Answered2 years ago
Can my wife volunteer for charities in Thailand on a DTV visa?
My wife had a question, and wanted to know if she was allowed to volunteer for charities in Thailand on the DTV visa.
I don’t think it would be an issue since she’s not getting paid, but thought I’d ask here to see if anyone knows for sure.
I don’t think it would be an issue since she’s not getting paid, but thought I’d ask here to see if anyone knows for sure.
Answer summary
Volunteering while on a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) in Thailand is generally prohibited unless you have a proper volunteer visa and work permit. Multiple comments emphasize that volunteering is considered work and, therefore, requires a work permit, which cannot be obtained on a DTV. Some users mention that while technically it's forbidden, many people volunteer informally without issues, particularly at well-established organizations. However, this practice is risky and may attract scrutiny from immigration authorities.
23 repliesnewest first
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Henrik *****
Volunteering is work and STRICTLY forbidden without a volunteervisa or workpermit.
It can be taking the bread out of the mouth of someone who need tha work to survive.
Furthermore lots of jobs are Thai Only.
It can be taking the bread out of the mouth of someone who need tha work to survive.
Furthermore lots of jobs are Thai Only.
James ********
@Greg ******
??
Sum *****
no, someome will report it
Paul *******
Strictly speaking no, but it depends on how often or the nature of this volunteering. If it's a regular thing, whereby she would be associated with a charity then she would need to be on the correct visa class. If it's a one time thing alongside lots of other people, like tourists do sometimes, just handing out a few gift baskets to some poor hill tribe villagers for an hour that should be OK.
Sefton ********
Legally no.
James ********
@Sefton *******
correct ✅Greg ********
@Sefton *******
I forgot about the volunteer tourist police and immigration helpers too :-)Greg ********
@Sefton *******
But plenty do and you see senior Thai official posing with them and thanking for them for the great work. You see projects an initiatives in national press. You also see some of these initiatives be awarded grants from blue chip companies. The problem was when the visa was abused and people never went near the volunteer org. Even valid orgs now find it very difficult of not impossible to get the required visas.
Michael *********
No.
Kool *******
No, she can not do any volunteering when on a DTV, as she must have a work permit to even do free volunteering, and you can not get any work permit on a DTV.
Ellice ****
@Kool ******
wouldn't a work permit override your dtv? Therefore, you'd just be left with the work permit?
Wesley ********
@Ellice ***
a work permit is not a visa. It’s in addition to a specific few types of visas. And DTV is employment prohibited. In the real world though, if you work with a reputable charity , they will have an understanding with local law enforcement, government, politicians etc. and it will be fine.
They ban exists because of too many people trying to cheat the system
Biff *******
@Ellice ***
you can’t get one without the correct visa. So if you’ve got a DTV you won’t get a work permit.
John **********
Volunteering requires a work permit. She can't get a work permit on a DTV
James ********
@John *********
correct ✅
Amber *********
Keep in mind once you have had a volunteer visa, one is ineligible to apply for a privilege visa. So same rule may apply for digital nomad visa.
Paul *******
@Amber ********
Correct.Paul *******
@Amber ********
It only applies to a volunteer visa because they were abused for so long.Amber *********
@Paul ******
, once a person has had a volunteer visa, thai immigration becomes suspicious of other visas trying to be obtained.
Incognia **********
@Paul ******
if not in passport that volunteer visa embassies dont see you got volunteer visa before. So they cant check everybody on system specific.They should talk with immigration for you if they want to know you got volunteer visa ever or not.
Imran ***************
@Paul ******
True. The embassy in Jakarta was very, very curious why I wanted a DTV when I'd already paid for a still valid 90 day volunteer visa. I told them I had a horrible, foolish boss and they were sympathetic. They gave me the dtv.Paul *******
@Amber ********
I've heard of people struggling to get their DTVs due to a previous volunteer visa.Greg ********
Strictly speaking you need a Volunteer Visa and a Work Permit to do volunteer work in Thailand. These are very difficult to obtain due to misuse of these visas in the past by both agents and the visa holders. However, people do volunteer with no issue at places like dog shelters etc. Bangkok Community Help and others have a volunteer system. Organisations like this welcome help and do great work. Have a look for them on Facebook.
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