Answered9 years ago
Can Lao Nationals Work in Thailand Without a Special Visa or Work Permit?
Hello all,
Can a Lao national work in Thailand without any special visa/work permit?
I know so many Lao working here with just a regular visa or 30 days exemption.
What would happen if someone reported them to immigration?
Just wondering..
Thank you!
Can a Lao national work in Thailand without any special visa/work permit?
I know so many Lao working here with just a regular visa or 30 days exemption.
What would happen if someone reported them to immigration?
Just wondering..
Thank you!
Answer summary
Lao nationals cannot legally work in Thailand without a work permit, although there are reports of individuals doing so under the assumption of low risk. Those working without permits face significant legal consequences if caught, including fines and deportation. Employers can apply for a Pink ID for Lao workers, allowing legal employment under specific conditions. Despite some anecdotal evidence of Lao workers managing without permits, the overwhelming consensus is that legal documentation is required for employment.
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Khun *****
Laos , Cambodia, Myanmar is allowed to work if their employer apply the Pink ID for them. Application should be around 7,000 to 10,000 at the district office. Best is call the immigration for more details .
David **********
They do but I think most of them are on a different type of work permit than most farang. That or their requirements are different anyways.
Joshua *******
*work visa
Stephen ********
Lao, Cambodians, and Myanmar nationals have 2 different passports they can get. One allows them to work, the other allows them to visit only. There are also 2 different working passports (for people from Myanmar at any rate, but I assume the same is true for Laos and Cambodia from what I've seen my friends do). One is obtainable from their embassy in Bangkok, the other has to be obtained in their home country, but is "better". I'm not sure exactly what is better about it. Perhaps longer permitted stays. It takes about a month for them to process that one.
Sean *************
Just because they do a visa run doesn't mean that they don't already have a work permit.
Sean *************
They may have a work permit, but not a visa. ASEAN members can enter repeatedly without penalty. Visas aren't always easy to get, but work permits are.
Jordan ********
They may have non b visa but that's not a work permit
Jordan ********
Yes it does hence the term visa run.
Janaka ***********
The employers they work for pay to police every month to be quiet.
Robert *******
Some people love to take a small risk in their life: Fines for working without work permit are up to 100.000 Thb and/or 5 years in prison for the employee and 400.000 to 800.000 Thb for the employer, if also working without Visa allowing to work with work permit: Immigration Detention Center, deportation at own costs with National airline to country of passport on a direct flight.
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/28/new-migrant-law-levies-heavy-fines-employers/Jordan ********
Balogh Krisz Kovacs or England's Americans.
Jim *******
There's many farangs working here illegally and none ever seem to get caught. They even gloat about it, and also Piss me off,as those who are wanting to do the right thing feel like doing it themselves in the end. I have a Son in this position whom I taught to do the right things here,and in general.
Henry *********
They can work legally under the migrant labour scheme.
Robert *******
@Han *******
That's the reason why it is suspended till Jan, to give them all the time to register themselves and get the papers in order.
Danny *********
Those are maximum fines... I doubt if they get caught they get a maximum sentence. Same as everywhere in the world really...
Han ********
If they would put all illegal workers -specially from Burma- to jail, well all jails would be full and the heavy dirty work not done!
Robert *******
And the Prime Minister used his article 44 to extend this amnesty, if remember correct till 1 of Jan 2018. Don't kill me if wrong please.
Gwydion *******
There was a 120 day amnesty starting on June 23rd.
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593Robert *******
If the employer is willing to help, it is easy for them.
Robert *******
Most people think the risk is small, they do not want to read news papers or Facebook with list of fines of the risk they take. And they all think the chance of getting caught is small
Deem ******
OPIs it so difficult for them to get a work permit..?
Deem ******
OPWow. I thought the risk was small.. I know one person who has never worked with a permit, doing visa runs every month. Changing job almost every month. They could never afford such a fine.. why they take such a big risk?
Edward ******
You can get 2 years visa from vientiane and can work after making work permit
Deem ******
OPThen I think they can't afford the 2 year visa because they do a visarun to vientiane every month..
Lance *******
There employer's face a hefty fine or and jail
Daniel ************
of course not - they need a work permit
Arslan ********
Legaly u can't work without work permit. The some people u mentioned they are surely working illegal. If they get caught. They will be jailed / fined/ deported back.
Johnsuma ******
Correct. and the one that make them working will be sued & heavily fined.
BUT officers are not alaways make "correctly the job they are paid for"...
BUT officers are not alaways make "correctly the job they are paid for"...
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