Can foreigners work from home in Thailand under a Tourist Visa?

Sep 20, 2021
3 years ago
Can foreigner work (as work from home) under Tourist Visa, not Non-B?

Due to Covid 19 caused foreigner unable to go to Thai Embassy oversea to get Non B and difficult to convert at immigration office because of lack of director signature on paper work.

Can we work from home until situation get better and able to apply for Non-B and then work permit?

If immigration officer finds out later even work for home. The reason of Covid 19 is still reasonable? And is there gonna be serious punishment?

Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Foreigners are not allowed to work in Thailand under a Tourist Visa, even if it is work from home. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, regulations stipulate that proper work permits are mandatory. Working without a permit is considered a criminal offense, potentially resulting in fines, deportation, and blacklisting. Some opinions suggested that work conducted remotely without a local employer might go unnoticed by immigration authorities, but this does not eliminate the legal risks involved.
Paul ********
All you have to do is look at the tourist visa sticker it clears states you can not work
Josephine-Charlotte *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *******
Thank you. My concern is about work from home. I've seen lots of foreigners in Thailand do WFH with TR visa, that's why I have these questions.
Paul ********
@Josephine-Charlotte ************
if you are working from and you don’t tell anyone then no one is going to know
Luke ******
Working without a valid work permit, even for one day, is a criminal offense. The penalty for working without a work permit is a fine of THB 5,000 to THB 50,000. This is to be followed promptly by deportation. They may be blacklisted and not allowed to reenter Thailand. A company or employer that hires a foreigner without a valid work permit is subject to a fine of THB 10,000 to THB 100,000 for each foreign employee. An employer committing a repeat offense is liable to imprisonment for a term of up to one year, a fine of THB 50,000 to THB 200,000 per foreigner employed, or both. The person will also be prohibited from employing a foreigner for three years from the date of final court judgment.

If requested, a work permit must be presented to the officer within a reasonable time frame.
Josephine-Charlotte *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Luke Goss

Thank you. My concern is about work from home. I've seen lots of foreigners in Thailand do WFH with TR visa, that's why I have these questions.
Luke ******
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/2019_Thailand_Legal_Basics.pdf
Luke ******
Working without a valid work permit, even for one day, is a criminal offense. The penalty for working without a work permit is a fine of THB 5,000 to THB 50,000. This is to be followed promptly by deportation. They may be blacklisted and not allowed to reenter Thailand. A company or employer that hires a foreigner without a valid work permit is subject to a fine of THB 10,000 to THB 100,000 for each foreign employee. An employer committing a repeat offense is liable to imprisonment for a term of up to one year, a fine of THB 50,000 to THB 200,000 per foreigner employed, or both. The person will also be prohibited from employing a foreigner for three years from the date of final court judgment.

If requested, a work permit must be presented to the officer within a reasonable time frame.
Terary **********
I think any work from home situation you are talking about will not be a concern to immigration. If you are working on the internet or some remote office situation. If the fruits of your labor are realized outside of Thailand, then immigration will not likely care.

If work from home, like open a restaurant and sell cheese sandwiches to people here in Thailand, probably Immigration won't care, but it is easier.

If work from home, like have an employer here in Thailand, get a paycheck here and Thailand and teaching kids in Thailand, then immigration probably wont care, but some government office, some day, may want headlines so they'll do some stuff but probably nothing to you.

If work from home you been, go to the office in Thailand, for a Thai employer, the fruits of your labor are realized in Thailand. Still immigration probably wont care so much, but the police will want headlines and they will come arrest you. Then immigration will boot you.
Darren *******
They've been converting existing visas and extensions to non-B/extensions of stay for employment in country, including for those you previously went overseas for.

This is pretty much in the hands of your employer as they'll need to provide more information than if you applied overseas but it definitely is possible.
Stuart *********
No. You are not allowed to work unless you have a work permit issued. That may be from a non B visa or a non O visa based on marriage to a Thai citizen. Covid hasn’t changed that.
Nan ********
@Stuart ********
Can get a vaccinated with tourists visas in Thailand?
Stuart *********
@Violets ********
sorry I don’t know the answer to that. I believe you can, but I don’t know from personal experience if it’s possible. Others may be able to confirm.
Nan ********
@Stuart ********
ok thanks you so much 🙏🏾
Josephine-Charlotte *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you. My concern is about work from home. I've seen lots of foreigners in Thailand do WFH with TR visa, that's why I have these questions.
Craig *******
@Stuart ********
that is the literal interpretation of a law that pre-dates the digital era/internet. There is no practical issue if you are doing your usual foreign job but you happen to be physically in Thailand ie. working from "home". In fact the Thai government is actively contemplating officially condoning the digital nomad concept as a means to boost tourism.
Bobby ********
Craig Beggs. Rather than go down the "but, but, but" route, the OP has asked if it is lawful to do this at this stage. The answer is simply No. Nobody can work within Thailand whilst on a tourist status.
Craig *******
@Bobby *******
The OP asked "if you can do it" and "is there going to be serious punishment", not whether it is legal. The practical answer is "yes you can" and "no risk of punishment". Whether its technically legal is not the issue, but rather how do they enforce the law. BTW prostitution is also illegal in Thailand.
Bobby ********
Craig Beggs. Ok, anyone can draw the long bow.Drug dealing is also illegal in Thailand, but it you're not caught you can do it. I was just sticking to the legal facts and legally in Thailand, if on a tourist visa, you are not allowed to work. It's that simple, but please keep arguing the point if you've nothing better to do.
Michael ********
@Craig ******
i wouldnt put it as actively contemplating it, they been talking about it for at least six years now.
Craig *******
@Michael *******
ok but my point is there is no risk of "working from home" from Thailand. Not something you advertise, but the chances of getting nailed are zero. Technically making a phone call back to your office is a violation.
Michael ********
@Craig ******
yes agree, the only person i actually know who got deported about this was someone who used to talk about loudly how much money he was making in the bar, next thing someone reported him and he got deported. (But i think there was more to it than that)

Its time they did get there act together, some of the caribean islands whose GDP from tourism is much higher, have been issuing long term digital nomad visas this year and realise any traveller is better than no traveller.
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