Can I work remotely in Thailand on a retirement visa while living there with my wife?

@Jack ********

I'm aware. What I'm saying is that locals are not complicit in people working and violating the law in those spaces. People are accountable for what they do there.

@Jack ********

coworking spaces are used for a variety of reasons. Students, creator/artist collaborations, locals working, etc. Farangs working illegally is not their problem.

@Jack ********

of course and it doesn't matter what you're seeing. It's what they have the potential to be used for. A bartender who serves you is not responsible for you getting into a bar fight in Thailand.

@Jack ********

A weed shop is not going to be held at fault for someone getting caught smoking in public. Another obvious one.. again, we are talking about THAILAND. Foreigners are always accountable for crimes they commit in Thailand. It is not the same as wherever you're from.

@Jack ********

I was never wrong to begin with. lol You can sue a bar all day long, doesn't mean you'll win. People are accountable for their own actions. Nice stretch with the dot com lawyer link from New York. Now actually read the law. Especially with how it relates to Thailand.

@Paul ******

You obviously have ZERO knowledge on how Australian residency rules work. Man, you're a jerk. Totally and indisputably. And please do show me the law that states 183 days in Thailand constitutes "residency" and how does this fit in with the multi-entry Tourist Visa. Cackle

@Jo *********

Which is probably true, even though many do it. But the new LTR visa has finally provided the scope for digital nomads to work legally

@Steve *******

yes I very recently got the LTR

@Jo *********

Exactly. You're in and out of the country frequently like me. You have no reason to get a Thai driver's licence if you don't want to.

@Steve *******

cheaper golf rates if you have one!

@John *******

correct.

@Steve *********

yes I do it every year for the last 10 years

@John *******

for 1st 10 years got cert letter from Consul. Was very easy.

They stopped some years ago, now bank has to document .

Was difficult at first for bank, but they adapted.

@John *********

i don’t walk around with this in my pocket but the law states that if it takes work away from Thai people then it’s illegal. If you are working remotely for a foreign company for foreign clients then it’s ok. Fact

@Jo *********

in which case you'll be able to share the legislation to back up your alleged fact. I'll wait

@John *********

it obvious 10,000s japanese, Singaporeans etc come here every year for business trips your saying they are all illegal.

@Jo *********

this is not true. It is illegal to work inside Thailand without a work permit. Doesn't matter who you work for. Why do you think the Thai government introduced the new LTR visa for such people?

@Jo *********

If someone from work called me whilst I was on holiday, I wouldn't even answer. Work can get rooted when I'm on holiday

@Steve *******

that’s good

@Jo *********

and they dont care. Doesnt change the fact that if you live here, you need a WP to work.

@Jack ********

Yes, and the only thing that has changed since is the introduction of the Smart and LTR visas. They generally don't care as long as you're not taking a Thai job .... except for when they do.

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@Jack ********

With the exception of the introduction of the LTR visa, there have been no changes to any other visas since 2019

@Jack ********

the LTR Visa and the Smart Visa - the LTR which is six months old has a specific category for remote workers. Onerous requirements but it exists.

@Jo *********

But you can't legally work on Elite. And the OP is over 50, so he can just get the OX visa

@Øyvind ********

The problem is situations like that are not clarified. In Thai law "work" is "work". I really have no idea why people are getting so fragile about all of this. Just work remotely and keep your mouth shut. It's that simple

@Steve *******

It’s clearified with logic and the leck of formal restrictions against it. Some of us want to stick to the rules and not have some kind of risk about braking laws, so instead of telling everyone that they are braking the law, just add any knowledge you might have confirming that it is against thai law to manage a business in a different country when staying in Thailand. Pls note that there is no such question being asked upon arrival or while getting an extension.There is no such law saying you can not own a foreign business if you stay more then 30 days and so on, and no one brakes any kind of immigration rules by owning or managing a business in a different country while staying here, no mather what legal admittance they have for staying here. It would really be a lot more helpful to just accept that untill you can present any evidence of the opposite.

Btw to have forreign visitors using money being made in a different country is pure vitamins for the economy, the money gets changed into thb, and is flushing into the market, adding directly to bnp without a single expense. The individuals doing this poses no treath to thai businesses or workers, on the contrary, they buy from them every day. No country would ever deny that to happen. This whole discussion only excist bcs someone feel it’s logic to need a workpermit bcs they work. It is just a result of a leck of knowledge and understanding.

@Aaron *****

I have seen no official interpretation of the law. What some low level officer says is not official interpretation. The closest I've seen is another low level officer stating that enforcing that particular law was not a priority for them at this time. Note he clearly was not saying it was legal.

@John *********

nor did I say it was legal. These is no law that says it is nor is there case law saying said interpretation is the correct legal interpretation.

What I am saying is it is a grey area. And you are saying it isn’t and then turning around and describing it as one.

Though I feel it is light grey where clearly you think it is dark grey.

But if you were in digital nomad communities you would know how big a deal the raids were and how fast officials “corrected” course and told them they were not breaking the law and it was allowed.

Considering it was low level officials and police who did these raids I think it is safe to assume the call for release and etc came from higher up.

So yes I think it is clear the current interpretation of Thai law is that it is allowed. Again that doesn’t mean it is legal. But it means a bit more than your statement that they are simply not pursuing it.

Because they have “arrested” people for it on multiple occasions and they have been let go. Why? They were told because they were not breaking the law and/or it was allowed.

We wouldn’t see people caught in such raids being let go if it was merely about not pursuing it. No they wanted to make it clear that it was allowed.

Thailand and many other countries are well aware that many tourists and especially the most desirable (Aka rich) tourists do various levels of work while on vacation.

It’s why nearly every country has a bit of grey or spelled out exceptions for what work is allowed. Even the US does. You can see what kind of “work” is allowed on a B2 visa for example.

In Thailand currently they allow it. And when that changes it will be all over digital nomad groups. Word spreads pretty fast any time anyone is seemingly arrested, deported or etc for remote work.

But considering they are making special long term visas for high paid remote workers I doubt that will happen.

They will continue to keep out the ones they don’t want using enforcement of immigration laws. Like the current crack down on the fake volunteer visas. And how they are handling those who took advantage of (and maybe abused) the covid extensions.

@Aaron *****

my comment on grey area is with regards the law, there is no grey area in law. How an officer interprets the law is a matter for them but there is no official written interpretation. So I guess you pays your money, you takes your chances.

@John *********

You are right. People only want to hear what is convenient for them and confirms what they are seeking. But, you are correct.

@John *********

what Aaron is correctly saying is that there are plenty pf presidents where remote working is ignored.

In life it is about assessing the risks. The risk of having an issue is extremely low. Especially if you don't advertise the fact by asking immigration questions they really don't want to answer.

@Steve *******

it's an option for those under 50

@Carsten ***********

The OP is over 50, so why would he even contemplate an Elite Visa?

@Steve *******

no, I answered about the digital nomad visa. For people under 50 it might be a solution.