Ask question

Can I move to Bangkok on a tourist visa and convert it to a work visa without leaving Thailand?

Thai Visa Rules Work Visa Tourist Visa Non-B Visa Job Market in Thailand Employment Challenges for Expats Visa Conversion Process Teaching in Thailand Legal Employment without a Degree

Jan 3, 2018

7 years ago

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

A Swedish guy that plan to go/move to Bangkok on a tourist visa and then look for work and then convert it to a visa I can work with. Without leaving thailand is this a possibility or should I think of something else? Having a hard time finding work before going there and I like to met people in person instead of doing all the stuff with mail.

1,014

views

3

likes

44

all likes

28

replies

0

images

7

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

A Swedish individual is considering moving to Bangkok on a tourist visa, intending to find work and convert their visa to one that allows employment without leaving the country. Comments shared varied opinions, with concerns raised about the difficulties of securing jobs in Thailand, especially for those without a university degree. It's suggested that, while it's technically possible to convert a tourist visa to a Non-B visa, the employment process involves extensive paperwork and may require specific qualifications depending on the type of job sought. Many commenters highlighted the competitive job market and the possibility of facing challenges in finding legal employment.

Amornrat **********

I close this topic, OP is advised to review his ideas. I do not want to be negative but the Thai Job market is brutal and with no special skills or experience this is going to fail. There are thousands of hard luck stories around, few successful ones.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Is it possible to work as a doorman or something similar for a foreigner or that for thai only?

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@DibyaJoti ********

alright thanks and good luck to you 👍

Like

Reply

DibyaJoti *********

i am also working on securing a job in Thailand. I have discussed my options with a lot of friends over there. I will let you know too, in case I have a news

Like

Reply

Steve *******

That'll be a no. Thai security!

Like

Reply

Reply to

Steve *******

Reply

Robert *******

With the correct paperwork from the company and 15 days admitted to stay left you can convert your stay into a Non Immigrant B visa. But I read you want to teach, for teaching a University degree is needed and lots of schools ask for English Native speakers. This makes it hard to find an employer who can provide the correct paperwork and work permit.

Like

Reply

Robert *******

Without experience or certification it will be the hardest job to find a job.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Teaching was just something I look into because like people say there is not a lot of work that is available for foreigners so you guys know anything else that would be worth checking out that doesn’t need a lot if pre experience?

Like

Reply

Michael ******

Thanks for clarifying the amount of days, I really couldn’t remember anymore.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Michael ******

Reply

Noctis ***************

I am not sure about visa types to working visas, but I do know that you can do visa exempt to Non-B without leaving Thailand. It requires a lot of paperwork from your employer, though.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks will try anyway 👍

Like

Reply

Noctis ***************

@Alexander **********

Not unless you are a certified diving instructor :(

Like

Reply

Michael ******

Alexander, without wanting to sound discouraging I think it’s gonna be very hard to find legal employment here with your background. 😢 I hope I’m wrong, best of luck!

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

So you have any other kinds of work in mind that would be an option for me?

Like

Reply

Michael ******

Fair enough. I just see too many people telling others that any type of work is impossible without a degree, which is just not true.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Worked a long time as a security guard and now caretaker for kids and old people with disabilities

Like

Reply

Noctis ***************

Not for teaching, as far as I know.

Like

Reply

Michael ******

I've held work permits for 4 years now without a university degree, both from the Ministry of Labor and the Board of Investment. It's perfectly legal as long as you can proof relevant work experience (I work in IT, where not having a degree is not that uncommon).

What are you doing for a living back home? Unless it's something that's not not on the list of prohibited jobs for foreigners and not readily available in the local work force you'll have a tough time. Most decent schools will at least ask for a bachelor's degree nowadays.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yeah I mean Tourist sorry for the spelling before hmm alright thx anyway 👌

Like

Reply

Noctis ***************

@Alexander **********

I think that makes working here legally very difficult, if not impossible. You'd probably be stuck doing border runs and working on tourist visas, but I don't claim to know much about that either. :P

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

And work advice I should look into without a university degree? Looking at teaching

Like

Reply

Noctis ***************

@Alexander **********

That's a different thing. You're talking about a tourist visa, and we're talking about visa exemptions. Personally, I have never had a tourist visa converted, so while it may be possible, I can't confirm. That's why I'm just talking about visa exemption (when you come here without a visa), and depending on nationality.

Like

Reply

Michael ******

Ah,

is actually talking about a tourist visa, not the visa waiver, so the whole point is moot

.

Like

Reply

Michael ******

Sounds reasonable to me, but the lawyer my former company used for this did not present us with that option. That said, I had already arranged the job before I moved here and had all paperwork ready when I entered the country, so time was not really an issue for me.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

As I understand I get a 60 days with the ability to extend to 30 more days

Like

Reply

Noctis ***************

Wouldn't he be able to extend his visa exempt 30 days, and then do it with 21+ days remaining after his extension to have it converted?

Like

Reply

Michael ******

The paperwork's not the problem, but they'll only start the conversion process if you have at least a certain amount of days left on your visa exempt entry. I did it in 2014 and can't quite remember anymore, but I think it was 21 days minimum. He'd have to be extremely lucky to enter on a 30 day visa waiver and find employment fast enough to make that cutoff.

Like

Reply

Alexander ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks I take any advice people can give me 👍

Like

Reply

Reply to

Alexander ***********

Reply

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

Can I apply for a working visa while in Thailand on a tourist visa?

20 comments

2 months ago

Can I apply for a tourist visa and then switch to a working visa in Thailand?

7 comments

3 months ago

Can I convert my tourist visa to a work visa in Thailand before it expires?

2 comments

a year ago

How can I apply for a work visa in Thailand if I'm currently on a tourist visa?

32 comments

2 years ago

Can you convert a tourist visa to a work visa in Thailand?

2 comments

2 years ago

Can I apply for a work visa in Thailand if I arrive on a tourist visa?

9 comments

2 years ago

How can I convert my tourist visa to a work visa in Thailand and what do I need?

8 comments

2 years ago

Can you switch from a Tourist Visa to a Non-B Visa while in Thailand?

2 comments

2 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a tourist visa and change it to a Non-B visa while in the country?

10 comments

2 years ago

What is the best visa option for working in Thailand if I currently have no job?

9 comments

3 years ago

Can I change from a Dependent Visa to a Non-Immigrant Visa B while in Thailand?

7 comments

3 years ago

Can I change my tourist visa to a business visa in Thailand after getting a job?

8 comments

3 years ago

Can my friend convert a tourist visa to a Non-B visa in Thailand after finding work?

13 comments

4 years ago

Should I go to Thailand as a tourist first before changing my visa after getting a job offer?

38 comments

4 years ago

Should I enter Thailand on a tourist visa and switch to a Non-B visa after getting a job offer?

17 comments

4 years ago

What steps should I take to transition from a tourist visa to a business visa while in Thailand?

7 comments

4 years ago

Is it possible to obtain a Non-B visa and work permit in Thailand without leaving the country on a tourist visa?

28 comments

4 years ago

Can I Look for a Job in Thailand on a Tourist Visa?

14 comments

5 years ago

How can I transition from a tourist visa to a working visa in Thailand while job hunting?

14 comments

5 years ago

Can I switch from a tourist visa to a work visa in Thailand without returning to the US?

0 comments

6 years ago

Can I convert my tourist visa to a working visa in Thailand if I find an employer?

5 comments

6 years ago

How can a tourist visa be converted to a Non-B visa in Thailand?

10 comments

6 years ago

Can I convert my tourist visa to a working visa in Thailand?

2 comments

7 years ago

What visa should I get to work in Thailand if I have a degree and plan to search for a job?

35 comments

7 years ago

Can I work in Thailand with a tourist visa, or do I need to convert it to a Non-Immigration visa?

2 comments

7 years ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.