Directory · Jobs & RecruitmentRecruitment & job agencies in Thailand.
Headhunters and job agencies that place foreigners into Thai roles — how a good one works, and how to avoid the agencies that charge candidates or oversell a position.
← All expat services
01What this is & why you'd need it
A recruitment or executive-search agency matches candidates to employers and, for foreigners, often guides you through the offer, the salary expectation and what the employer must do on the work-permit side. They are most useful for professional, managerial and specialist roles (corporate/MNC, tech, hospitality management, BOI-promoted companies) and for teaching placements. A legitimate agency is paid by the hiring company, not by you — they screen, shortlist and broker the offer. This category is about how to judge an agency and use one well, not a paid list of named firms. For how Thai work authorisation actually works once you have an offer, see our working-in-Thailand guide.
02What to look for
- Paid by the employer, not the candidate — a reputable agency never charges you a placement fee to get a job
- Specialises in your field or in foreign/expat placements, with real employer relationships you can sanity-check
- Honest about work-permit reality — explains that the employer must sponsor the Non-B visa and work permit, and won't promise a role the company can't legally fill with a foreigner
- Transparent about the actual role, salary band and contract terms before you commit, and keeps your CV confidential
03Questions to ask before you commit
Q. Who pays your fee — the employer or me? (For a job placement it must be the employer.)
Q. Will this employer sponsor my Non-B visa and work permit, and have they hired foreigners before?
Q. What is the real salary band, contract length and probation — and does it clear any nationality-based minimum-salary floor?
Q. Can I speak to the employer directly before accepting, and will you keep my CV confidential?
Red flags
Walk away if you see…
- Any agency that charges you, the candidate, a fee to be placed in a job
- Vague or inflated salary and role descriptions that don't match the written offer
- 'Guaranteed' work permits or visas, or suggesting you start work before the permit is issued
- Pressure to accept fast, no written contract, or asking for payment to 'secure' a visa/permit
What it typically costs
For genuine job placement you should pay nothing — the hiring employer pays the agency. Be very wary of any 'agency' that asks the candidate for a placement, visa or training fee. (Separate, optional career services like professional CV writing or interview coaching may be paid, but those are not the same as being charged to get a job.) Confirm in writing who pays before you engage.
Frequently asked
Do recruitment agencies charge foreigners to find a job?A legitimate recruitment agency is paid by the hiring employer, not by you — you should never pay a fee simply to be placed in a job. If an 'agency' asks you for a placement fee, a visa fee or a deposit to secure a position, treat it as a serious red flag. Optional paid services like CV writing or coaching are different and should always be clearly separated from job placement.
Can an agency get me a work permit?No — a work permit is sponsored by your actual employer, not by a recruitment agency. A good agency will introduce you to an employer who is willing and able to sponsor your Non-Immigrant B visa and work permit, but the legal authorisation comes from the company that hires you. Anyone promising a 'guaranteed' work permit independent of a real job offer is best avoided. Our working-in-Thailand guide explains the Non-B and work-permit sequence.
What jobs do agencies actually place foreigners into?Mostly professional and specialist roles — corporate and multinational positions, tech and engineering, hospitality and hotel management, senior teaching, and roles at BOI-promoted companies — because these are where employers are set up to sponsor foreign staff. Many occupations are reserved for Thai nationals, so a realistic agency will steer you toward roles a foreigner can legally hold.
Find the home to match
Line up your services, then explore areas and listings across Thailand.
General information only — not legal, financial, medical or tax advice. We never take paid placement. Verify any provider's credentials, fees and terms directly before committing.