How can I volunteer to teach English in Thailand as a qualified teacher?

@James *************

????!!!???????!

@Amanda *******

naive. Try Africa instead

I understand. There may be many philanthropic groups looking for a teacher “just wanting to do good”. Perhaps a religious organization of some kind.

However, you could also just do a great job teaching in Thailand, get paid well and make lots of friends. Once you have that visa and understand the situation here in Thailand better perhaps you could seek out underprivileged students and help.

I have found that when people receive things for free or very cheaply they tend to respect the giver and the services given less. Students that pay a fair lesson fee always outperform those that do not.

If you wish to help.

Go and teach..English kids..they need your help more than ever

@Amanda *******

I knew a British lady who was arrested for being a volunteer with a dog charity. Spent the night in the police station while it was being sorted. Any kind of work, paid or not, physical or not is a no no unless you have the right visa and work permit.

@Amanda *******

it most certainly does not but don't give up. Talk to some school directors. A lot of schools have English speaking staff and they might help you. Your chances will also depend on where you are in Thailand. Good luck. All the people I know who have done it say it was a very worthwhile experience.

@Amanda *******

No. Sadly it does not. To volunteer in Thailand, you must have a non P

0 visa and a work permit. Unreal, I know, but "this is Thailand".

More recently and especially during covid, people and agencies started taking advantage of the "volunteer" option because they couldn't travel. So now, having a volunteer visa is like a big black mark in your passport. A person I know well, who is an owner of a legit foundation, has had major issues with a volunteer visa, despite all the mounds of paperwork requested and provided. This person was forced to leave the country and come back in on a tourist visa. Not sure what next steps will be on this.

Best thing to do is to speak with the director of a school, and the local immigration dept. They can further advise you.

You can absolutely not work (or volunteer) on a tourist visa.

@Amanda *******

no, a tourist visa does not allow working at all, and volunteering is considered work.

@Amanda *******

Working is not permitted on any tourism entry