Unanswered2 years ago
Can I be self-employed in Thailand as a business consultant and tutor on a marital visa?
Hi guys,
Can you be self employed in Thailand?
In the uk I worked as a business consultant and part time teacher of business management. I was thinking of offering private/one to one business and English tutoring from my home or remotely, can I do that? And if so what visa would I need? I’m currently here as married to Thai wife. Don’t want to go through the hassle of setting a business up here, with all the conditions that come with that.
Thanks in advance!
Can you be self employed in Thailand?
In the uk I worked as a business consultant and part time teacher of business management. I was thinking of offering private/one to one business and English tutoring from my home or remotely, can I do that? And if so what visa would I need? I’m currently here as married to Thai wife. Don’t want to go through the hassle of setting a business up here, with all the conditions that come with that.
Thanks in advance!
Summary so far
The conversation primarily covers the possibility of self-employment in Thailand, particularly for a foreign national married to a Thai citizen. The consensus is that to legally work as a self-employed individual, one usually needs a work permit, which requires setting up a Thai registered company and employing Thai staff. Several comments emphasize that remote work is also complicated by local regulations, and working outside these legal frameworks can lead to serious issues. The respondents highlight that offering consulting or teaching services directly in Thailand would typically necessitate a formal business structure, contrary to the original poster's preference to avoid these complexities.
45 repliesnewest first
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Frank *********
How are you going to work as a business consultant of you dont even know how to set up a business?
Dave ************
OPMaybe learn to read before you comment pal
Dave ************
OP@Frank ********
who said I don’t know?
Andy *****
Do it like the rest of us. Company, non b, work permit and you have to pay towards social insurance towards staffs
Robert *******
Two option do be legal without the fear to be kicked ot of Thailand.
1. Get employed by a company who will support the work permit.
2. Find a few investors, set up a company, hire some staff, get the work permit.
1. Get employed by a company who will support the work permit.
2. Find a few investors, set up a company, hire some staff, get the work permit.
Bob **********
You can work remotely from Thailand with the new DTV
Vin *********
Self employed is a business.
So you have to set a business up.
....
So you have to set a business up.
....
Dave ************
OP@Vin ********
self employed is a business with one person, no shares, a sole trader, In the uk it is anyway.Vin *********
@Dave ***********
Yes.... that's what I said..... thanks for repeating it?Vin *********
@Dave ***********
correct. And it does not change what is stated.Dave ************
OP@Vin ********
but it’s not the same in Thailand so setting up a business here is NOT the same. You have to have thai employees and Thai partners so completely different
Andy ********
In a word, no.
James ********
@Andy *******
correct ✅Dave ************
OP@Andy *******
thank you Andy, that’s all I need to know 🙏
Mervyn ********
You say you don't want to go the legal route, setting up a business etc so your alternative is working illegally and being deported. Your choice as there is no other choice,
Dave ************
OP@Mervyn *******
no my alternative is to forget about this idea, it was just an idea and a simple question. A one man operation can not work under the rules of setting up a company in Thailand, there are to many rules. Hence the question. Why would you think I would want to work illegally and risk everything I’ve got here 🤷♂️
Mervyn ********
@Dave ***********
Because if you want to work here you have a choice, legal or illegal, there is no other choice. You say a one man operation can not work under the rules of setting up a company, i traded as a one man operation for 16 years, but i followed the rules.Dave ************
OP@Mervyn *******
how did you do that if you had to employ Thai people?
Wannikea *********
You can't interact with any Thai business or consumers in a remote work environment. You'd need a Thai registered company to do consulting here, but only in fields that aren't protected.
Peter *********
Yes - setup a Thai business (with all the required Thai staff etc and get yourself a work permit. Then sell your services
Andy ********
@Peter ********
He said he doesn't want to set up a company.Dave ************
OP@Peter ********
thanks but said I didn’t want to do that in my postPeter *********
@Dave ***********
it’s not as difficult as you think - and if your married then employee and monetary value requirements are lower.
Ticha *****************
If you don't have a lot of transaction
Cost of setting company is like 10K bath
And yearly cost of accounting(monthly )including audit for annual statement is like 10K - 15K
And 4 Thais employee (doesn't matter monthly or daily)
Cost of setting company is like 10K bath
And yearly cost of accounting(monthly )including audit for annual statement is like 10K - 15K
And 4 Thais employee (doesn't matter monthly or daily)
Dave ************
OP@Ticha ****************
yes my post explained I don’t want do that but thanksSamantha **********
DTV visa? If you already have a UK company that you could continue to run over there from here… that might be an option?
Samantha **********
For example… I own a business in UAE.
I work for that company here in Thailand.
Is that what you’re after?
I work for that company here in Thailand.
Is that what you’re after?
Dave ************
OP@Samantha *********
I do have a uk company that I own and manage from here but i want to work here as explained, so not sure how that allows me to also work here on something different? IE private teachingSamantha **********
Samantha **********
@Dave ***********
Right. And if you have a business in the UK you can run that through (change the business entity… or something) you’re good.
Where do you want this business to officially live/reside?
Here or UK?
Here? No.
UK. Yes.
Samantha **********
@Dave ***********
If it all goes through your UK company DTV is the way.If you want to trade here in Thailand directly, then the previous answers are correct.
Dave ************
OP@Samantha *********
my company in the uk is a supplement manufacturer, I do supply chain and finance from here. I want to do something different here ie private tutoring
Biff *******
You’d have to do what you said in your last sentence that you don’t want to do 😊
Andrew *********
No. Any physical work needs a work permit either for a company or owner with 51% Thai partner (unless American).
You need 4 Thai employees etc.
Remote work outside of Thailand may qualify for the DTV , but don't make long term plans around that.
You need 4 Thai employees etc.
Remote work outside of Thailand may qualify for the DTV , but don't make long term plans around that.
Jonathan *********
@Andrew ********
Americans don’t require a Thai partner owning 51% of the holding company? Got details?Andrew *********
@Jonathan ********
*******************************************************************************************************************************************
Jonathan *********
@Andrew ********
indeed, but that is only a scenario, not the norm.Andrew *********
@Jonathan ********
Maybe not when you lose everything to that partner.Jonathan *********
@Andrew ********
it’s more expensive route to go without a Thai partner, for sure!Andrew *********
@Jonathan ********
if only they did it for everyone...Jonathan *********
@Andrew ********
thank you, that rocks!
Peter *******
Yes you can but you need a work permit to do it legally. Too get work permit you will need to set up a company.
Lloyd ********
Unless you set up a company, pay for that, the monthly accounting, the staff and their salaries and social payments etc
Lloyd ********
Basic answer......no.
Dave ************
OP@Lloyd *******
lol ok was just an ideaActivity
18 joined18
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