Working the legal way

Updated in November 2010

Non-Thai Nationals in Thailand cannot work legally without the proper visa and a valid Work Permit. Foreigners who call themselves “freelancers” in Thailand are often looking for work but often do not have the proper visa or a Work Permit to do work legally in Thailand. They need to be employed by a company that is operating legally in Thailand and that means either working for a registered Thai company that they own or one that operates here legally (i.e. A Thai Company Limited, an Treaty of Amity Company, or a licensed Representative Office of a foreign company).

Paying someone to perform work while in Thailand without the person being eligible to work here is illegal.  It is also possible you will be violating the labor and tax laws of your home country by hiring people in Thailand that are not there/working legally.  You will need to discuss your companies home country’s tax laws with a licensed lawyer/tax professional to see if there are legal consequence for hiring people to perform work for you in foreign countries. When doing business with people/business in Thailand it is highly suggested that you perform due diligence on the company/individual’s legal status. If you would still like to work with foreign nationals living in Thailand have them set up a legal company to do so. It is safer for you as a company and safer for the individual(s) in Thailand that you seek to work with on projects.

Sunbelt Asia has a long and reputable track record in “getting foreigners legal” for jobs in Thailand by starting Thai companies for them or sorting out the company’s paperwork and handing every detail in getting your Thailand Work Permit issued quickly.   The consequences of working in Thailand without the proper visa and a valid Work Permit can be quite severe in Thailand and can involve fines, imprisonment,  deportation and being barred from returning to the Kingdom.  Sunbelt Asia’s Thai Work Permit assistance is a great way to make your stay in Thailand safe if you are working here.

Still have a question? ask the experts at Sunbelt Asia here.

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Tel: 02-642-0213
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