What is the process for obtaining a Volunteering Visa for Thailand, and what should an invitation letter include?

August 25, 2020
4 years ago
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
EDIT: Lets forget Covid and the ”new normal” from this. I know that everything is different now, and nobody dont know when tourist can entry to the country. Somebody have experiences before Covid? I will follow the news and the situation about Covid.

Hi! Anybody have experiences about applying Volunteering Visa, before entering to Thailand? (Or do you prefer to go Thailand with Visa on arrival and do the paper work while im already in Thailand? Is this easy and can i count on it to happen?)

What invitation letter should include?

Anything you know i should to take a notice about?

(And yes, i know that many people want to say that “let the company take care of paper work” But thats not possible in my situation, owner of the company is my friend, and we will do this together.)

Thank you.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the uncertainties regarding visa applications for Thailand amidst the evolving situation due to Covid-19, while seeking advice on obtaining a Volunteering Visa. Key points include the importance of the invitation letter, which needs to state the applicant's purpose of volunteering, along with necessary documentation like the Thai charity registration and personal identification from the owner of the charity. Comments provide additional context about the requirements for different nationalities and the potential need for a work permit.
Amy ***************
Yes I do

DISCLAIMER - this is what I did, you'll need to check your own requirements with relevant the consulates/embassies.

This you will need:

-Thai Charity registration documents - every page signed by owner/manager

-passport copy of Thai owner/manager

- invitation letter from owner/manager with your full name and passport number stating that you will be doing voluntary work for no monetary reimbursement and that you need a non- imm O visa type. ( this attachment should have the ID of the signer also )

- if you are volunteering in a specific field then a graduation certificate (I gave a copy my vet degree one)

- flights into and out of country

- bank statements

-passport scan and appropriate photo

In the UK I filled out the application online for a single entry non-imm O volunteer then sent all the documents to the embassy via a visa agency. Paid £65 I think.

This gives you a 90 day single entry.

You can extend to multiple entry once in country for about 3000THB and more paperwork. To extend this visa you need to apply for a work permit (that plus an extension is another 12kTHB) which gets you to 6 months total at this point.

Then another 3 month renewal until the 3re renewal when you can get an annual volunteer visa(I havent got that far yet so dont know costs).

Hope this helps and that you will be able to actually use this type of visa to get into the country some time in 2021.
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amy **************
thank you!! I have almost everything already, from the first step papers what are needed. We were just thinking what we should write to the invitation letter. And good to know, that i also need a flight out of the country.

This ’you need to apply for a work permit’ makes me concerned, that do i get it..
Kool *******
Sonja Hietikko, be very aware of the first requirement she listed, "Thai Charity Registration" documents. This is different from a regular business registration. And, whether you are working for wages, or volunteering, you must have a work permit. Thai registered Charities come under different rules in regards to work permits than regular businesses do. They do not have to have four Thai employees for each foreign work permit, but they must be registered to do that, and be non-profit.
Kool *******
One basic question. Is the owner of the company, who is your friend, Thai, or a foreigner, as that makes a huge difference in that company's ability to sponsor a visa for a foreigner, even on a volunteer basis.
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
He is Thai
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you for reply!

I think that working permit i will not get, because the company should have at least 3 Thai workers before that 😕 or?
Kool *******
Sonja Hietikko, actually it is four Thai employees for each foreign work permit, but, counting cleaning staff, he should meet that requirement, if there are no other foreigners involved that got an extension by being employed there. The four Thai workers must be registered with Thai Social Security office too.
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
i think thats not option for me 😞
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
family is not counted to that, i think? I mean when counting how many thai employees company have..
Kool *******
Sonja, message me, as I want to ask you some personal questions that could make a very big difference in how you can enter, and stay in Thailand, with him.
Kool *******
My wife is a licensed Thai accountant, and is involved in all this.
Kool *******
He should have them registered anyway, as that includes very good health insurance for them, at very cheap monthly costs.
Kool *******
Sonja Hietikko, yes, family can be counted, as long as they are registered workers with the Thai Social Security office.
Kool *******
Sonja Hietikko, that is good. Has he ever sponsored volunteers before? It can be very involved setting that up if not. What type of business is it?
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
no he havent. Its a resort
Kool *******
Sonja Hietikko, if it is an eco-green environment resort that benefits the local community, or anything like that, then maybe, but if it is just a for profit tourist resort then you are going to have a real hard time getting it authorized to hire volunteers. Businesses that are authorized to hire volunteers are usually non-profit businesses. You have a better chance of him hiring you as a working employee, under the premise of needing an English speaker/writer, to help in marketing to expats. The more languages you speak, and can write, besides Finnish, the better to accomplish this, and get a type B visa approved, then a 1 year extension after you get here. There are quite a few Nordic expats living in Thailand.
Jane ***********
No one knows what the ‘new normal’ situation will be with visas/exemptions for tourists to enter Thailand. Or when the Thai government will consider applications for other visas from outside (beyond what has already been announced re Elite etc). If you are outside Thailand the only thing you can do is wait and see. It’s going to be many many months.
Av **********
Steve *********
Laying aside the current situation, very few nationalities can get "visa on arrival". Perhaps you're confusing it with "visa exempt" entry?
Oliver ********
Av Giuliano vil du snakke eget sprog kan vi sagtens din fede luder
Oliver ********
Av Giuliano yea Well your country Wont make it without , your the idiot if you cant see that ..
Av **********
@Oliver *******
idiot..........nogh mak na
Av **********
If u dont think that the thai chinese hasnt been fighting to keep whitie out then you babababow
Av **********
@Oliver *******
hey i lived in thailand for thirty f*cking years since i was a baby...u dont know sh*t
Oliver ********
Av Giuliano shut up ...
Av **********
@Sonja *********
lol....its not only covid that is the problem...its the fact that thailand doesnt want whitie there anymore.....
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ********
lets forget Covid now from this 🙂
Sonja **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ********
im looking forward. When the situation is that tourist can go to the country...
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