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What job opportunities exist for Westerners wanting to move to Thailand who are not retirees?

Thailand work visasNon-O visateaching English in Thailandexpat job opportunitiesretirement visa issuesremote workhighly skilled professionswork restrictions for foreigners
Jan 22, 2024
a year ago
Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm very new to here and trying to gather information for moving to Thailand but what I see and please correct me if I'm wrong, if you want to work your best bet seems to be teaching. What other types of jobs would a westerner be able to do without buying a business nor having a Thai family or partner?Is there possibility?Tired of cold, rain and gloomy weather and my partner and I looking for a change.We are not in retirement age yet late 50's for both. Any guidance would be much appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice about job opportunities in Thailand, believing teaching may be the only viable option for Westerners without Thai family ties or a business to invest in. The conversation reveals that many professions are restricted for foreigners, emphasizing that teaching, especially English, is a common route for expats. However, there are also challenges such as age discrimination and the necessity of a relevant skillset. Suggestions include considering remote work for their home country employer or acquiring a retirement visa, even if not fully retired, with an understanding that working under this visa is generally not permitted.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Ken ******
you probably know all the

pros including cheaper

housing, friendly people,

and culture. As you mentioned weather, you probably have some concern on: air quality,

floods, public road safety

and pavement or road conditions here

(just

look up internet for details).

Air quality can be checked

real time downloading

some apps. For long

stayers, there are some

reporting requirements

such as 90days report on

residence, which is not very

convenient. Starting next

year, new tax on remitted

income earned abroad.
a year ago
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John ********
@Lucia **************
 you and your husband will need to transfer
*****
0thb each in a thai bank account, you can do it yourself it's very straightforward, you can find more information on the thai embassy website, also you can download the forms from the thai immigration website, the big problem is opening the first bank account in Thailand now you may need a visa agent to help you
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 thanks you so much for your help and looks like be will be retirement visa
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
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Toon **********
TL:DR

She's retirement age but doesn't have funds to retire. She needs to work but doesn't want to teach and wants your time/energy to find her an alternative so she can move to Thailand.
a year ago
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Oliver ********
It depends on your professional skills / experience. If you don't have any that are particularly unique / valuable, you will essentially be limited to teaching English, which doesn't pày enough to make sense for anyone except young backpackers who do it for the "experience". Working remotely in Thailand for a company in your home country may be a good option if you have some skills, but nothing unique / valuable enough to standout in the job market here.
a year ago
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Paula *********
Not much you can do but teach. Thai government don't allow it.
a year ago
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Ursula **************
If you have a good job in your country and you can work out of Thailand, than you can have here enaugh money. If you work here a job no Thai want do, then you hardly find a job, unless you are highliy qualified. In any case, you need a visa to allow you to work with a Thai company in Thailand.
a year ago
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Aaron *******
Your best availability and salary wise, is to obtain a job in your home country, which you can work on line.
a year ago
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М. ****
@Aaron ******
 its not an easy task as well. not many employees are willing to let you go overseas like that...
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Aaron ******
 yes thought about that, too. Thanks !
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
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James *******
Boiler room scams - sales.
a year ago
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Paul **********
late 50's? Check, but I believe foreigners can't work past the normal Thai retirement age of 60
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Paul *********
 I taught until I was 67 and worked with colleagues older than that.
a year ago
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John ******
@Paul *********
 wrong
a year ago
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John ******
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Nigel **************
You can get a retirement visa if u r over 50
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel *************
 But I'm not retired yet
a year ago
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John ******
@Lucia **************
 it is called retirement visa but it is a visa for every one who is over 50
a year ago
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Wayne *********
@Lucia **************
 don't need to be retired to get a retirement visa I have the OX retirement visa and still work 2 weeks every month in Australia.

You just can not work on the retirement visa in Thailand
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne ********
 Interesting
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
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Nigel **************
@Lucia **************
 you say you are both in your late 50's. I am just saying that is old enough to get a retirement visa in Thailand. Whether or not u r retired in your home country doesn't matter here
a year ago
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Kim *********
@Nigel *************
 some immi offices actually want proof that it is indeed a pension you receive eg a letter from the pension authorities or pension company
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Kim ********
 every imm office sets it's own rules. I have never heard of that letter required if u put the big money into a Thai bank but u have to do what they require.
a year ago
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Kim *********
@Nigel *************
 ohh I talk about the monthly
*****
baht - not the 800.000
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Kim ********
 aaahhhhh okay
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel *************
 OHHH now that's interesting , thank you for your feed back. Now my next question would be how to go about it and is it easy to do
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Lucia **************
 aahhhh getting a Non O visa based on being over 50, that needs someone else to answer you
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel *************
 thanks, I will looks into ut
a year ago
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Wayne *********
@Lucia **************
 look into the non o, the non OA and OX one may suit you
a year ago
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Wayne *********
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Alastair ********************
@Lucia **************
 without being rude, age will be against you finding work in Thailand. Not impossible but it's quite an ageist society when it comes to employment. Over 40 and you'll struggle to compete.
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Alastair *******************
 true
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alastair *******************
 Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it very much.
a year ago
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Alastair ********************
@Lucia **************
 no worries and good luck.
a year ago
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Alastair ********************
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the information, but teaching is not my field of expertise, but you do say if a company hires me and transferred me to Thailand is doable but that would include the blackout employments that westners cant work in?
a year ago
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Gareth ********
@Lucia **************
 I think what Kool said is right. Your saying what you can't do so you really need to say what you CAN do or people can't really help you.
a year ago
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Kool *******
@Lucia **************
 what is your field of expertise? Thailand is not a training ground for foreign workers. They only want experts in their field, with plenty of experience. If you were fluent in speaking Thai that changes somewhat, but you still need experience.
a year ago
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Kool *******
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Sam *********
You could get a TEFL certificate, you dont necessarily need experience to be hired. The thing is though, most people I know who have jobs in Thailand have some sort of backstory, i.e., they married a Thai and went to live there and after while got some luck and found something that was a good fit for them, or were hired by a company and transferred to Thailand, something like that....It's not impossible, but it's not necessarily easy either
a year ago
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Cary ******
Check LinkedIn for any possible field matches but it is difficult any way you look at it. Teaching is an option if you have a bachelor’s degree in any field and are a native English speaker. They start hiring again in force come April.
a year ago
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Thi ****
@Cary *****
 what if I have a bachelor’s degree and 20hrs of teaching experience, but I am not a native English speaker? Although, I am fluent in English, having lived in the US for 4 decades.
a year ago
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Michael *******
you're good!
a year ago
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Michael *******
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cary *****
 Unfortunately I don't have experience teaching, so looking for work is near to impossible.
a year ago
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Cary ******
@Lucia **************
 many schools will still employ new teachers as long as they have a bachelor’s degree.
a year ago
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Cary ******
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Ling ************
Not much. Most professions are black listed, unless things changed, and teaching is what you will be limited to.
a year ago
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Colin **********
@Ling ***********
 you will need a degree to be able teach
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Any other possible option?
a year ago
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David ********
@Lucia **************
 digital nomad … if you are able to work remotely for a non-Thai company you can check to see if Thailand has implemented a ‘digital nomad’ visa program (I know they were talking about the option a year or two ago, not sure if they actually created that class of visa though.) if not, and you can work remotely, then you can ‘bounce’ around South East Asia (SEA) with ‘tourist’ and/or visa exemptions … most SEA countries are inexpensive enough that a Western couple making decent middle class salaries can probably afford to rent a year round apartment in 2 or 3 cities for the cost of a single ‘studio’ apartment in a major American/Canadian/UK city.
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David *******
 Thanks so much for the information. Great idea!
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
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Lucia ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 I'm not in for teaching
a year ago
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Lucia ***************
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