Working restrictions for foreigners in Thailand

[crazy88]

Rowdy wrote


"My understanding if a Thai can do the job then you by law can't,if its so specialised that a Thai cant do a certian job task you can obtain a visa to train them up.
So whatever way you look at it you legally cant do anything in your own house even your own gardening."

Not quite so Rowdy.

If it were then occupations such as advanced nuclear engineering and pioneering medical surgery etc would be the only eligable types of jobs ( examples only, Thai medical services are pretty damn good IMO)

The reality is that there is a list of restricted occupations and should your job or business involve engaging in one of these the labour department call you a "consultant" or "manager" The definition of "work" is also very ambiguous and translates roughly I recall as " exercising physical or mental effort, with or without financial gain" so technically even thinking about mowing your lawn is a violation. Unfortunately this does not get me out of doing the washing up on the premise that I don't have a kitchen porters WP

Fairly sure the restrictions list was posted on here at some point.

Crazy 88

[Titled edited to reflect content]

[crazy88]

Not sure if it is completely up to date but here is the restrictions list.

• Labour
• Work in agriculture, animal breeding,
forestry, fishery or general farm
supervision
• Masonry, carpentry, or other
construction work
• Wood carving
• Driving motor vehicles or nonmotorised
carriers, except for piloting
international aircraft
• Shop attendant
• Auctioning
• Supervising, auditing or giving
services in accounting, except
occasional international auditing
• Gem cutting and polishing
• Hair cutting, hair dressing and
beautician work
• Hand weaving
• Mat weaving or making of wares from
reed, rattan, kenaf, straw or bamboo
pulp
• Manufacture of manual fibrous paper
• Manufacture of lacquerware
• Thai musical instrument production
• Manufacture of nielloware
• Goldsmith, silversmith and other
precious metal work
• Manufacture of bronzeware
• Thai doll making
• Manufacture of mattresses and padded
blankets
• Alms bowl making
• Manual silk product making
• Buddha image making
• Manufacture of knives
• Paper and cloth umbrella fabrication
• Shoemaking
• Hat making
• Brokerage or agency work, except in
international business
• Dressmaking
• Pottery or ceramics
• Manual cigarette rolling
• Legal or litigation service
• Clerical or secretarial work
• Manual silk reeling and weaving
• Thai character type-setting
• Hawking business
• Tourist guide or tour organising
agency
• Architectural work
• Civil engineering work


Crazy 88

[komfortablynumb]

Oh you got to love Thai law.
Next time she who must be obeyed tells me to do the washing up.
I shall point her to this post and say. "Not allowed it's labour."
Your Thai and i can't take your job.
Err can i stay at yours for a few nights crazy?
Just till the dust settles.

[Big Boy]

That category of 'Labour' is a bit of a catch all category.

Going back to my original question on the Air Conditioners thread. Is 'Labour' the category installation of air conditioners comes under, or is there another category that would capture it?

[paulsimkiss]

First you need a B visa. Then you apply for a work permit. The work permit application must be for work allowed by the Thai Labour department. Then you can only do that type of work the permit allows. Also only with the employer you applied for the permit with.

[bapak]

First you need a B visa. Then you apply for a work permit. The work permit application must be for work allowed by the Thai Labour department. Then you can only do that type of work the permit allows. Also only with the employer you applied for the permit with.

Can also get Work Permit if on O Visa with marriage extension.

[Spitfire]

^ Yes, agree, I think it's just a non immigrant visa of some discription and you can then apply for a work permit, this myth that you need a B visa is not true anymore. I get mine from a non O.

[Siani]

Surely doing your own gardening is a hobby not working for someone?

[JimmyGreaves]

^ Yes, agree, I think it's just a non immigrant visa of some discription and you can then apply for a work permit, this myth that you need a B visa is not true anymore. I get mine from a non O.

You saying being married on a O visa with 400K in the bank allows a work visa or what are the full requirements?

[Big Boy]

Surely doing your own gardening is a hobby not working for someone?

It probably relies upon you getting on very well with your neighbours. Personally, I hate gardening, so won't take the chance.

[Spitfire]

You saying being married on a O visa with 400K in the bank allows a work visa or what are the full requirements?

Yep, pretty much. The 400k is actually irrevelant as you can a get non O for the 3 months initially without the 400k. If you have a non immigrant visa of some type then you can apply for a work permit in the initial time span of grace before it needs to be extended, so long as you are applying to a school/college/uni or some international company etc that operates here.

This is what I have done, got the non O 3 months, screw the 400k in the bank, applied at a college/uni and they got me a work permit for the year and have renewed for the last 4 years on the same premise that the uni has offered me a job for the next year.

Easier than most think actually, just need any of the non immigrant visas, non O is fine.

[Spitfire]

Of course it is Siani, rather like painting your own walls inside your house, no worries really, some of the above comments could be construed as "anal" imo, technically correct, but in reality not really applicable in the real world. It's not a worry in general, only becomes so when you start to really to "work" in a job that is easlily done by a dimwit local or you get grassed up by an envious Thai/foreigner that doesn't like the fact that your partner's/your business starts to do well.

You do need to be careful but househaold chores are OK imo, unless as BB said your neighbours hate you and are aware of the laws here, even so, don't think the cops would do you for gardening.

There is also the location variable, some places are more hardcore about this stuff than others, ie, Khon Kaen/Korat with be different to BBK which will be different to HH, which also in turn will be different to Bangsaphan etc and on and on, blanket rules seem to not exist, or at least, the enforcement of such laws and it seems to be at the discretion of the local cop colonel.

Consistency is not something I come across much here, apart from that of graft/corruption.

[JimmyGreaves]

You saying being married on a O visa with 400K in the bank allows a work visa or what are the full requirements?

Yep, pretty much. The 400k is actually irrevelant as you can a get non O for the 3 months initially without the 400k, if you have a non immigrant visa of some type then you can apply for a work permit so long as you are applying to a school/college/uni or some international company etc that operates here.

This is what I have done, got the non O 3 months, screw the 400k in the bank, applied at a college/uni and they got me a work permit for the year and have renewed for the last 4 years on the same premise that the uni has offered me a job for the next year.

Easier than most think actually, just need any of the non immigrant visas, non O is fine.

Interesting, obviously the employer has to fulfil all their oblications.

[E-Dork]

All of the above is technically correct but as all long term expats are aware of is the fact that if you know a few 'high up' guys you can get away with almost anything.

A while back I posted about a friend who had WELL overstayed his visa. At the time, as I have been pretty law abiding during my stint here, I didn't know the rules. The wife got on the phone and had the guy's visa sorted within a few days - didn't need to go anywhere

Here the saying 'It's not what you know it's who you know' takes a whole new meaning. This is partly the reason behind HHAD's reluctance to have anything bad posted about the powers that be in Hua Hin as it would be a losing battle against them.

You want a new passport, from any country with visa - 60,000+

Visa's - 20,000 upwards

Permanent Residency - 80,000 +

Work Permit renewals with no company or work - cheap

Sorry this doesn't help the OP but just giving the low down of Thailand.

If you are caught breaking any rules a small 'under the counter' gesture will make you a new friend.

[Siani]

Of course it is Siani, rather like painting your own walls inside your house, no worries really, some of the above comments could be construed as "anal" imo, technically correct, but in reality not really applicable in the real world. It's not a worry in general, only becomes so when you start to really to "work" in a job that is easlily done by a dimwit local or you get grassed up by an envious Thai/foreigner that doesn't like the fact that your partner's/your business starts to do well.

You do need to be careful but househaold chores are OK imo, unless as BB said your neighbours hate you and are aware of the laws here, even so, don't think the cops would do you for gardening.

There is also the location variable, some places are more hardcore about this stuff than others, ie, Khon Kaen/Korat with be different to BBK which will be different to HH, which also in turn will be different to Bangsaphan etc and on and on, blanket rules seem to not exist, or at least, the enforcement of such laws and it seems to be at the discretion of the local cop colonel.

Consistency is not something I come across much here, apart from that of graft/corruption.

I agree with what you say, it makes sense. Really speaking if we all went by book, we would not even be allowed to massage our own feet! Anyway, I have packed my trowel, so no going back on the gardening now