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What are the best visa options for a couple looking to move to Thailand while starting an online business?

Thai visa optionsMETV (Multi-Entry Tourist Visa)Non Immigrant B VisaWork PermitOnline business in ThailandVisa rules and regulationsExpat life in ThailandDependent Visa
Feb 23, 2018
7 years ago
Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hoping someone can give us some advice? My husband is a fly in fly out worker (28 days on 28 days off) and I would like to start an online business and we want to move to Thailand.

Does anyone know the best types of visa’s for us? We have Australian passports.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A couple considering moving to Thailand for an online business can explore several visa options. The METV (Multi-Entry Tourist Visa) is suggested for initial entry, allowing up to 9 months in 60-day increments. For longer term stays and to operate a business, a Non Immigrant B visa is necessary, which requires obtaining a work permit and setting up a company with Thai employees. However, working on a tourist visa is prohibited. There are discussions about risks associated with using tourist visas repeatedly and legality concerns for online work. Overall, understanding and following immigration laws is crucial.
Tod *********
The easiest and most cost effective visas for you two to get would be a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa from a thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wash up here.

That would allow you to stay almost 9 months in 60 day increments, and allow your husband to enter every other month for 6 months getting a 60 day stamp each entry.

True you couldn't work on that visa but it'd certainly give you enough time to get sorted out here and decide what long term visa option you want to pursue.

Good Luck
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Best idea I've read yet, thanks
@Tod ********
7 years ago
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Tania ********
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Paul **************
If your husband is over 50 it’s relatively easy to get an visa/extension of stay. This can be renewed yearly, you as his wife can get a dependent visa/extension of stay. However working IN Thailand is prohibited. You state he flies in and out of the country so should be no problem for him, your online business might be not within the rules however here in Chiang Mai there are literally 1000’s if people working online from Thailand and the vast majority doesn’t have a work permit. It’s still a risk though.
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’ve looked into the Elite Visa and it looks great. I’m happy not to work 👌🏼😁
7 years ago
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Mark ********
If under 50 you can get Elite Visa, but you can't get a work permit on it
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Paul, but he’s not over 50 and it’s not worth taking a risk to work online without the correct visa.
7 years ago
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Tania ********
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Kenny *******
If you want to start a business in Thailand , well the Thai rules State....that is clear, you can not side step the law and be legal.

You can bend , but do not break.

Perhaps in the near future there may be a Visa for people who work on line ?

But for now it is no different.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
@Robert ******
 has already explained to you the procedure.
7 years ago
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Ron *******
A good few reports around of people being denied entry for continually using the visa exempt method month after month.
7 years ago
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Reiner *********
@Tania-Kirk *******
 thank , but I followed your commands ...then it was confusing me.

For working here u need a workpermit if u build your own company with 2 million bath capital in a bank account , u need 4 Thais working in it and pay social security to get your work permit.
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Reiner ********
 I won’t be working or doing anything illegal, I stated I would “like to” start an online business and if there was a Visa which in fact there is - the Non Immigrant B Visa where I can start a company and so on.
7 years ago
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Reiner *********
I don't understand Tania .... she ask a serious question and got the right answers .... if you want to do illegal things or work here on a tourist visa... leave this forum !

Your home country explain proper what's legal work permits for foreigners have for requirements !!!!
7 years ago
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Ron *******
Thai visa forum
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 could you please send me link for the Darkside forum?
7 years ago
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Ron *******
You've hit the nail on the head...'Living here'. That's how immigration finally see it.
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes but we want to live there long term - maybe 10 years... That’s a lot of visa exempts
7 years ago
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Ron *******
The guy in the condo below me for instance. Offshore worker. Now needs to enter by METV obtained in the US. A good few reports on the Darkside forum of the same situation. You get away with it until they tell you no more.
7 years ago
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Barry *******
All I've heard are rumours. There is a large amount of expat offshore workers in Thailand that use visa exempt.
7 years ago
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Barry *******
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Alex *********
***********************************************************
7 years ago
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Robert *******
Lots of wrong information on this website. It is not an official Government made side.
7 years ago
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Robert *******
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Maurice *******
same here am listening in on this still confused with it all
7 years ago
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Barry *******
I also work overseas on same rotation. Your husband would be fine with 30 day visa waiver although that wont give him permision to work.
7 years ago
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Scott *********
Immigration were starting to look at this more closely for people using visa waiver for regular repeat trips. Some offshore guys were challenged about it at the airport and told to get the correct visa if they are living here. Some were even sent back to where they came from.
7 years ago
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Barry *******
4 years but I have friends who have been here 10+ years using visa exempt.
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
How long have you been living in Thailand, if you don’t mind me asking?
7 years ago
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Tania ********
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Robert *******
If you want to run your own business you have to set up a company in Thailand, apply for the Work Permit and get a Non Immigrant B visa for the first 90 days, than Extension of Stay for 1 year at local Immigration. Your husband can than apply for a dependent Visa based on your Extension of stay for the same period. Both need than re-entry permits to fly in - out to keep the Extension alive.
7 years ago
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Tania ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 I just won’t work, simple 😁
7 years ago
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Tino ************
Robert Lagas is correct, its stupid, but correct - laws outdated and not re-written for internet business and digital nomads.
7 years ago
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Michael ********
It most certainly is illegal and people have been arrested for doing business and also selling things online whilst in Thailand. I am sure a lot of people run online businesses from Thailand with no work permit, but that is their choice to assume that risk.
7 years ago
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Robert *******
Yes, it is. Having an online business and staying in Thailand means you must have the correct company papers and Visa. If you are on vacation and check your laptop it is a different story. It is NOT impossible to get the Work Permit and Visa. Thai labor law does not make any mention of your point: "job based in Thailand, where Thai people is the source of your income".
7 years ago
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Jason ******
The meaning of "working prohibited" is physically going to a job based in Thailand, where Thai people is the source of your income. If people who have their own online business, and staying in Thailand, that's not illegal. If I am on vacation and I want to spend a day working on projects on my laptop, that's fair game. But it's impossible to get a WP for that situation. It's difficult for entrepreneurs who don't have any employees in Thailand to get a Non B Visa.
7 years ago
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Robert *******
Look at your tourist visa and ask again if you not understand the stamp: Working prohibited. You have to open a company if you are willing to work at your own business or find a job at a company. You must have Thai employees by Thai law in a company, it does not matter if you like it or not. Follow the law and you be fine, do otherwise and keep in mind: If you can not do the time, don't do the crime.
7 years ago
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Jason ******
I thought if you have an online business and stay in Thailand, you are not eligible for a work permit because you need to have at least 5 employees? If you have a business generating income online but no employees then you wont be able to get the Non B Visa with 1 year extension of stay. But wouldn't that also be considered "working" if your on a Tourist visa? So what would the right way to go on about this situation be?
7 years ago
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