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Is it legal to volunteer on a tourist visa in Thailand?
Thai Visa RulesTourist VisaVolunteering in ThailandVolunteer VisaEFL TeachingIllegal Work in Thailand
Oct 3, 2024
2 years ago
Erin *******
ORIGINAL POSTERWe will be staying in Thailand for about two months as tourists, visa-exempt (from US).
Is it illegal to also volunteer while on a tourist visa? My understanding is some countries don’t want foreign tourists volunteering while they are on a tourist visa.
I’m interested in possibly volunteering in an orphanage or local school. I have several years of experience teaching EFL & I’m also a Speech-Language Pathologist. We’ll be traveling with my young daughter and she struggles with interactions with peers and I was thinking it might be beneficial to do something like this with her while we are there (both benefiting local kids and her at the same time). Possibly an hour or two a day or at least a couple times a week. Im not looking for paid work.
I read about the volunteer visa, but I don’t think it applies, as volunteering is not our main purpose. Can anyone provide insight and/or point me in the right direction for info about volunteering while on a tourist visa?
TIA!
Is it illegal to also volunteer while on a tourist visa? My understanding is some countries don’t want foreign tourists volunteering while they are on a tourist visa.
I’m interested in possibly volunteering in an orphanage or local school. I have several years of experience teaching EFL & I’m also a Speech-Language Pathologist. We’ll be traveling with my young daughter and she struggles with interactions with peers and I was thinking it might be beneficial to do something like this with her while we are there (both benefiting local kids and her at the same time). Possibly an hour or two a day or at least a couple times a week. Im not looking for paid work.
I read about the volunteer visa, but I don’t think it applies, as volunteering is not our main purpose. Can anyone provide insight and/or point me in the right direction for info about volunteering while on a tourist visa?
TIA!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the legality of volunteering while on a tourist visa in Thailand. The consensus from the comments is that volunteering is legally considered work, which requires a proper visa and work permit, thus making it illegal for tourists. Some comments note that while many people do volunteer informally, it poses legal risks. Suggestions include obtaining a volunteer visa or collaborating with organizations that could sponsor such a visa.
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Carlos *********
They are funny about having the appropriate visa. So if you want to volunteer without any trouble, you should get a volunteer visa. However, I have carried in my neighbors groceries for her a few times,( don't tell).
Neil ******
You can see if the orphanage wants to sponsor you for a volunteer visa.
Kate *******
Why not get involved with one of the world schooling hubs while you’re there instead?
Rob *********
I’d love to see a reasonable shift in this. Shame expats with so much to offer can’t and don’t play with it. Nobody wins. I’d love to chat up the new PM on the subject.
Colin *******
Get a working visa
SJ *******
Yes they need the proper checks done, this is how the bad guys get access to children.
Erin *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@SJ ******
Interesting. I had not thought of that. I wonder how much and what type of background checks are done for workers in early education in Thailand.Michael ********
@Erin ******
slim to none unfortunatelyErin *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Michael *******
I was afraid that might be the caseReply to
Erin *******
Reply
Brandon ************
In Thailand, volunteering is considered work, even if you aren't receiving pay.
All work requires you to have both a visa that allows work, and a work permit.
Neither of these applies to a tourist, so it is illegal to volunteer as a tourist.
Does that mean people don't do it? Of course not. Plenty of people do. But you need to be aware that it would be illegal, and what the potential consequences are if you are caught.
All work requires you to have both a visa that allows work, and a work permit.
Neither of these applies to a tourist, so it is illegal to volunteer as a tourist.
Does that mean people don't do it? Of course not. Plenty of people do. But you need to be aware that it would be illegal, and what the potential consequences are if you are caught.
Christopher *******
Brandon ThurkettleThis guy know, do listen. Not Andrew. You can get in real trouble and people do. Ao Nang may have trash everywhere because the government won’t pay for sanitation. But they will spend a 100 hours looking for the reported Burma man selling street food. Meanwhile don’t go swimming after it rains.
Andrew ********
@Brandon ***********
What a lot of organizations do to work around the WP for Volunteers is that they call a paid experience as volunteering. They still call it volunteering which is ok, I guess, but in reality, the person is paying for whatever experience they are doing. So technically they are not "volunteers." They are paying tourists. This is really common in the elephant tourism industries here.Erin *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andrew *******
Interesting.Christopher *******
@Andrew *******
It is not legal, elephant tourism, prostitution are the mafia’s domain. Think about it.Andrew ********
@Christopher ******
You can say it's not legal, but you can't show me anything that says paying for a tourist experience is illegal. That's just not true.Reply to
Andrew ********
Reply
Erin *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
Thank you. That’s the info I was looking for. Definitely not worth taking the risk. 👍Rene ********
@Erin ******
nip in , do the odd workshop and vanish, no time to denounce you .....and almost no-one will....they will cherish your input.........just ban cameras as a prerequiermentRene ********
Phones. Social network. Etc.......go for it
Reply to
Rene ********
Reply
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