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Can my friend find work as a waiter in Thailand on a tourist visa?

Thai visa regulationsWork in ThailandRestaurant jobsExpat adviceEmployment eligibilityMinimum wage in ThailandCovid-19 impact on jobs
Jan 7, 2022
3 years ago
Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi ☺️

I have one question behalf of my friend.

That he wants to work in Thailand. But he don't receive any opportunity from Thailand. Actually he is looking for restaurant work in Thailand because he was working in same field more than 5 years and also he wants waiter post.

And he don't have any opportunity but if he can come to Thailand on tourist visa and then he can find work in Thailand? Is it possible?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The question seeks advice on whether a friend can come to Thailand on a tourist visa and find work as a waiter. The community responses indicate that it is highly unlikely to obtain a restaurant job legally as a foreigner due to strict employment regulations, especially in the hospitality sector. Fluency in Thai and existing competition from locals are significant barriers, and employment opportunities in the restaurant industry have been severely impacted by COVID-19. The consensus is that it's illegal to work on a tourist visa, and while some foreigners may find work 'off the books,' the chances are minimal and risky.
Prowd *********
depends on your nationality.
3 years ago
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Stephen ************
Is your “friend” called
@Suwan ********
 by any chance ?
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephen ***********
 you called it's my name sir 😀
3 years ago
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Stephen ************
@Suwan ********
I know 🥺

“your friend is obviously you”
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephen ***********
 Yes sir you are correct ☺️
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Steve *******
Nope. He cant work legally as a waiter
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
 why sir? He not get waiter post?
3 years ago
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Steve *******
@Suwan ********
 It's a job that isnt open to non Thai citizens
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
 now I understand. I hope this pandemic end soon everywhere
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Felix ******************************
I guess his local embassy might need a waiter. Those guys gotta eat too
3 years ago
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Greg ********
I have seen Indian waiters serving in restaurants here - quite a few. I think they are working "Off the books". Having said that some of the high end ones have them too. I do not thin they were Thai-Indians.
3 years ago
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Benjamin ******
@Greg *******
 There are A LOT of Thai-Indians in Thailand. These are Thai citizens (with Thai passports), however grew up in the Indian communities in Thailand Because they are Thai, they can work in restaurants making Thai minimum wage without a work permit.
3 years ago
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Greg ********
@Benjamin *****
 I know that - I live among many of them. I work with some highly educated wealthy Thai-Indians too - their families own a lot of property around Soi 11 etc. In the restaurants I mentioned you can tell by their accents where they are from.
3 years ago
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Greg ********
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
 hi sir. " Off the books " means? Is it possible my friend also get work there?
3 years ago
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Greg ********
@Suwan ********
 I was referring to the very cheap places in Pattaya. No idea how they get employed. I have also seen Indian waiters in higher end places in Bangkok ie Punjab Grill and Charcoal. Pretty sure they were not ;local "Thai-Indians" with the accent. I cannot say for certain though.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
 I understand sir. Sir thai Indian means they are permanent settled people in Thailand right?
3 years ago
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Greg ********
@Suwan ********
 Yes I am referring to people of Indian heritage who are Thai citizens. Many are quite wealthy and own a lot of land in very expensive parts of Lower Sukhumvit. Some have been here generations.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
 wow sir are you referring people of Indian heritage.

Wow that's really nice so many Indian have land in Thailand nice.

Sir can you suggest me how to apply for job is there any website I can tell my friend it help him lot
3 years ago
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Greg ********
@Suwan ********
 I have no clue about applying for jobs here. I was approached for my position. When I employ I use specialist recruiters.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
 thank you so much sir for your information 😊
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Andy ********
Its illegal and not possible unfortunately
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy *******
 thanks sir for your information I will tell my friend
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Kool *******
A big thing that is going to prevent anyone hiring him as a waiter is if he does not speak fluent Thai, as most customers are Thai. Also, the business can not give him a job a Thai can do. They can after they have made an effort to hire a Thai, but in the restaurant business he will never qualify, unless it is actually his business he opened. If he was somehow able to get a waiter job, he should also be very aware that tipping in Thailand is very different. Tips in Thailand, as opposed to many western countries, is an extremely small part of the income for a waiter in a restaurant.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
 ya that's true sir. Actually I said it's difficult but also he is my friend so I asked in this group may any possibility there or not so now I understand it's difficult right okay thanks for your information I will tell him it's difficult to get work in Thailand and about tips same here also I think because india and Thailand have some common factors right
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Dick **********
There too many Thai people looking for restaurant work. Remember, a lot of Thai restaurants are still closed
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dick *********
 ya that's true sir. Actually I said it's difficult but also he is my friend so I asked in this group may any possibility there or not so now I understand it's difficult right okay thanks for your information I will tell him it's difficult to get work in Thailand
3 years ago
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Dick **********
@Suwan ********
 In addition, if a foreigner is hired in a Thai company, they also have to hire 4 Thais.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dick *********
 it means without 4 thai my friend won't get job right
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Peter *********
No
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ********
 thanks sir for your information I will tell my friend
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Kev **********
Your friend eh 😂🙈
3 years ago
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Simon *******
No
3 years ago
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Nigel *********
What passport doesy your friend have?
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel *********************
 India passport
3 years ago
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Nigel *********
Suwan you're unlikely to get a proper answer from this visa page. Greg Bewick has probably given you the best answer. You or your friend will need to network with the Thai-indian community, maybe they have a Facebook page. It's a very tough time but not impossible. Good luck.
3 years ago
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Nigel *********
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Istvan *********
Nope. Jobs for foreigners very limited. Google is your friend ;) Do some research, worth it.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Istvan ********
 actually I said it's difficult but also he is my friend so I asked in this group may any possibility there or not so now I understand it's difficult right okay thanks for your information I will tell him
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Ken ******
can just check with thai.immigration by google search, tourist visa is for tourist, right?
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ken *****
 ya that's true sir. Actually I said it's difficult but also he is my friend so I asked in this group may any possibility there or not so now I understand it's difficult right okay thanks for your information I will tell him it's difficult to get work in Thailand
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Benjamin ******
>And he don't have any opportunity but if he can come to Thailand on tourist visa and then he can find work in Thailand? Is it possible?

Yes. However, he will have to make minimum wage (based on nationality, between 25 - 55K THB a month) and the restaurant industry have been hard hit because of COVID-19. I would not recommend a foreigner trying to get a job working in a restaurant as a waiter now.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
 that's true sir I understand because of covid 19 restaurant industry hard but when he ask me as a friend I want to help him that's why I asked question behalf of my friend. And if he get opportunity they pay minimum wage is around 25 - 55k THB Right?
3 years ago
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Benjamin ******
@Suwan ********
 If he is an Indian passport holder, the minimum wage is 25K THB. It would be very difficult for him to get a job in Thailand.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
 thanks sir for telling about this.

But is there any website to apply from india. I will suggest him to apply through website it will help him
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Bobby ********
I think what Darren says is essentially correct, although there may be openings in selective premises, although he'd need to be involved in hospitality. So, for example, if he's French there could be an opening in a French restaurant, especially one attached to a hotel, where impressions are very important. If he's looking for a job waiting tables in a Thai restaurant, I think he can forget it.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 ya that's true sir. Actually I said it's difficult but also he is my friend so I asked in this group may any possibility there or not so now I understand it's difficult right okay thanks for your information I will tell him it's difficult to get work in Thailand
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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James **********
No it’s not legally possible
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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@James *********
 thanks sir for your information I will tell to my friend
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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Darren *******
You're extremely unlikely to get a job as a waiter here. Without double checking, it might even be a prohibited job for foreigners.
3 years ago
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Steve **********
@Darren ******
 If a Thai can do the job, a foreigner can't.
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren ******
 hi sir thanks for your information. I will tell to my friend but what it mean by double checking?
3 years ago
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Steve **********
@Suwan ********
 confirm with labor dept that it's all right. Some exceptions are its an ethnic restraunt and the language is needed for customers.

Don't get your hopes up. Thais need the work and it's their country.
3 years ago
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Jesse *****
@Steve *********
 we are all guests here in the kingdom. People need to respect that
3 years ago
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Steve **********
@Jesse ****
 been here almost 20 years, most forget to read Thai laws and moreso customs
3 years ago
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Steve **********
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Benjamin ******
@Suwan ********
 "double checking?" = to confirm with a trust source (i.e. Ministry of Labor).
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
 I understand now thanks for telling about this sir ☺️
3 years ago
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Suwan *********
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