What are the recent changes to work permit regulations in Thailand and how do they affect foreign workers?

Jul 29, 2018
6 years ago
Glen-do **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thoughts?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Recent discussions highlight confusion and concerns regarding changes to work permit regulations in Thailand. Key points include the perception that the process remains complex, especially for obtaining permits for self-employed or remote workers. The SMART visa has been incorrectly touted as a digital nomad visa, raising skepticism among expats about its actual utility. Furthermore, the community is discussing potential implications for work permits, including possibilities that individuals may work more flexibly across different sectors, contingent on ongoing legislative clarifications.
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Ron *******
I would guess the part of the process of attending an interview with appointed members of the BOI kills it there and then for most? That's if your application even gets that far.
Frank **********
There are three steps with this kind of article. With the example that was stated before, the SMART visa was announced by articles and it was widely reported as the digital nomad visa. Then it came out, and no one seemed to know exactly how it worked. Then people start looking at it in the real world, and the details get more fleshed out.

I guess the fourth step is that things really don't change too much, and only a few people are affected.

Like everything in these parts, we really won't know how it works until more details come out and people start testing the limits.
Daniel *********
Following
Danny *********
@Daniel ********
no problem :)
Daniel *********
@Danny ********
, noted. Just trying to keep abreast of the new law...
Danny *********
just use the notification option... now everyone who uses notifications got a notification that someone made a post... too bad the post only contained 'following'.
Ron *******
I'm thinking theres more chance of BJ turning up in those co-worker spaces in Chiang Mai very shortly.
Steve **********
I'm thinking this is like dining Thai style in a restaurant. All the dishes come out at different time and not necessarily in the order you would prefer.
Ron *******
Let us know how it go's at the Labor Office šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚
Steve **********
My optimistic arm chair interpretation is that this change might allow those who are self-employed and working remotely to be able to obtain a work permit and hence pay taxes. Wishful thinking I'm sure...
Ron *******
The same news sources that were promoting the 'Digital Nomad' Smart visa and attempting to tell us how well they would work for everybody šŸ˜‰
Ron *******
@Chelcie *******
its available but 99.99% of people wouldn't qualify to get it.

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Mok *****
Yeah whatever happened to that
Alain ***********
Very good news
Patrick *******
So no need to show a bachelor's degree anymore! A hotel clerk without a bachelor'e degree can obtain a workpermit and become a teacher...:)
Sebin *******************
Unfortunately, you're dreaming...to become teacher you still need bachelor degree to get your teacher's licence from teacher council of thailand then with it you can obtain your work permit from labour office then extension of stay from immigration.
Shayne **********
It's already had 5 or 6 changes to a decree because it wasn't thought through. 5555

TIT
Elana ************
Please keep us updated with any additional findings!
Chay ******
In theory this sounds like a great move forward, but Iā€™m puzzled as to why only The Phuket News has noticed and reported it šŸ¤”
Cody *******
A news publication shouldn't be offering legal advice.
Neo ************
My friend was arrested and fined 2000 thb for having work permit in Bkk working in Pattaya I guess under the new law he will be fine.
Lloyd ********
This would mean you can apply for your work permit for any old job, no degree required, and then just work in a school full time ?
Lloyd ********
David Bonas no rude words on my part, remember. Just facts and statements. Anyway, good luck in your future quest for advice, because it will no be here.
Lloyd ********
David Bonas Goodbye. Not nice to call the group owner a c..k
Lloyd ********
David Bonas Totally! But that is the way I understand the article.
James ***********
Lol.. not quite.. what would 'any old job' be? Schools are probably the easiest place to get a work permit!
Azharuddin **********
Changes to Work Permit in Thailand. Very encouraging development announced last month. One particular change almost got lost in the detail and is a huge benefit to current work permit holders. Basically it reads: Any foreigner who has a work permit in Thailand may now, work anywhere, for anyone (including themselves), under any conditions, and do any type of work, that is not excluded by the Official List.
Areeb ********
Misleading
Danny *********
Interesting... anyone else can confirm this is the case?
Lurcho ********
So is s Front Office owner / worker allowed to work without a permit ?
James ***********
@Peter *****
ya and the problem is that every office will interpret/ enforce the law however they like anyway! Have you ever had any trouble in your course of work or is it just the peace of mind?
Peter ******
@James **********
What it needs now is for the MOL to make an announcement clarifying the matter in both Thai and English. In fact, they should have done that in the first place, not allow some website to announce the matter and leave everyone confused. However, we should probably not hold our combined breaths waiting for the MOL to do anything, I fear.
James ***********
@Peter *****
ya exactly that! A much more sensible approach to the modern working environment. Not a free-for-all for digital nomads and backpackers
Peter ******
@James **********
I think you are totally correct. I have a WP that enables me to work as a volunteer for a government agency (NFE). I do not teach but am able to act as a speaker at teacher training, work on teaching materials, etc. As far as I can make out, this 'new' approach to WPs will allow me to work in other NFE offices without having to make any alterations to my WP provided the work I do is still the same as described in the WP itself.
James ***********
Ah ok.. then you shouldn't be affect you negatively in any way. The way I read it is that previously you would have been restricted to doing voluntary work at the address listed on your WP, now you will legally be allowed to do volunteer work at any location provided it is the same work you are currently doing. It wouldn't entitle you to work as a teacher and receive a salary as some seem to think! P.S. That is my interpretation based on reading the article, not fact!
Peter ******
@James **********
I do voluntary work for the Non-Formal Education Centre. I have been employed there for 13+ years now.
James ***********
@Peter *****
it's not wrong. The list hasn't changed, as far as I know it's just been updated to conform to ASEAN agreements. The changes don't allow the majority of foreign workers to do any other types of work, it just gives more freedom to do the work that you are already permitted to do. What type of work do you do here, if you don't mind saying?
Peter ******
That would prove the Phuket News article is wrong because they say that the list has been updated already. So confusing; luckily, my visa extension/wp extension isn't until May next year. Maybe it will have been resolved by then!
James ***********
@Peter *****
, no, it's still current, the employment market is still heavily reserved for Thai's for obvious reasons. There was recent amendments made to allow for Burmese/ ASEAN citizens to work in labour and domestic positions. This article is correct and true as far as I am aware. The royal decree was mentioned before in the media but this is one of the first articles where a lawyer has interpreted the new amendments in regards to foreigners working in Thailand.
Peter ******
@James **********
I agree with most of what you say, but surely the list of prohibited-for-foreigner occupations is out of date as the original Act has been superseded by two decrees (this year?) but the list is dated 2522. That's assuming that the Phuket News article is legit and true.
Lurcho ********
@Mish ******
no bigger than they allow them to be .

Remember Zaire when the President Mobutu rounded up 1000 criminals of different standing front street crime to crime bosses then put them under a soccer stadium . He killed 100 of them telling the rest their would be no crime during the Ali fight . No crime was commited .
Mish *******
Phuket is owned by the Russians already!
Lurcho ********
As much as I think Foriegn Worker and Foriegn Ownership restrictions are a smart admirable thing for the Thai people especially when I think of a hoard of one million Chinese buying up the whole country effectively making Thais slaves in their own country I wish they would give foreigner an easier long term path here . I've seen my australia sold out from under us so I don't know what the answer is . I'd like to invest more in thailand but as the saying goes don't put in more than you can afford to lose .
James ***********
The announcement doesn't blow open the employment market by any means, i think it's just a more sensible approach to the current situation to ease to burdon on the state, the employer and the employee provided everything is above board
Lurcho ********
@James **********
yeah I wondering what the big deal is about with the announcement. Although I don't know who's on the list which would be a good start .
James ***********
In no case would a foreign office owner or worker be allowed to work without a WP.
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James ***********
The way i read it is that if you have a WP from your primary employer then you could also work part-time or in a different capacity for a second employer provided that the type of employment IS NOT on the list of prohibited jobs. I.E. a teacher in a school with a work permit could work for a language school/ work online without needing that employment added to the WP. To take a recent example; if you were a diver working with a WP and you were called to do volunteer rescue in another part of the country you wouldn't need that volunteer position added to the WP. It does not allow a teacher to work part-time as say a waiter/ waitress simply because they have a WP.
Lurcho ********
So dumb it down so people can understand what it means .
Lloyd ********
I just do not see it being as simple as "have work permit" can do anything for anyone, anywhere.
Peter ******
Volunteers do not receive pay, therefore do not pay tax.
Sean *************
As long as you pay tax, you should be all set
Peter ******
Total confusion as usual. And then there's CM Labour Office refusing to issue WPs to volunteers. I have been relying on doing voluntary work for years (not in CM) and I am worried what might happen when I come to extend the WP next year,
Areeb ********
Confusing. Nowadays they have practice to even specify name of company on Non-B. How is it possible to work for a different employer in such a case. They would simply abolish the wp thing if it was that simple. Isn't it?
John *****
With WP can work on any jobs now?
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