Answered8 years ago

Can I do volunteer work in Thailand on a retirement visa?

Retirement Visa Volunteer Work Thai Visa Regulations Work Permit Non-Immigrant O Visa Expat Life in Thailand

Jackie ******

asked Jun 15, 2018

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quick question. I came to thailand to do volunteer work. having had a heart failure 5 days after I got here put the kibosh on that. Now, have been here awhile and more established (after heart failure, volunteer organization did not have a thing to do with me, cut me loose in a foreign country, with no friends, no contacts, no home and in ICU here in Udon Thani.) Now I am better and want to stay in thailand. I am thinking of doing a retirement visa, as some of you will remember me asking about. What I want to know is having a retirement visa, which I have heard, prevent me from doing volunteer work. I know you have to have a work permit for this, but retirement visa says no work. any options to this? thanks for all the advice in advance. shalom cheers aloha, JB

Answer summary

A retirement visa in Thailand does not allow you to work, including volunteer work unless you have a work permit. Engaging in volunteer work typically requires a different visa type or obtaining a work permit through an organization. You could consider applying for a Non-Immigrant O Visa based on volunteer work, which allows for obtaining a work permit, as the retirement status prohibits employment.

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Helen ***********

Pretty much none of the organisations can get enough volunteer visas. Most volunteers are taking a risk in Thailand to be honest. I’d get your retirement and if you volunteer, fly well under the radar. The type of volunteering they are really against is people who ‘volunteer’ in a profit making business like hostels in return for food and board.

8 years ago

Tod *********

@Helen **********

it is supposed to be those high fines now but seeing as the current gov't can't manage to get all the Cambodian, Laotian & Burmese workers registered they keep moving the date the law comes into effect.

8 years ago

Helen ***********

@Tod ********

the liability isn’t totally on the volunteer anymore though is it? Don’t the employers also have huge fines? A few years ago and he fine for me getting caught working in a volunteer job without the right WP / visa was about 10k baht -an acceptable risk. Now it’s hundreds of thousands both for the employee and the employer. Also, it isn’t easy for all charitable causes to become a foundation or business. I think it’s unfair to say ‘they don’t care enough’. That’s bollocks.

8 years ago

Jackie ******

@Tod ********

No worries Tod. Last thing I would do. I said, I loathe doing anything illegal in foreign countries. Too much risk. And I want to stay here. So if volunteering risks that, it is out. I will have to look elsewhere. Plenty of people need help in Cambodia, Lao, etc. thenks for the help.

8 years ago

Tod *********

@Helen **********

, I have to disagree, many MANY people have Non-O visas/extensions AND valid work permits for volunteering here and it's not that difficult to get.

What is difficult is to get a thai company to care enough to get you the paperwork so you can be legal. Many of them just pretend it's okay to volunteer without the right visa and without a work permit because they know the liability is totally on the person volunteering.

8 years ago

Tod *********

@Jackie *****

This might not be the best country in the world to 'pay it forward' in . The laws are quite specific about what you can and can't do, and what you can't do is volunteer without a work permit. While I think your heart is in the right place, don't let that cloud your judgement and jeopardize your safety here.

8 years ago

Jackie ******

Thanks Helen. I will think about that. I, usually, am loathe to do anything illegal in a foreign country, just not worth the risk since I want to stay here. But I have been in a pay it forward mood for several years now and seems like a waste to throw away a skill set that could be useful to some. But, this is thailand, and they do things differently here. Thanks again. shalom cheers aloha,

@J*

8 years ago

Robert *******

You are correct, for volunteer work your NEED the work permit and on the visa or Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age (which all called retirement) are Employment Prohibited). Only alternative is to get the papers from the Volunteer organisation and apply for the Non Immigrant O visa based on being a Volunteer, than pick up your Work Permit.

8 years ago

Robert *******

You can only hold ONE visa to stay in Thailand. Or it is the one based on being over 50 (retirement) or the one based on being a volunteer.

8 years ago

Jackie ******

to be clear, my retirement visa would not be affected, if I did get a volunteer org to get the necessary paperwork to do the volunteer work? Yes?

8 years ago

Jackie ******

And the volunteer org I was going to work with, they did take care of visa stuff for volunteers. so I know it can happen.

8 years ago

Jackie ******

Thanks Robert. I will look into it. Maybe itz tilting at windmills, but I like doing volunteer work. Did it in America when I was there, and was the reason I came to thailand in the first place. Thanks again for taking time to answer.

8 years ago