Thread: working from home in thailand.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by storm1fishing

Thanks guy's , these are the answers I was hoping for and sort of what I thought.

I think I should add that the biggest "secrecy leak" will probably be the wife.
Your average thai lady likes to talk money with friends and get a big face.
Depending on how you assess your wife either tell her to say nothing to friends and family or tell her nothing about what you do.

Absolutely, the wife or Gf will definately the biggest potential source of future grief if working illegally

Yep , I agree with all of you . I think another big mistake that is often made are those that live the flashy life. This is a sure way of waking up thai jealousy and seldom ends well for the farang.
I am a 'T shirt and short pants ' person and I'm planning on getting a pickup as well , so nothing flashy .

cheers

It may be a good idea to get a multiple entry business visa (Non Immigrant B). To do this, you'll need paperwork from a Thai law firm (Sunbelt is one, but there are others), and it costs ~12,000 baht (in addition to postal/visa fee).

In UK you can get a 1-yr visa (allowing a max 15-month stay), but in Asia you can only get 3 months at once.

The advantage of Non-B is that it provides you with some amount of cover in case authorities question your business activities (compared to a marriage or tourist visa). After all, you are doing business with Thai suppliers, but not working for a Thai company, or generating income within Thailand.

Technically, you need a work permit to do any work at all. Unfortunately, obtaining a WP to work from home would be difficult and expensive, if at all possible. More importantly, in trying to follow the letter of one law (WP requirement), you'd be bending several other laws (hiring 4 fictitious Thai employees, starting a company with nominee Thai shareholders etc.). This process is more likely to expose you to potential trouble than protect you from it.

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Anyone who comes here on holiday that owns a company overseas will most probably break the labour laws of Thailand, ie phoning their secretary, emailing their company, the laws here are ridiculous and really can't be enforced.

As most people do my mate will be here next week for a month holiday and he still keeps in contact with his business

Originally Posted by Sdigit

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by storm1fishing

Thanks guy's , these are the answers I was hoping for and sort of what I thought.

I think I should add that the biggest "secrecy leak" will probably be the wife.
Your average thai lady likes to talk money with friends and get a big face.
Depending on how you assess your wife either tell her to say nothing to friends and family or tell her nothing about what you do.

Absolutely, the wife or Gf will definately the biggest potential source of future grief if working illegally

Yep I agree thats your biggest problem if she see's you making money and you dont give her any there lies the the problem.

I had an ex kunt of a g/f who tried it with me had to do one like quick

wow this saved me starting a thread on a similar note. pretty much as I thought. I'm hopefully going to be doing something similar although I'll just be making a few UK bound phone calls per day i don't have any suppliers etc... in Thailand. Technically illegal but as long as you keep your gob shut it should be OK? I'll have some of that.

cheers

Originally Posted by alwarner

wow this saved me starting a thread on a similar note. pretty much as I thought. I'm hopefully going to be doing something similar although I'll just be making a few UK bound phone calls per day i don't have any suppliers etc... in Thailand. Technically illegal but as long as you keep your gob shut it should be OK? I'll have some of that.

cheers

Even more so when you go to the bar, keep your gob shut

Originally Posted by FarangRed

Even more so when you go to the bar, keep your gob shut

Too right! There isn't really a bar scene as such where I'll be - but I completely get your point. I'll not be letting anyone know, pissed up or otherwise and I'll be making sure that the Mrs. doesn't either. Although without stapling her mouth shut there aint no guarantees!!

Do big-c do nail guns?

From Phuket Gazette Issues and Answers..
Phuket Issue and Answer: Do I need a work permit to give horse riding lessons?
Question was in reference to freelance permit for instruction and work on internet-

“In general, foreigners who want to work without forming their own company can apply for a freelance work permit, but I cannot say exactly which types of work will be approved and which will not.

However, just for example, artists, artisans, singers, musicians, technicians, reporters, among others, are some of the types of workers who are usually allowed to work on a self-employed basis.

They need to file the application form and show us “relevant documents” and we will consider approval case-by-case.

If your request is approved, it would be only temporarily, until we can check your tax payment history when you renew your work permit.

For a work permit for horse riding lessons, prepare whatever relevant documents you have, such as any licenses or permits proving you own the horse, photos and details of where the horse is stabled, a plan of which customers you intend to serve, details of the location where you will conduct your lessons and so on. Come in to the office in person to talk with us.

And, if you find any foreigners working without a permit, please let us know by letter or fax.

We will investigate and prosecute any person found breaking the law.

Please call our work permit division for more information at 076-219660-1 ext13 and ask specifically for Khun Boy.

He is the officer who can offer basic information in English and Chinese.”
Friday, April 1, 2011 Noppadol Ployudee, Phuket Provincial Employment Office chief

Originally Posted by KAPPA

And, if you find any foreigners working without a permit, please let us know by letter or fax.

We will investigate and twist the 'law' to ensure we can screw the biggest amount possible out of the poor bastard.

Nice to know.

Originally Posted by KAPPA

From Phuket Gazette Issues and Answers..
Phuket Issue and Answer: Do I need a work permit to give horse riding lessons?
Question was in reference to freelance permit for instruction and work on internet-

“In general, foreigners who want to work without forming their own company can apply for a freelance work permit, but I cannot say exactly which types of work will be approved and which will not.

However, just for example, artists, artisans, singers, musicians, technicians, reporters, among others, are some of the types of workers who are usually allowed to work on a self-employed basis.

They need to file the application form and show us “relevant documents” and we will consider approval case-by-case.

If your request is approved, it would be only temporarily, until we can check your tax payment history when you renew your work permit.

For a work permit for horse riding lessons, prepare whatever relevant documents you have, such as any licenses or permits proving you own the horse, photos and details of where the horse is stabled, a plan of which customers you intend to serve, details of the location where you will conduct your lessons and so on. Come in to the office in person to talk with us.

And, if you find any foreigners working without a permit, please let us know by letter or fax.

We will investigate and prosecute any person found breaking the law.

Please call our work permit division for more information at 076-219660-1 ext13 and ask specifically for Khun Boy.

He is the officer who can offer basic information in English and Chinese.”
Friday, April 1, 2011 Noppadol Ployudee, Phuket Provincial Employment Office chief

Does anyone have any first hand experience with this? I have contacted Khun Boy by phone and email. He referred me to Dept. Of Employment in Chiang Mai where I live and they nothing at all of this type of work permit.