Answered5 years ago
What visa can I get to help my girlfriend on her farm in Thailand without breaking immigration rules?
Hi, my girlfriend owns a farm and I'm wondering if there is a visa that will let me to stay long-term in Thailand and allow me to help her grow flowers, mangos etc. I would like, if possible, to help her sell at the markets but not essential and I'd be the only other person working with her. She wouldn't be paying me a salary. We plan to marry in a couple of years if that would make a difference!. Thanks and stay safe
Answer summary
The user inquired about a visa that would allow them to stay long-term in Thailand to help their girlfriend, who owns a farm. Commenters noted that while a marriage visa might allow some flexibility, legally working (including selling goods) without proper authorization is risky and typically prohibited for non-Thais. They advised against participating in market sales and emphasized the importance of adhering to immigration laws. Suggestions included exploring an agricultural visa, although they are difficult to obtain, and ultimately recommended prioritizing safety when navigating the complexities of Thai immigration.
60 repliesnewest first
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Chris ********
OPThanks for all your comments. I think for safety I'll leave her to sort out the bits she sells and I'll just lie in my hammock!. Not want to fall foul of immigration when I've been waiting to get there for so long . Thanks again
Robert ********
If she's your wife, you can do whatever kind of work you want on your (her) property as long as you can meet the marriage visa requirements.
Helio *****
Maybe volunteer visa that costs about
*****
k a year?
Phill ******
no.
Oliver ********
Western expats are not allowed to do farming or basically any blue collar work. You can pay a local a few hundred quid/dollars per month to mind your partner's farm and move her to Bangkok with you (you can probably also find work in Bangkok if you have significant professional experience in a particular field).
Anne *****
Hahaha 😂 nice plan
John *******
cause of covid they have to look at ways to get people here hench why looking in to this.
John *******
if you had a kid though you could put the land in their name as a asset and create a dormant business is that correct as I'm looking in to doing this. also a lot is changing concerning I think businesses and land ie percentage farang can own is going up and I think land now too.
Ralphy *****
Buy the farm and employ
Bobby ********
Ralphy Ben. Foreigner can't own land
Ralphy *****
@Bobby *******
I the farm for the wifeBobby ********
Ralphy Ben. That doesn't make sense
George *********
You could apply for a agricultural visa.
They are not easy to come by because they are based on a country quota system. You may also need to do a written test on shrimp farming, water buffalo rearing and poultry raising. Also water management irrigation etc.
They are not easy to come by because they are based on a country quota system. You may also need to do a written test on shrimp farming, water buffalo rearing and poultry raising. Also water management irrigation etc.
Bryn ********
Technically, just about any work is illegal to do yourself. I heard even gardening at your own house was a no-no.
Bobby ********
Bryn Graham. It depends on the "gardening". If you're gardening simply for your own enjoyment or your direct benefit, it's not a problem. Once you start selling what you're growing it's out of bounds.
Antonio ***********
@Bobby *******
gardenung girl is not allowed😜🌹Channel **********
@Bryn *******
..any work on your house is not illegal in Thailand, that's a long old bar stool story.Channel **********
Surprising how it's always “somebody else” or “my friend”told me lol.
I know fairings in Phuket who live next to immigrooffice and they are always cutting grass at home and cleaning their car.
I know fairings in Phuket who live next to immigrooffice and they are always cutting grass at home and cleaning their car.
Bryn ********
@Channel *********
, that’s good to know. Guess that’s what you get when listening to a bargirl. Channel **********
@Bryn *******
maybe 👌
Raj *******
ha ha ha h
Brad **********
Best get married first!
Oh, keep your plans between the two of you 😉
Oh, keep your plans between the two of you 😉
David ********
Do like Max Fernsebner and get deported
Michael ********
@David *****
got a linkDavid ********
@Michael *******
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12/editig-german-man-who-wins-praise-online-for-helping-wife-sell-gai-yang-turns-out-to-be-runaway-suspectMichael ********
@David *****
thanks for link its better than the Thai visa one i foundMichael ********
@David *****
5555 like said earlier keep away from selling stuff and markets, especially if you have warrants out on you. Bobby ********
If you're going to marry her, ignore the visa agents who are going to offer you a visa for
*****
+ baht which you can get yourself for 2000 baht! Beware of the predators!! Always take advice from Michael Dawson. He knows what he's talking about.Helio *****
@Bobby *******
which visa for 15k?
Reiner *********
Farming is prohibited
Gary *******************
I have a 50+ visa and they will not even let me volunteer.
Niclas ***********
@Gary ******************
this one surprises me the most since they could gain so much to allow people with legit visas to volunteer. Singapore is like more than cool with me putting in hours. 
Steve **********
@Niclas **********
TIT, dont question.
Wayne ********
be careful they won’t allow you to work here doing anything even if no pay and just trying to help. they consider your taking the job of a local. visa not sure others will be able to guide u better as i am on retirement visa …
Jamie ******
! Why the !?
Kevin *******
I used work on the rubber trees never a problem
Kevin *******
rubber and palm oil trees and built 2 houses
Michael ********
@Kevin ******
you rolled your own
Charles ********
There is no way you could get a work permit for that.. So no visa.
As long as it's not a formal business operation (like backyard garden) and she is not paying you for the help it's okay... But it might look suspicious to immagration and that could land you in hot water. As long as you can prove that you support yourself and not working here you probably be okay. You need a visa another way of course.
As long as it's not a formal business operation (like backyard garden) and she is not paying you for the help it's okay... But it might look suspicious to immagration and that could land you in hot water. As long as you can prove that you support yourself and not working here you probably be okay. You need a visa another way of course.
Chris ********
OP🔙I'll have no problem showing proof of my money, just not want to get caught working illegally
Chris ********
OP@Charles *******
her family together farm about 11 acres and she has about 4 acres of it, not sure if that's classified as backyard garden!Charles ********
@Chris *******
I agree with the other poster said here about the market.. If you show up there with a seller.. You will draw attention and some will check you... And even though you might not technically be doing anything wrong, it likely won't end well.Chris ********
OP@Charles *******
ok, thankyou for the info, I'll have to teach her to drive car then!! 😁
Rio ******
@Chris *******
Your justification means nothing, it's their justification that counts. There is no "by right" in this country. Chris ********
OP@Rio *****
i know, this is why I asked the question !
Darren *******
Those jobs are all reserved for Thais, paid or not it's considered work. If you have kids with here then it would be possible but otherwise nothing until marriage.
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Marc *******
Avoid working at markets!
Michael ********
Marriage visa and work for free on land, but you cannot sell anything.
Kool *******
David Broadfoot he still needs a work permit.
Kool *******
If she actually owns the land, she can set up a business and hire you to consult, but you can not legally work, or sell in the markets. Getting the type B visa extension is the easy part. She would be under the same requirements to get you the required work permit, at bt2million in registered capital in the business. If you were married that amount drops to bt1million. Her land assets could be used to help meet this requirement to issue you the work permit, but again, in agriculture all you can legally do is consult, and you can not sell in the markets. Up until a few years ago, and changes that were made, you couldn't even consult in agriculture. Now you can consult, but you can't actually do any physical work. None of this makes any difference if you get a wage, or not. You still need a work permit.
Stefan ************
@Michael *******
you can't work on a marriage visa without a work permit, even if you don't get paid. Besides that, he said girlfriend so not even a non O based on marriage unless they have kids together.Michael ********
@Stefan ***********
Agricultural workouts, just excercising lolMichael ********
@Stefan ***********
As always low profile is the bestStefan ************
@Michael *******
not up to you or me or him to determine. Better be careful.Chris ********
OP@Michael *******
thanks, good to knowMichael ********
@Chris *******
check your message requestsMichael ********
@Chris *******
Wife just bought us six rai last year, was fun clearing the eculyptus trees and start planting stuff now for the futureChris ********
OP@Michael *******
thanks , much appreciated. I'm not one for posting everything on fb or anywhere else but very good advice. Cheers Activity
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