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Can a foreigner in Thailand hold two simultaneous work permits in different fields?

Thai Work PermitMultiple Work PermitsForeign Employment in ThailandLegal Translation WorkTeaching in Thailand
Jul 25, 2017
7 years ago
Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Greetings everyone!

Context first:

I'm a native English speaking South African Teacher that has been in Thailand for close to a year and a half.

I have my commercial law degree. Work permit at my school sorted.

A friend of mine (Thai guy) has his own law company and would like me to assist with the translation and interpretations of applicable legal jargon. He is legally capable of providing me as a foreigner with a work permit.

My question:

Is it possible to have multiple work permits in multiple fields that have no direct bearing on each other? Thus 2 simultaneous work permits.?

Ps* I have done research and inquiries, however, as many fresh perspectives is always a smart thing to obtain, therefore, thank you in advance.

Kind regards,
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, a South African teacher in Thailand, inquires about the possibility of obtaining two work permits simultaneously for different job roles - teaching and legal translation. Responses indicate that it is possible to have multiple work permits, but specify that all work, whether part-time or freelance, typically requires a work permit. Additionally, clarification on the nature of the work is noted, suggesting that part-time work may not necessitate a separate permit under certain conditions.
Lobs *************
You can keep working with your school and do the translation as part time work without necessarily obtaining a work permit
7 years ago
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Robert ********
@Lobs ************
 So Not True.
7 years ago
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Lloyd ********
All work, paid or unpaid requires a work permit.
7 years ago
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Lobs *************
You have to agree with the friend who want you to do translation in advance that it will only be a part time work and you don't need a work permit
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does any work, in any form, that earns remuneration not require a work permit though?
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
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Joe ***********
It is not just accent — there is a whole lexicon of words not generally used elsewhere.
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
That's what tends to happen when one is capable of speaking more than just one language :P haha.

Besides, that lexicon of words are not used when we're in a professional setting.
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
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Andy ****
Does he also want a part-time employee for translation?
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'll ask him tomorrow (:
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
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Colin ********
Why 2 work permits?
7 years ago
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David **********
I thought you could just add it to your existing work permit?
7 years ago
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Colin ********
OK understand
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *******
 Yes sir. (: The work permit allows you to legally work and therefore earn income from that said employer who issued the permit.
7 years ago
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Colin ********
So you have to have a permit for every job
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Paid services rendered for legal work. ( a reference to the actual legal work mentioned and not that the work is legal, and also not that the work conducted is illegal haha got to love English.)
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
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Jordan ********
South Africa is not an native English speaking country but other then that you shall have no problem obtaining two work permits
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Samuel *******
 lol, you are 100% correct. Like I told them. It's a pointless debate. I do not understand the value of discussing the possibility of difference for something that's already set in stone haha.
7 years ago
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Samuel ********
I guess you can't read and understand simple English. Good day
@Janine *****
7 years ago
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Samuel ********
Janine Page. I now understand that you're not able to read and understand simple English . I now understand why they said. You're not a native speaker. Because you can't understand basic English.
7 years ago
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Samuel ********
Hey. you guys are all talking what you don't understand or kn . who is a native speaker? Please go back to your dictionaries. Don't disqualified someone because he/she is not from the almighty countries as you. " A native speaker is someone who has spoken a certain Language from childhood." And again, it doesn't matter if I speak 50 languages or not. If she has been using English all her life then she's native .
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can someone please explain to me why there is an arguement about something so petty and unnecessary?

SA is considered a native country. Fact.

Saying a dog is a cat does not change the fact that its a dog.

Having been in management, I have dealt with placements all around Thailand. North to South.

SA is considered a native country, by all government schools and lots of private schools. Not by much International schools. Fact.
7 years ago
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Velle ***********
Jordan Harris The screenshot you've posted shows the alphabetical order not most-least spoken.
7 years ago
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Velle ***********
Jordan Harris What is your mother tongue ? Just curious.
7 years ago
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Janine ******
I think the biggest issue some of us have, is that the world seems to have forgotten that many people are raised only speaking English. And having a second language Afrikaans. They are shocked to hear that we can speak English. And so well. We are frustrated with this.

No matter where we come from in SA they shoukd be able to ask what our mother tongue was. And not decide purely on our country of birth and upbringing
7 years ago
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Janine ******
But no issue. We know why.
7 years ago
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Janine ******
This is why.
7 years ago
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Jordan ********
7 years ago
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Jordan ********
South African first and majority of the spoken in SA language is Africans hence why English is not the native and first language hence why Thailand doesn't recognise them as native speakers
7 years ago
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Jordan ********
Wow this spread quickly lol
7 years ago
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Jonathan *************
love Yo-Landi in Chappie too :)
7 years ago
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Jonathan *************
die Antword--great band :)
7 years ago
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Janine ******
But I accept, and always do, that many SA people have a seriously flat hard accent. I cringe when I hear it. So I fully understand and agree. But please don't put us all in that same bracket
7 years ago
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Janine ******
Like all people from New Zealand have a very heavy accent.

Every country has one.

It is just some of us don't have it. We have clearer accents than most British.

Yes, we have a different way of rounding some sounds. But so do you guys
7 years ago
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Jim *******
It's just that all SAs I've met around the world have all spoken with this accent.
7 years ago
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Janine ******
Not many people from other countries speak a second language as well. Let alone be fully bilingual like so many in our Country
7 years ago
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Janine ******
This is the kind of comment that could start the wrong thing on here.

So as I just wanted to state. Not all of us are Afrikaans.

I was brought up in a fully bilingual household. So I can speak 2 language as if they were my first.

But my first language, as with many of us, is English. And it is British English we grew up with and had our Education in
7 years ago
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Janine ******
You need to make sure of the facts actually. There are two distinct accents. British English and the Dutch accent. Better knows as Afrikaans.

So please do not assume everyone speaks with heavy accents.

Can yoy imagine what other nationalities sound like to us? And others? Some people who cone from a NES country can hardly speak the language at all. Never mind not knowing a second one.

So please take note of the difference in our country.
7 years ago
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Jim *******
Most SA cannot speak clear English at all. Their accent stops their pronunciation clearly.
7 years ago
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Janine ******
True enough.
7 years ago
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Velle ***********
@Janine *****
 Waste of my time.. but a nice little paid trip to BKK.
7 years ago
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Janine ******
That's good news. 6 years ago they made me take the Toeic. Then were all shocked when it came back as 100% correct. Oohh. No mistake! Why? Um? I am English!
7 years ago
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Velle ***********
@Janine *****
 Yes. When I started teaching in Thailand. I needed a TOEIC. 4 years ago.

Another 2 Saffers whom I know of, recently started and are about to get work permits without having to go for the TOEIC.
7 years ago
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Janine ******
@Velle **********
, thank you for that input. It is about time they accept us. Now I know for future reference as well
7 years ago
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Janine ******
Well. Many of us grow up i a home with only English. Then we have a second language we can speak fluently.

Just wish people would finally accept it.

Yes, it may be a small number in comparison to the black languages spoken there. But we are a minority in the country.

But, English is our Native language
7 years ago
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Velle ***********
This has been amended. Thailand now accepts SA as a native English speaking country, even though English is 4th on the list of languages spoken in SA.
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
"native English speaking South African Teacher" ....there is no reference to my country being native or not. My 1st language is English. (: .

Other than that, thank you for the advice.
7 years ago
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Jean-Jacques **************
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Lloyd ********
2 work permits is no problem.
7 years ago
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Lloyd ********
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