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What are the requirements for starting a business in Thailand while on a family visa?
Apr 20, 2025
a year ago
Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTERHello community 👋, I’m currently living in Bangkok as an expat with a family visa. I would love to start a small business and open an online shop—just like I used to do in my home country. Does anyone here have experience with this or know how the process works in Thailand? Many thanks in advance! 🫶✨
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user in Bangkok is looking to start a small online shop while on a family visa. Community responses highlight potential constraints related to work permits tied to visa types, where a dependent visa generally does not allow work, but a spouse of a Thai citizen may have other options. Members shared experiences of business profitability challenges, indicating that starting a business can come with various obstacles.
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Robert **********
You may wanted to check this list too
Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *********
yes I’ve already came across this. thank you 🙏 I think my plan is something not in the list 😉Robert **********
@Kathrin ***
I would maybe check that with a lawyerReply to
Robert **********
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John **********
What do you call a family visa?
If it's a dependent visa you can't work on that visa
If you're married to a Thai you can start a company and get a work permit
If it's a dependent visa you can't work on that visa
If you're married to a Thai you can start a company and get a work permit
Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thanks John for asking, my husband works and we „just“ accompany him. He’s not Thai. I got to know that I would need a Thai partner right? Actually I used to run a shop quite successful and it was sooo easy 🥲😏Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTERYes 🙌 there has to be a way
Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
hmmm too bad. Thanks so much John. There have to be options… I will do more research 🤗😅John **********
@Kathrin ***
your only option is to change your visa to one that allows you to workReply to
John **********
Reply
John **********
@Kathrin ***
you can't work inside Thailand on that visaReply to
John **********
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John *********
Sounds good. Plenty of obstacles along the way. My Thai wife and I considered opening a restaurant in our village, but we can see she would earn maybe 500 to 1,000 THB a day after expenses and a 10 hour day. We had a Thai restaurant in North America and we each earned $300 - $500 USD (10,000 - 17,000 THB) per day. We earned a good retirement nest egg and are not even considering working for peanuts in Thailand.
Matthew *********
@John ********
so true, you would be lucky to make 1000 baht a day. I am always trying to think of something for my wife. Very little business have a return. I am thinking a boutique online for my wife. One thing Thai woman love is online shopping 555Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Matthew ********
thanks so much. I was thinking about that digital nomad thing too…Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Matthew ********
😁 could be true. And for many women 😉 I used to sell vintage and decor items. Some of the earnings I donated. It worked well but in times of COVID the whole process of buying and shipping became complicated. Here in Thailand there would be fantastic options. But I need to find out how it’s possible in a legal way 🤗Matthew *********
@Kathrin ***
I have seen many others do it but it doesn't mean it was legal. I wonder if you could do that under the digital nomad . You could change VPN to show store was in America and you would be bound to pay taxes since it was income generated in Thailand. I think it's a loop hole that could workReply to
Matthew *********
Reply
Kathrin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ********
I see. Thanks so much. I used to run a shop at home and it was quite successful. I would be happy if here it would just be a hobbyplus 😌☺️🙏Reply to
Kathrin ****
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