It's rarely enforced, but online work is still work. Always was.. many cases over the last decades.. my mate Nate case etc etc.

The DTV has an exemption as per the announcement in the royal favorite, tourist visas do not.

Anonymous participant 405 If you can't read Thai you will need an agent or lawyer to file everything.

-+40k to get started on average (not from larger Western centric ones, less from a local bookkeeper but more likely to get something wrong that way imo) almost every bookkeeping and legal firm can do.

Btw the 4 Thais, generally you just need to pay the tax on 4 salaries. I know some places don't even run the salary only the tax cost. That's also for extension later not essential at the beginning (or wasn't last time I talked it over).

Anonymous participant 405 hardly impossible. Cheaper than it cost me to make a euro incorp.

This is the issue, people claim it's impossible when the real response is 'i don't want to pay for that'.

Ok so use a BOI registered umbrella payroll.. then the response becomes, I won't pay that either. Essentially it just comes down to a refusal to pay.

@Dany *******

the English teacher is the perfect example.

The Burmese language teacher recently also.

The statements by immigration, labor, and employment officers. The statements by every serious law firm on the matter.

The existence of an entire business model, approved by the boi, to provide work permits via umbrella payrolls. Why does this business exist ?

To counter all this evidence you provide ?? Nothing.

Here is another perfectly meeting all your invented needs

I am a commodity trader and use the Internet for my work. My financial dealings are conducted in Australia. I am thinking of coming to Thailand to stay for short time – about three months. My question is, can I still do my trading via the Internet in Thailand without breaking any laws? Theoretically, I shan’t be working in Thailand.

Travelling Trader, Perth, Western Australia

To do any work in Thailand you must either set up a company or partnership and apply for a work prmit, or find someone willing to employ you and to apply for a work permit for you. Otherwise you will be working illegally. We suggest that you do not work during your three-month stay in Phuket.

Phuket Provincial Employment Services Office

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@Dany *******

no the question (I asked it) was explicitly clear that this was a 100 % online only business without Thai clients. The reply was also as clear.

If we find out that a foreigner is doing business online without a work permit, we will arrest them and take legal action through the court.

Pol Col Panuwat Ruamrak, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration

@Dany *******

and all the direct responses from employment office, Labour dept, even immigration (not that it is thier justification) ? Explicitly answering that it is not legal.

And the rebuttal is... I don't think so.. based on ??

You have evidence of arrests and deportation, you simply are in denial at this point.

You want lawyers and law firms opinions ?

Unfortunately the gazette's issues and answers section was removed when they revamped the website. But look at what the labour department and employment officers say on the subject NOT immigration, who are not the enforcers of this issue.

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Is earning money through online advertising, website affiliate marketing or operating a business that has only an online presence whilst staying in Thailand considered working? Would that person be required to have a “business visa”?

Ting Tong Farang, Phuket Town

Any foreigners working or starting a business in Thailand, online or off, need to first get a proper visa.

They can apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa at a Royal Thai Embassy in their home country.

Once they get it they can come to Thailand and apply for a work permit with the Department of Employment.

If we find out that a foreigner is doing business online without a work permit, we will arrest them and take legal action through the court.

Pol Col Panuwat Ruamrak, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration

Doing business online is considered a type of work, so foreigners are required to have a work permit to do so.

The first thing to do is get the proper business visa. Foreigners with any other type of visa generally cannot apply for a work permit.

An exception to that rule is made for foreigners legally married to Thai citizens.

For more information on the visas and documents required to apply for a work permit, we advise foreigners to contact us or the Department of Employment in the area they live.

We need detailed information from the foreigner before advising on further action.

0-1 ext 13 for further information.

Somkiat Baiadul, an officer at the work permit division of the Phuket Department of Employment

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Is uploading videos to YouTube considered work?

I have a YouTube channel showing a video diary of my travels around Thailand – promoting the country and activities here.

I am trying to understand what laws I need to be aware of in relation to my current and past activities. Is uploading videos to YouTube considered work? Does it matter if I have YouTube ads turned on or off?

I have many other videos on my channel, which I made 100 per cent outside Thailand – before my arrival. If I have ads turned on and am being paid for these past activities while I am in the Kingdom, is this considered work?

Concerned vlogger, Thailand.

No, it isn’t, as long as the uploading is for fun or to share on social media networks publicly for free. However, if you turn on YouTube ads while living in Thailand, or post them in your own blog where they can collect revenue, this could be considered work. Even if you posted videos while outside Thailand, but then activated or turned on ads related to them, this would still be considered work, as you would be making money while in the country. It means you are working while you are living in the Kingdom. However, if you activated the ads before entering the country, but still received revenue once entering the country for your holiday, then this would not be considered as working while staying in Thailand.

Yaowapa Pibulpol, chief of Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO).

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