Answered2 years ago

Can I take additional consulting work while on a non-B visa in Thailand as a teacher?

non-B visa work permit Thailand immigration teaching visa secondary employment rules consulting work

asked Dec 9, 2024

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Hi there, I'm an Australian Teacher here on an non-imm B visa through the school I work at. I've picked up some other contract/consulting work not related to teaching through a company in Thailand and I'm curious about the scope for me to do this work on my non-B visa?

Answer summary

An Australian teacher on a non-immigrant B visa is inquiring about the possibility of taking additional contract work unrelated to teaching. Community comments emphasize that while he can pursue other work, it requires permission from his primary employer and must be officially added to his existing work permit. It is noted that the work permit, rather than the visa, is what governs the legality of taking secondary employment in Thailand.

13 repliesnewest first

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Emily *********

Thanks everyone for your advice I appreciate it!

2 years ago

Wannikea *********

General idea of the type/scope of this new work please. You said it's not related to teaching, ideally if it somehow is, it would be more palatable by the labor department. A few years ago some leniency was granted on secondary employment, but damn if I can remember all the nitty gritty.

2 years ago

Lisa ***************

As far as I know you have to get permission from your employer and it has to be officially added onto your existing work permit with both employers in agreement

2 years ago

Andrew *********

Does your primary teaching job pay more than 50k or whatever the minimum is for your nationality ? I'm not sure if it matters, but if it doesn't you are on the special teachers allowance of earning under 50k. The other work won't be on this. Not sure how that affects it though.

2 years ago

Lloyd ********

@Andrew ********

Teaching is exempt from minimum wage.

2 years ago

Andrew *********

@Lloyd *******

Yes I know. Her other work won't be though. Not sure how it works though.

2 years ago

Andrew *********

If the company and job description is not on your work permit it's illegal. Don't be misled by the misunderstanding a few years back.

It's not really anything to do with your visa.

But as above the existing companyl will have to agree to it being added.

It's really about your work permit, not your visa.

2 years ago

Tod *********

As I understand it to work for another company in thailand you need permission from the primary (the one who sponsored your work permit) and then you could add another company to the work permit you have

2 years ago

Lloyd ********

Are you on the initial visa, or an extension?

2 years ago

Emily *********

I assume the extension. As in, I went to Malaysia for the initial 3 month visa, then I've been to immigration once via my employer for a 1 year extension. I'm still in that initial year.

2 years ago

Lloyd ********

@Emily ********

ok, then if both old and new employees will work together, you can change extension to the new employer. (Far easier if the same immigration office).

2 years ago

Lloyd ********

@Emily ********

The contract work will need to pay the minimum salary to be legal

2 years ago

Emily *********

Oh my apologies, I didn't make it clear in my initial post that I hope to do the contract work in addition to my teaching work. So I will continue to teach full time, but do the contract work in addition, as it is not full time.

2 years ago