Answered7 years ago
Can You Obtain a Work Permit in Thailand Without an Employer Presence?
Post by James Anderson was closed. It was mentioned you cannot get a work permit without a company or branch in Thailand. You can in fact get a WP with no employer presence in Thailand. I and 6 other guys from 3 different companies in Europe and Honk King have one.
Answer summary
The post discusses the possibility of obtaining a work permit (WP) in Thailand without having a company or employer presence in the country. Several commenters share their experiences and differing opinions, with some asserting that it's feasible under certain conditions, such as needing support from a Thai entity. The conversation touches on the nuances of working in Thailand as an expatriate, including the distinction between short-term and long-term work permits.
24 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Adrian *************
Other option open your business and hire 4 Thais, 1x work permit for you.
James **********
Interesting, my company operates in a very niche field (space technology) & has burgeoning ties with Thai defense & space agency.
But if I read this correct the WP would require Thai collaborator to write letter saying that they need a company representive to be here to support our product or service?
Is this correct?
But if I read this correct the WP would require Thai collaborator to write letter saying that they need a company representive to be here to support our product or service?
Is this correct?
David *******
OPBasically the supporter, in my case a distributor, provides a supporting letter and invite letter but have to comply with same paper work requirements as if we were employed by them, those are found on the ministry of labour website, lots of company papers. In your case may be worth considerring BOI visa, no border bounces or 90 day reporting ;-)
Ellie *******
yes, and they need to provide a lot of company papers too
Benjamin ******
>You can in fact get a WP with no employer presence in Thailand
Can I see a copy of your work permit (with the confidential information blocked out)? I never heard of anyone getting a WP without a company established in Thailand. Because this is new to me, and if it is, I'm interesting in finding out more about it and how it's done.
Can I see a copy of your work permit (with the confidential information blocked out)? I never heard of anyone getting a WP without a company established in Thailand. Because this is new to me, and if it is, I'm interesting in finding out more about it and how it's done.
David *******
OPthe distributor told me no need for wp it will be fine, no one checks, they have done this many times with installers from other countries working here but I told them as I live here I dont want to risk deportation and a fine and a ban, also not good for my company if caught working illegally and we are international company and it would prevent me entering other countries.Not worth the risk.
Ellie *******
yes, issued to someone working for you. they are not payed in Thailand. Technically not employee of that company
Ellie *******
AFAIK it's possible if Thailand company invite and support them. But purpose is business, not employment.
Ellie *******
You still need contributing company in Thailand.
Robert *******
And some see the difference.
Coming to Thailand to do a short time time business trip or skilled labor like fixing machines, sounds completely different than being based inside Thailand.
Logic and common sense is visiting Thailand to fix a machine is when the machine is up and running you leave the country.
Based inside Thailand means you live here in being here all year around, watering the plants in the garden, walking your dog.
Yes, everything is possible if we start to compare apples with oranges and call everything Same Same but different.
Coming to Thailand to do a short time time business trip or skilled labor like fixing machines, sounds completely different than being based inside Thailand.
Logic and common sense is visiting Thailand to fix a machine is when the machine is up and running you leave the country.
Based inside Thailand means you live here in being here all year around, watering the plants in the garden, walking your dog.
Yes, everything is possible if we start to compare apples with oranges and call everything Same Same but different.
David *******
OPBTW this is not limited to WP, I can also obtain BOI with no company prescence in Thaiand, this would be supported by the Hospital. Already spoken to BOI about this and it was their advice how to get it without a company here. They said may be possible through distributor but much easier through hospital where equipment is installed and maintained.
David *******
OPso its not comparing apples to oranges, I have a valid work permit and based in Thailand living. The only issue is for next project in bangkok it will be different work permit as hospital location is different.
David *******
OPI live here and have a work permit. You do not need a work permit for machine repair, thats a specialist task exempt from a work permit. My work permit is to perform and manage installation activities and even to train others, for this I have a work permit and can extend if if I wish for the whole year or longer so it is not short term. If there are on going projects with no local skilled persons t perform the tasks you can do longer than one year.
Astrid **********
Is the "workpermit" you mention an actual workpermit in the form of this blue book and is valid for a year?
Or a granted permission to work when you are send out by a foreign company to a conference/business meeting or to lecture .. or to do a certain short term job that Thai can not do? Do you get a workpermit blue book then also? If not then that might be the confusion?
Or a granted permission to work when you are send out by a foreign company to a conference/business meeting or to lecture .. or to do a certain short term job that Thai can not do? Do you get a workpermit blue book then also? If not then that might be the confusion?
Astrid **********
Yes this is what I am aware of also. So maybe I misunderstood the post ☺
David *******
OP@Astrid *********
you dont need a wp to do short term visit business trip conference or lecture and the wp can be for 3 or 6 months also depending on your visa
Jimmy *******
Yes how to do that ?
David *******
OPsee above reply
James ********
*********************************************************************************
**********
**********
*****
*****
*****
3?view=permalink&id=*****
*****
*****
8
Oliver **********
How did you do it?
David *******
OPThere are couple of things, you can work in Thailand for up to 15 days without a permit, for such things as fixing machines, also can use visa exempt for business meetings conferences etc but not actually work. To get WP obviously need a visa I have Non o based on marriage my friends all got Non b, some whlle here some from home country. We had to get invite letter from a distributor to support WP application. It is allowed for skillsets not available within Thailand.
Chris ********
How is Honk King Dave ? 🤣🤣
David *******
OPlol not there, supposed to go to HCM in 2 weeks but see they stopping entries by plane. BK done
Activity
11 joined11
people
Related
25What are the best options for obtaining a work permit on a Non-O visa for future Thai citizenship?
1k8103mo
Can I convert my Non-O marriage visa to a Non-B work visa without exiting Thailand?
9.3k551615mo
Do I need a work permit for doing autographs for my business in Thailand?
1.7k1352y
Can I apply for a Non-O visa while holding a non-immigrant B visa and extension of stay based on employment?
897563y
What are the current rules and options for extending a non-visa entry stamp and obtaining a Non-O visa in Thailand?
2.2k19114y
Can you apply for a work permit with a Non-Immigrant O visa in Thailand if you own a hair salon?
3.3k19214y
Can you obtain a work permit with a 90-day Non-O visa for marriage, or do you need to wait for a one-year extension?
758434y
Can I extend my Non-O marriage visa to match my new work permit expiration date in Thailand?
1k765y
Can a Work Permit be issued to a Non-O Visa holder without changing the visa?
903385y
Can I convert a Non-O visa to obtain a work permit in Thailand?
2.6k18166y
Can I obtain a work permit in Bangkok while having a Non-O visa extension based on marriage in Phitsanulok?
524216y
Can I Get a Work Permit in Thailand Without a Non-B Visa?
2.6k19276y
How does a temporary government shutdown affect my Non-O B Visa in Thailand?
795477y
Can I Obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa and Work Permit in Thailand Without a Bachelor’s Degree?
2.1k11197y
Do I need to go outside of Thailand after quitting my job on a Non-O Visa?
537227y
What should I do if my employer wants me to switch from a Non-O visa to an F visa in Thailand?
927577y
What should we do about our expired work permit and valid visas while one is in Thailand and the other is abroad?
3617y
Can I apply for a re-entry permit with a Non-O visa without a work permit in Thailand?
477218y
What does the stamp on my Non-O Volunteer visa regarding work permits mean?
2.5k20218y
Do you need an employer to obtain a work visa in Thailand?
774448y
Can my friend obtain a Work Permit (WP) upon entering Thailand with a Non-Employment visa?
2.1k18128y
Can I switch employers on a Non-B visa in Thailand and apply for a new work permit?
1.8k15108y
How can I obtain a work permit while on a Non-O marriage visa in Thailand?
569138y
Can my Japanese friend obtain a work permit with a Non-O (dependent visa) in Thailand?
877549y
Can I obtain a work permit with a Non-O Visa based on marriage in Thailand?
2.5k22129y
Resources
Need help with your retirement visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served