Answered8 years ago

Can I own a business in Thailand on a retirement visa?

Retirement Visa Thailand Business Ownership Non-Immigrant O-A Visa Visa Regulations Work Permit Requirements

Paul ************

asked May 17, 2018

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I’m coming to live in thailand , I was hoping to come out on the retirement visa but I was thinking at some point of buying a business , anyone know if I can own a business on a retirement visa ?do I need to get another visa     to own a business ?or will getting the retirement visa effect any other visa I need ?

Answer summary

The original poster (O/P) is considering living in Thailand on a retirement visa and is inquiring about the possibility of owning a business under that visa. The consensus from comments is that while you can own a business with any visa, you cannot work in that business without an appropriate work permit. A recommendation was made to obtain a Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) visa, which requires certain documents like a police background check and a medical certificate.

9 repliesnewest first

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Tod *********

and on that note I believe the O/P has enough information to make an educated decision concerning their visa before they wing their way to the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz" ;)

We're done

(mic drop) :O

8 years ago

Ed ****

Also, only do business here if you have business experience in your own country. :)

8 years ago

Valère *************************

@Mary *******

That would be a THAI business degree 🤣🤣🤣

8 years ago

Mary ********

@Tod ********

based on the business' I see here that is a gross understatement! For example yesterday I spent 20 minutes at AIS teaching the clerk simple math. Cash flow? Hmmm made enough for food and tomorrows supplies. O k I am good lets close up. I seriously cannot believe some people actually have college business degrees.

8 years ago

Tod *********

It can't hurt having experience like that, but experience in your home country running a business isn't gonna help you one bit doing business here :/

The way business is done and conducted in the west is light years away from how it's done here in thailand.

8 years ago

Abed ******

Immigration laws change every months , check with them online better ,

8 years ago

Stephen ******

@Tod ********

is absolutely correct, although I would add that the manner in which the laws are applied does change. We really do have the work permit and visa process organized now but every year we are asked for something new, presumably because someone wants to prove how important or clever they are.

8 years ago

Tod *********

immigration laws DON'T change every month, and in fact the most recent changes to the extension of stay laws inside the country was back in 2014

8 years ago

Tod *********

You can own a business on any visa, you can't WORK in the business without the correct visa and a work permit.

I'd say get the year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) visa from a thai consulate in your country before you come here.

The visa does require a police background check and a medical certificate, but it is a valuable visa to have.

The visa gets you stamped in for a year every entry for the validity of the visa itself.

8 years ago