🇹🇭 Best Employer of Record Thailand 2026

You're looking at anywhere from $179 to $600+ per employee per month, depending on what you need. We charge $179/month at Columbus, while bigger names like Deel and Oyster are around $599. That monthly fee covers payroll, taxes, social security (5% capped at THB 750), and compliance stuff. You'll still pay the employee's actual salary on top of that, obviously.

Most EORs can get someone onboarded in 1-3 weeks, and some of us can do it in 24-48 hours for straightforward hires. Compare that to setting up your own Thai entity, which takes 16-20 weeks and costs millions in THB. If your new hire needs a work permit, add another week or two to the timeline.

Foreign workers absolutely need work permits to legally work in Thailand - no exceptions. A good EOR handles the entire visa and work permit process for you, including all the paperwork headaches. This is honestly where having local expertise pays off, because Thai immigration rules change frequently and the bureaucracy can be brutal.

That's literally the EOR's job - they become the legal employer and handle all compliance with Thailand's Labor Protection Act. They deal with employment contracts, mandatory social security registration, tax filings, and statutory benefits. Just make sure your EOR actually knows Thai law inside and out, because penalties for non-compliance aren't fun.

Thai law requires social security, health insurance, and specific paid leave entitlements. Most EORs handle these statutory benefits automatically. Some also offer additional perks, but honestly, focus on finding an EOR that nails the mandatory stuff first. Thai employees are pretty savvy about their legal rights, so don't cut corners here.

Thai labor law has strict rules about termination - notice periods, severance pay, proper documentation. The EOR handles all of this according to local requirements, which is honestly a relief because wrongful termination claims can get expensive fast. Different rules apply based on contract type and length of employment, so you'll want that local expertise.

For most companies, EOR wins hands down on cost and speed. Setting up a Thai entity requires minimum capital of THB 500,000-2,000,000+, plus legal fees, ongoing compliance costs, and 16-20 weeks of waiting. EOR costs are predictable monthly fees with no upfront capital requirements. Only makes sense to go the entity route if you're hiring dozens of people long-term.

Most EORs can handle multi-currency payments - we support THB plus 70+ other currencies at Columbus. But here's the thing: Thai employees usually prefer getting paid in THB to avoid exchange rate headaches. Some EORs charge extra for currency conversion, so factor that into your cost comparison if you're paying in USD or EUR.