulated by Thai government). Employment law is straightforward but severance obligations can be substantial. Communication style is more reserved than Western norms—explicit feedback and clear guidance help bridge cultural gaps. Using an EOR in Thailand handles work permit coordination, social security registration, severance calculation, and Thai Labor Act compliance. Onboarding takes 2-3 weeks.

EOR Providers for Thailand

Compare the leading Employer of Record providers for hiring in Thailand. All prices are monthly and exclude employee salary and benefits.

Provider	Monthly Fee	Coverage	Best For	Key Features	Action
Deel	$599	150+	Companies scaling globally	Fast onboardingBuilt-in compliance	Get Quote
Remote	$599	80+	Mid-size companies	Own legal entitiesBenefits management	Get Quote
Oyster	$599	130+	Remote-first companies	Guided hiringLocal benefits	Get Quote
Rippling	$600	50+	Tech companies	Unified HR platformIT management	Get Quote
Multiplier	$400	150+	Cost-conscious companies	Competitive pricingMulti-currency payroll	Get Quote

Tip: Most EOR providers offer a free trial or demo. Contact multiple providers to compare features, customer support quality, and specific support for Thailand. Pricing and coverage may change after 2026.

Legal Requirements in Thailand

Business registration with DBD (Department of Business Development)

Social security registration

Work permit if hiring foreign nationals

Employment contract in Thai (or English with translation)

Compliance with Thai Labor Protection Act

Mandatory Benefits

Benefit	Description
Social Security	Employer contributes 5% to mandatory social insurance.
Annual Leave	Minimum 6 days per year (or 1 day per month). Higher after tenure.
Public Holidays	13 public holidays at full pay.
Severance	If terminated without cause: 1-10 months salary depending on tenure.
Gratuity	End-of-service gratuity often provided (varies by company).

Compliance Guide

**Employment Contract**: Can be in Thai or English (with official Thai translation). Specify job title, duties, salary, benefits, work schedule, leave, and severance. **Work Permit**: Foreign nationals require work permits. Thai nationals do not. The employer must sponsor work permits through local immigration office. Processing takes 1-2 weeks. The EOR assists with coordination. **Social Security**: Employer contributes 5% to Thai social insurance system. Covers employee work injury, disability, death, and medical benefits. **Annual Leave**: Minimum 6 days per year for first year (or 1 day per month). Higher after tenure. Upon separation, unused leave must be paid out. **Public Holidays**: 13 national public holidays at full pay. Additional Buddhist holidays may apply. **Severance**: Termination without just cause requires severance: 1 month salary if service < 1 year, 3 months if 1-3 years, 6 months if 3-5 years, 8 months if 5+ years, 10 months if 10+ years. **Just Cause Termination**: Misconduct (theft, violence), repeated violations, or inability to perform may allow termination without severance. Employer bears burden of proof. **Work Schedule**: Standard 8 hours/day, 5 days/week (40 hours). Overtime beyond 8 hours/day is payable at 1.5x (first 2 hours) and 3x (beyond 10 hours/day). **Termination Process**: Employer must provide written notice (at least 1 month advance notice) and severance amount. Last paycheck must include final month salary + severance. **Tax Compliance**: Progressive income tax (0-37%). Withholding is calculated monthly by employer and remitted to Thai Revenue Department.

Why Use an EOR in Thailand?

Thailand offers low labor costs (60-75% below US) with growing tech talent. EOR handles work permit coordination, social security registration, severance management, and Thai labor law compliance.

Other EOR Options in Asia

Philippines

Onboarding: 14 days

15% contributions→

India

Onboarding: 14 days

24% contributions→

Vietnam

Onboarding: 14 days

21.5% contributions→

Singapore

Onboarding: 10 days

17% contributions→

Japan

Onboarding: 14 days

15% contributions→

South Korea

Onboarding: 14 days

13% contributions→

Hiring in Thailand: FAQs

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party company that becomes the legal employer of your remote workers in Thailand. You define the role, manage the day-to-day work, and set the compensation. The EOR handles all employer responsibilities: payroll, benefits, tax compliance, employment contracts, and labor law compliance. This means you can hire full-time employees in Thailand without establishing a subsidiary or legal entity. The process typically takes 14 days from offer to first paycheck.

Start hiring talent in Thailand

Deel handles payroll, compliance, and benefits. No local entity needed.

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