Answered2 years ago
Can I provide coaching services in Thailand on a donation basis with a non-working visa?
Hello, I’m coming to Thailand on a visa that doesn’t allow me to work. If I offer coaching services on a donation basis only does that make any difference? Or would it still be seen as working without a permit?
Answer summary
You cannot legally work in Thailand, including offering services on a donation basis, without an appropriate visa and work permit. Engaging in any paid or unpaid service, including volunteering, is considered work and requires the corresponding legal documentation. The community advises caution as violations can lead to serious penalties.
61 repliesnewest first
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Jj ****
It's not legal - don't get denounced/caught
Randy ******
Open Only Fans account and smash kathoeys… Best job in Thailand for farangs
Eoin *******
Just pay some hush money like the orange bible selling turd trump, and be convicted on 34 felonies ...
Go ahead, volunteer like the SIMPs
Go ahead, volunteer like the SIMPs
Doug *********
There is an important difference between a work permit and a visa. A visa is a document acquired by an individual to enter a specific country while a work permit is a document issued to a person permitting that person to perform work.
A foreign applicant for a work permit and his or her employer are subject to different requirements. A work permit applicant must meet certain education requirements, provide evidence that she or he has certain skills, meet health requirements, provide a resume, and satisfy other requirements. The applicant cannot apply for a work permit to perform work that a foreigner is not permitted to perform, such as working as a lawyer or a tour guide.
An employer must submit documents showing that the company is a duly registered juristic person, meets certain minimum capitalization requirements, provide a list of shareholders, VAT documents, social security documents and other documents. Generally, there must be four Thai employees for each work permit.
The process of collecting and submitting the documents for a work permit application is paper and time intensive.
A foreign applicant for a work permit and his or her employer are subject to different requirements. A work permit applicant must meet certain education requirements, provide evidence that she or he has certain skills, meet health requirements, provide a resume, and satisfy other requirements. The applicant cannot apply for a work permit to perform work that a foreigner is not permitted to perform, such as working as a lawyer or a tour guide.
An employer must submit documents showing that the company is a duly registered juristic person, meets certain minimum capitalization requirements, provide a list of shareholders, VAT documents, social security documents and other documents. Generally, there must be four Thai employees for each work permit.
The process of collecting and submitting the documents for a work permit application is paper and time intensive.
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Rick ***********
Um.... that's work and they will not be amused.
Bob **********
You can’t even volunteer
Andrew ********
I play guitar in my local bar. I don't get paid anything. Just do it for the love of music. Can I get into trouble?
Lincoln *******
@Andrew *******
yes it is possible, doing the odd jam with a song here and there should be fine but if you are playing a full set then the assumption would be that you are working and you can't prove otherwiseJohn **********
@And***
if a local can play & gets a $ or free drink! Then your taking a job away from a Thai!.....then your in trouble if reported!!Andrew ********
@John *********
no free drinks etc. The owner is falang so we are very careful.
Cris ******
Haha volunteer with donations sounds like a fancy work around to work abs get paid
Daniel *****
Even volunteering is seen as work so you cannot do what you intend to do....legally.
John *******
Maybe you can coach thailands ice hockey team but you still require a permit
Joseph *********
@John ******
Guess you have a permit for your smart ass comment coaching.John *******
@Joseph ********
if you must knowing its none of your fkn business what I have Richard craniumJoseph *********
Carsten **********
You need a work permit for any work, paid or unpaid.
Frances ********
I heard volunteers after the tsunami were cited for working without a permit just clearing rubble away😰
Nigel *********
@Frances *******
please provide a source for this info....Frances ********
@Nigel ********
an American married to a Thai who has lived in Thailand for years told me. He and wife own a business and he is paranoid (rightfully so) to be “reported” if he is caught even just helping in the business doing something as simple as sweeping trash, clearing a table etc. . He told me he was told about the problem the volunteers had “working”, by the volunteers themselves.Nigel *********
@Frances *******
i've hear this story many times but never seen any actual news actual evidence of this, and i have actively looked in to this. There were some issues several years after the tsunami involving some ngo's working in the phang nga province without proper registration. i'll continue to look for any evidence to support the claim that tsunami volunteers have been arrested for assisting without a wp
Maryann ***********
OP@Frances *******
😢 just unbelievable, how sad. I guess they take it extremely seriously then :(
Jimlim *******
@Maryann **********
I volunteered to help capture & spays the dogs & cats. I looked like I was helping, not touching any money.Thai people are already very poor & can not afford foreigners to come & take jobs away. That is sad..
Av **********
U can’t even volunteer in Thailand without a visa
Rod ********
Really?
Maryann ***********
OP@Rod *******
yes. I’m coming to Thailand to retrain in a new career, I won’t be experienced enough to charge a full fee so I’m hoping to charge on a pay what you can basis. Just a simple question to help me understand if this could be possible.
Andreas *********
Even the question about work based on donations shows that you are actually informed about the legal situation.It is therefore not entirely clear to me what answers you expect here. Ideally, you should find out about the consequences if you are caught and reconsider your plans without work visa to offer services. And of course donations are also a paid service.
Maryann ***********
OP@Andreas ********
I’ve had all the helpful answers I was looking for thank you
Jason ***********
That would be working
John *****
They're starting a digital nomad visa from June 1st. Why not come on that if you're keen to pay Thai tax
Zoe ******
You really put a lot of faith in all the FB strangers for legal advice...
Maryann ***********
OP@Zoe *****
well it’s the point of the group I think. This has a unanimous consensus so I’m going to take it as very likely truth
Rob **********
Officially still classed as working, so it is illegal to do so.
Frank **********
Coaching what, soccer 5555.
Greg *********
@Frank *********
5555? 🙄 My brother-in-law makes a great living coaching fitness and diet online. There are LOTS of very successful online coaches. I guess you didn't know.
Steve **********
Cannot volunteer either !
Gary **********
You will need a work visa for sure.
David ***********
If you get caught the penalties are not good
Stephen *********
Careful. If you do that and get caught you will be sorry. Any volunteering can be very risky
Mike ******
Coaching services online or in person?
Maryann ***********
OP@Mike *****
onlineMike ******
@Maryann **********
then don’t worry about a thing . Not sure how people think if you come here for a month or 2, you should have to stop your income stream - if online . Mind boggling to me
Mike ******
@Lincoln ******
has anyone in this comment section made it clear to this poor lady, or at least assisted in the steps needed to attain the correct visa to allow her to work ? If you’re a trader, investor, viral on social media and paid by iG or TikTok, or generate revenue from an online shop based outside of Thailand, please tell me what visa I would need ? 🙏🏻
Lincoln *******
@Mike *****
doing it online makes it no more legal though.
Michael *****
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Check it out. It might be of help .Maryann ***********
OP@Michael ****
thanks this looks really good!! Hope it goes ahead! Thanks for letting me know :)Joseph *********
@Maryann **********
I know this is the official position.But I did volunteer work through Friends For Asia...connot remenber getting a special visa.
Nicole *******
-You need a visa to volunteer.
-Even if you have a work permit, you can’t handle cash. (In most cases)
-Even if you have a work permit, you can’t handle cash. (In most cases)
Maryann ***********
OP@Nicole ******
ok thank you 😥
Neil ******
I'm just here for the inevitable circle jerk of illegal workers commenting to say it's ok.
Dror *********
@Neil *****
its ok
Stuart *********
You cannot work in Thailand for money, donations or even volunteer unless you have a visa that allows and a work permit to do so.
Darren **********
@Stuart ********
FACTS
Christa ******
@Stuart ********
as far as volunteering, if I retire there, you're saying I can't volunteer my services for example at a animal rescue place?Steve *****
@Christa *****
look at it this way for volunteering. You are doing something for free but taking away a job that could be paying a national.Steve *****
@Istvan ********
why so butt hurt ? My point is rhat my observation of their reason why they prefer not letting foreigners to work or even volunteer because it takes away employment opportunities away from nationals. I understand if no pay position are available they still have to follow proper procedures for accepting volunteers
Istvan *********
@Steve ****
did i said anything about visa? I said your example isn't good. Of course they apply for a visa because that's the legal requirements... So what's your point? 🤔Steve *****
@Istvan ********
most of these places that require volunteers will certainly apply for the work permits for those foreigners that volunteers though.Istvan *********
@Steve ****
you are right but at the same time not... Most of the places where you can do volunteer work rely on donations so they can't even pay for a Thai... So you aren't "stealing" any job opportunities from Thais...Stuart *********
@Christa *****
Nope. Not legally anyway. Quite a few people do so anyway but technically it’s not legal to do so without the correct visa and work permit.Maryann ***********
OP@Stuart ********
thank you!Activity
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