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Can I volunteer in Thailand on a retirement visa?

Visa Rules Retirement Visa Marriage Visa Volunteering in Thailand Work Permit Regulations

Aug 26, 2025

8 months ago

Peter **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Just a question…

I am currently on a “marriage visa”. Some day it will be up for renewal. I do some voluntary work here and there, all legit.

If I convert my extension to “retirement visa”, will I still (legally!) be able to get a volunteer permit?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires about the legality of obtaining a volunteer permit while converting from a marriage visa to a retirement visa in Thailand. A comment clarifies that there is no specific 'volunteer permit' and that volunteering is considered work, requiring a non-restricted visa and a work permit to be legal. The retirement visa is deemed work restricted.

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Brandon ************

There's no such thing as a "volunteer permit."

Volunteering is considered work, which means you must have 2 things to make it legal.

1) A visa that is not work restricted (a marriage visa/extension is not work restricted)

2) A work permit

If you are missing either of those, then you cannot legally work in Thailand.

A retirement visa is a work restricted visa.

8 months ago

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Brandon ************

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Can I do volunteer work in Thailand with a Retirement Visa?

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