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Can a foreigner living in Thailand work online or sell products not available locally?

Visa Regulations Work Permits Online Business Remote Work Digital Nomad Visa Manufacturing in Thailand

Dec 7, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Can a farang living in Thailand...

1. Work online for a self-owned business or an employer based in his home country?

2. Produce and sell a product that it not readily available in Thailand?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Foreigners (farangs) living in Thailand can technically work online for their own businesses or foreign employers without strict oversight, especially if they are not providing services to clients in Thailand. However, to legally work in Thailand, a work permit is required, regardless of the payment source. For producing and selling products not available in Thailand, setting up a legal business requires a Thai company and compliance with local employment laws. In recent discussions, a Long Term Visa (LTR) has been mentioned for remote work, which has stringent requirements.

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Craig *******

Re #1. Not a problem - ppl saying its not allowed are being overly pedantic. Similarly a CEO on vacation making a call back to the office is "working" and technically this is not allowed, but no one is going to care. As long as you are not providing services to people in Thailand you are fine.

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Barry *******

There was talk of digital nomad visas if you met certain requirements. Not sure if it ever went ahead.

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John **********

yep LTR visa is available for remote working but the requirements are considerable

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Barry *******

@John *********

That’s what I thought.

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Barry *******

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Av **********

Manufacturing in thailand has become very costly comparing to neighboring countries fyi..and if u have never worked with asian manufacturing u r gonna ger screwed over...good to have someone who has spent years dealing with asian manufacturing to teach u

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John **********

1. You need a work permit to legally work inside Thailand. Doesn't matter where you get paid or who you work for. Saying that plenty do it illegally, just keep it quiet

2. You would need to set up a Thai company and employ Thais to do the work.

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Greg *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

ok, got it 👌

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John **********

I should add you would also need to obtain the appropriate visa to allow you to live in Thailand. Border bounce is ok a couple of times but if they think you are living here on tourist visa or visa exempt they'll soon give you a hard time

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Greg *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

It would be a Non-Imm O marriage type visa

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John **********

you can actually work on that visa if you can get a work permit. But you won't get a work permit for working online. You could get one via a company if they meet the criteria, employing 4 Thais, enough registered capital etc

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Greg *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

Do you mean if you requested one for online work, it would be denied?

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John **********

don't think there is even the option to request for that purpose. There is a Long Term Visa (LTR) that will allow for remote working but the requirements are pretty onerous including very high revenue requirements for the company you will work for plus high income requirements for yourself

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John **********

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Vladimír *****

1st one I am interested in too?

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Ulrik *********

@Vladimír **************

not legal/grey zone. But no one is gonna knock on your door asking what you do on your laptop.

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Ulrik *********

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Charles ********

Assuming you are on tourist visa.

1. Technically no, but it's not something the government really cares about.

2. No.

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Greg *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Charles *******

Got it. Thanks. 👍🏼

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Greg *********

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Andy ********

where is he producing and selling the said product

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Greg *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

In Thailand

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Andy ********

Then you would need to set up a business with Thai employees and have a work permit yourself.

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Greg *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Even if it only requires one person (i.e. myself) to produce? I'm guessing the answer is still "yes."

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Andy ********

Yes, just think what visa you will be staying here on and that will answer your question.

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Andy ********

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