What type of visa do I need to work remotely in Thailand for four months?

@Duncan ******

and those are technically illegal.

@Kool ******

Still waiting. See - the thing is, they're not "technically illegal." Work permit law changed in 2018. You can work in any job you want in addition to the one listed on your work permit as long as it's not a Thai only job.

/tax-news-flash-issue-44.html

@Duncan ******

I am fully aware of that change, but, you still must work at the job you got the work permit from. If you are not working as a volunteer in a company, or NGO, authorized to hire volunteers, and getting the paperwork from them verifying your continued work, for your 90 day extension that must be done every 90 days with legal volunteer organization, and there is a law related to that requirement, or are not working for the company that sponsored you, and paying your yearly taxes, then it is all illegal.

@Kool ******

believe it or not we're actually on the same side nearly here. Yes - you have to work the volunteer job, zero question and prove that and everything is clear up to the 90 days. The last part of the text has me beat, though. Not working for the company you're sponsored for as well and tax? I'm not clear. Apol. What's the law that says that "there is a law related to that requirement, or are not working for the company that sponsored you, and paying your yearly taxes, then it is all illegal"??? Is that something related to the volunteer law versus work permit?

@Duncan ******

in order to legally hire volunteers the non-profit company, or NGO, must be licensed to do so. Not every company can legally hire volunteers. That comes under completely different licensing. Also, if a for profit company sponsors a work permit, that person must work for them, then file, and pay their Thai income tax yearly with that companies ID listed as their employer on their wage document.

@Kool ******

agreed 100% And when they do, they're actually legal whereas you suggested that collectively that - and I quote you "those are technically illegal."

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you or have a long term issue but words matter and you've admitted that they can be legal after saying they're all illegal.

@Kool ******

how is a volunteer visa and work permit illegal let alone a BOI company doing the same thing? Please explain - I'm all ears.

@koolbreez still waiting. I know a few people on the volunteer visa with work permit here - including one who actually teaches in CM one day a week for pay but primarily works online and it's all completely legal. The legal side is complying with the volunteer part and there are some scam ones out there, no argument on that - at a minimum, a legit volunteer program requires two days a month of actual volunteering and provable volunteering, not dissimilar to the requirement of turning up to class on an ED.

The BOI side - Iglu only got into trouble because at one point it became their only business model. They've seriously shifted that since then - I'm not with them but spoken to a guy there who speaks for the company a few times as well as knowing people who have their completely legal B BOI and work permit with them. I have a BOI and work permit with another company that doesn't focus on providing that service - they're a legit outsourcing firm with mostly Thai employees - I've been audited with them by Immigration and deemed completely legal. I pay Thai taxes, have social security (free hospital for the the win) and no one, including Immigration has an issue with it.

@Nigel *********************

When a solution comes trust me it will be all over the internet in no time and every single soul will know it after it's been a issue for many for a lot of year's that's also why there are BOI company who are offering work permit against a % of each penny you are making

@Za***

I dare say..

@Za***

It is true, I don't tell lies, it's not illegal, and that's that.

And here's an Australian guy arrested for teaching online. The turning a blind eye to it is only for when they do but they can decide not to as well.

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@Garrett **********

no where does that say he was overstaying his visa.

@Garrett **********

if you're working in Thailand, even if it's strictly online for an overseas company you legally require an appropriate visa and work permit - full stop. That they turn a blind eye to those who don't is a different consideration. You don't have to believe me, here's the Chiang Mai Labor Office explaining it

@Garrett **********

I disagree, strictly according to the law you may not do any work (effort) inside the country without a correct visa and wp. Further more the work you may do is limited according to law. Where you generate money or get paid from or to is irrellevant. But the chance of being caught is small.

@Ron *****************

All About the Enforcement of Law Rather than the Law itself

@R**

"The work you do in Thailand" Being physically located in Thailand doesn't mean anything. It is not illegal to send emails, make Youtube videos, or create a website for a client or business OUTSIDE of Thailand while you're sitting in Thailand.

@Garrett **********

as you know it all its not worth it. Just read the Thai law and you will then know you are wrong about the legality of doing any work here without the correct visa and wp. As said the letter of the law and what is enforced are two different things.

@Garrett **********

if you are working for a U.S. company while in Thailand, you need to pay taxes in both the U.S. and Thailand, although you do get some reduction in your taxes due to paying the other. I have not yet needed to do it, so I don’t know the exact numbers, but, yes, you do need to pay taxes in both places. In terms of trading stocks, it gets more complicated. Capital gains is considered “unEARNED income”, so the rules may be slightly different. I have not researched it. However, unearned income was not the nature of the original question.

@Garrett **********

Yes it is, strictly speaking. But it's not enforced. That's the difference. When you enter Thailand, you fill out and hand in your arrival card which literally says "Aliens are not allowed to work in Thailand without a work permit". It does not say "Aliens are not allowed to work in Thailand EXCEPT for non-Thai businesses". It also does not say "Aliens are not allowed to work in Thailand unless it's just an e-mail or a vlog". As the other guy mentioned, it's old-fashioned for a digital age but still technically the law.

@Ly**

"work in Thailand"

@Garrett **********

What planet are you from

One thing many see doing another is teh legal aspects of it work is work it's that simple

It stand black on white.

That it's about if you work for s company where ever in the world but it's a matter where thee work is done from and in this case it's done in thaoldn and that means the person will need a work permit it's that simple underneath I have added juts one of 100s of link %20cases%20of%20Digital%20Nomads,work%20without%20a%20work%20permit.

@Za***

I know you think that, but that's just not true. Take me for example, I trade stocks. I trade from my computer on the US stock exchange and transfer my gains into my US bank account. You're telling me I

1. Don't need to pay US taxes

2. Need to pay taxes to Thailand

3. Need a work permit and visa in Thailand?

@Garrett **********

Correct

@Garrett **********

You might trade stocks but that doesn't change that Thailand has an old-fashion law about work permit and who needs it and not.

And as mention above you need at work permit to be fully legal I don't make the rules just following them

@Za***

Like I said, I know you think that, but you're mistaken.

@Garrett **********

Last time after the law is done way beforehand there was anything called a digital nomade it's stated out from the location that the work is carried out and that would be Thailand so it's not about who you work for and what yo are doing of work but down to you are in Thailand and doing the work from Thailand.

@Garrett **********

I don't want to use energy the fact is simple work is work and there by you need work permit one day they might make a visa for the low level digital nomade but for know the only visa for people who are specialized in afield there has been tslk about it for so many years I they would make a visa for digital nomade but it haven't happen yet and untill that it will remain illegal to work without the right visa and of course work permit then you can try to justify it from here to teh moon but it won't change anything about teh fact's