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What visa options are available for a UK tour manager supervising tours in Thailand?

Aug 7, 2018
8 years ago
Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all, I am looking at setting up a travel company in the UK that offers tour packages within Thailand. I would like to send an English tour manager out there with the trip. Is their a Visa option for this? Technically speaking would this be classed as working in Thailand? They will be only supervising and be there for any issues. There will be Thai tour guides in charge of the trips. Please only reply if you have the knowledge and correct answers. Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the requirements for sending a UK-based tour manager to Thailand to supervise tours, while acknowledging that the actual tour guides must be Thai. The participants express concerns about the legality of the tour manager's role and whether a visa is necessary for someone who will essentially be supervising rather than guiding. Some comments highlight the illegalities involved with foreigners acting as guides, and that without a work permit, anyone in charge of a tour could be considered to be working illegally.
Robert *******
To do this official and legal is discussed. I just deleted a comment to discuss this by PM to avoid the legal system. Before more ways of doing things not by the book are getting proposed I close this for commenting. This page is to help people to get Visa and Extension of Stay on a legal way, please keep this in mind.
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Uday *****
Many tour companies from foreign countries send their staff as a tour leader with the group who act more as a superviser rather than a guide as there will be a seperate Thai guide. I used to do the same. I don't think there is a need of work permit or any special visa for that since a tour leader is just a part of tour group and return with the group.
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Tony ********
@Uday ****
if he is being paid for activities he is performing IN thailand, he is working in thailand. There is no way he is sacrificing his salary while he is away.
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Uday *****
Its his part of job in his own country. So he will not be paid in Thailand but might be given extra allowances along with his normal salary
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Tony ********
is this superrvisor being paid to do this?
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Tony ********
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Nitzan *****
Was actually looking into a similar thing too. From what I understood (reading, not doing) the legit way to do it is start a company (you do NOT need a Thai partner - it just makes it cheaper if you do). If I understand correctly you'd need 2mil Thai baht "registered" capital if it's a Thai-owned company or 3mil if it's foreign-owned - this gives you quota for work permit for ONE foreign worker who would need to enter on a Non-immigrant B visa, get the work permit, then extend the visa based on the work permit. Basically it's all doable - if you have the money. "Registered capital" is basically the amount of liability the company will accept in case of debts/lawsuits/etc - I am not sure what the rules are about how much (or all) of it needs to be paid upfront or whether you have to maintain the balance later.
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Nitzan *****
Agreed. But they can manage/oversee the company so long as they don't actually "guide". Shouldn't be an issue if there's an actual Thai guide(s), I think.
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Glen *********
Foreigners still can’t work as tour guide as it’s protected, even if you own a company.
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Glen *********
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Glen *********
You also need to understand, it only takes one jealous competitor or disgruntled local to make a formal complaint and your “shepard” might be arrested. Unless they are a genuine tourist, and I would suggest soemone who is performing any activity that would normally attract an income would not meet that deffinition.

Thai’s are very protective of losing jobs to foreigners, and it could be someone from a hotel, driver or even a relative of theirs who makes a complaint.

As someone else said - foreign tour guides do get arrested. Chinese and famously an Australian recently. Its not what you consider is a tour guide, it’s what the immigrtion police consider.

I would not chance it - as not only may it create costly legal problems here in Thailand, but also back in UK with potential customers impacted making complaints about your operations.

I know of someone a while ago who’s wife owned a guest house (legally) and the husband use to help clear the dishes after meals wit their guests and was arrested and deported for working illegally. It was a local who reported him.
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Lloyd ********
Notwithstanding the HUGE cost of being an ABTA registered travel agent in UK. Unless you want to go "grey" there too?
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Geoff ********
You would need a local as registered tour guide probably
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David ************
Lewis, We have a few plantations down in Chumphon. Rubber trees, palm oil, cattle and other stuff. Wanted to set small up 3 or 4 day tours for small groups to enjoy the experience of a real Thai plantation. There are contingency activities here too like caves, great scuba, beach and wildlife here as well. We could set up or provide accommodations and game plan. My wife is Thai. If you want to brainstorm it let me know. My wife is already Dot Inc (incorporated) in the plantations name.
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Darren ********
Hi David, I'm interested in selling this type of experience. I have a new tour agency selling tours across Thailand called Tour Explore Thailand. The concept is to tour traditionally and explore locally. Our main areas to start selling are Bangkok and Samui. Feel free to send me an email with some of your ideas for experiences along with what you might charge. Look forward to hearing from you.
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Darren ********
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Liam *****
Tour guide - illegal. Someone from your company based in the UK who comes to Thailand for a short time to do some 'shepherding' under the overall leadership of a Thai tour guide? Grey area
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Biff *******
I’ve done quite a bit of research into this as I was in the process of doing something very similar. A long discussion is probably needed, plus I’d need to dig out my old notes and files.

It’s definitely possible but there does need to be a bit of investment on the Thai side. Whether or not that’s viable would depend on the frequency of the tours.
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Iker *******
it is illegal you need to hire a thai person who is a licenced tour guide...Foreignes can not get a work permit as tour guide if found working they get deported
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Iker *******
@Tod ********
yes but you also read a lot of them get arrested in particular chinese...
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Tod *********
@Ik**
I see a LOT of foreigners here who 'shepherd' tour groups and have the title as 'interpreter' or 'group manager', but in reality I don't know how much exposure the person with the group would have here. You are correct
@Ik**
, there is a high chance they'd be seen as the 'guide' no matter what their title was.
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Iker *******
@Tod ********
in my opinion this is a technicality that can not stand in court ...you should consult a lawyer ...in my opinion they will consider a representative as working because obviously tourist they will relate to him when needed and if he is travelling with the group so he will be considered a guide...
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Tod *********
@Iker ******
, they are not looking for a foreign tour guide (I made that false assumption too :/) It appears they are looking for a way to have a representative from their company come with a tour group and shepherd the group (not guide them to do touristy touring). ;)
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
You didn’t read my post.
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Lewis ********
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Robert *******
Guiding a tour group is a prohibited job in Thailand. So if you send an English Tour Manager, the only thing he is allowed to do is enjoying under supervision of a Thai tour guide the tour.
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Sam *****
This thread is exactly correct.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
Ok. Not something I want to do so I’ll have to look at other options.
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Robert *******
Correct. But that could be the Thai tour guide you need anyway.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
which would mean a Thai Partner to open a business here right?
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Robert *******
In your case, you can set up a branch in Thailand and provide the work permit for your staff.
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Robert *******
Yes.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
Thanks. Don’t you have to be working for a Thai company in order to obtain a work permit or Non immigrant B visa?
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Robert *******
Officially: The Non Immigrant B visa and the Work Permit from Ministry of Labor.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
so again my question still stands. What visa would that person require?
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Robert *******
Officially: He is only allowed to deal with any situation if he has a work permit and a visa allowing him to work.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
That’s exactly what they will be doing. Tour guide is the wrong word. They will be just supervising and dealing with any issues but the question is, what will that person require visa wise?
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Lewis ********
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Tod *********
I think you're mostly only going to get educated guesses from the group here. While there are a LOT of talented people who contribute answers your questions are so specific that it's beyond the scope of being "thai visa related"..

You could probably get away with someone "shepherding" the group, but I have no idea the legalities involved if you brought them in on anything other than a tourist visa or a 30 day visa exempt entry and just did it under the radar.
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Maia **********
Stop telling me what to do, Dad! You don't have a work permit!
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Sean ********
How would anyone know that one person in the group was the 'manager'? If it were just a large family on holiday the 'father' would typically be in charge, but he wouldn't have any special visa.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Yeah. They blend in better though lol!

Thanks mate I’ll try find something online.
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Tod *********
@Le***
There's certainly a way to do it, I mean I see chinese tourists here with a chinese shepherd with them following a thai tour guide.
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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yeah, I guessed that was the only way but I wanted to be legitimate but may have to look at other options.
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Lewis ********
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Tod *********
It WOULD fall under the definition of work by the powers that be here in thailand and you need to know that foreigners can't legally be tour guides at all. It's a prohibited thai only trade.

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Lewis ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tour guide may be the wrong word. Each trip will have its own local tour guide but I wanted somebody from my company to be there at all times supervising in case of any issues.
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Lewis ********
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