fruitspunch

Hello, I arrived in Thailand a short time ago on an IB business visa and I'm living with my Thai wife. The business visa is tied to my specific company. The work contract is limited to one and a half years. After that, I may have a different employer or may work self-employed (I have a remote office work). However, I will want to stay in Thailand with my wife after that. Since there is a "marriage visa" that allows for a work permit, I thought that I'll probably be able to extend my stay based on marriage after that one and a half year period. However, I read that the requirement for marriage visa is another 90 days "non immigrant O visa" that forbids working(?). So, will I have to apply for that visa, leave and come back after the one and half year, then stop working for some time until I get to the marriage visa ? It seems like there should be a solution where I don't have to stop working since I will want to change from one visa that allows working to another one that also allows working (the second one being less restrictive). Does anybody have experience with this kind of situation? Thanks, Richard

A lot of response with many interesting points raised. Thanks, guys! As this topic is quite involved, I will have to research some of the things you mentioned and try to figure out what would be best for me, then come back for further questions. This is exactly why I'm thinking about this a long time in advance, well that and for the possibility of a previous stay of a couple of months later this year. I'm in my mid thirties. Income-wise doing alright, but not wealthy.. Elite visa would be a significant investment that I would be willing to make only if the benefits are *very* significant or necessary. Yes, we are not married, but we plan to get married, so might as well do that as soon as I move there. Thanks again

Hello, I'm planning to move to Thailand in about 2 years to live with my Thai girlfriend long-term. Currently I'm working as a software developer for a small company in my home country Germany. We only have German clients. I'm already working 90% remotely right now and optimally, I would like to coninue doing my job once in Thailand like before. However, after a lengthy research on the internet, I am quite confused. It appears that (please correct me if I'm wrong) 1. It is illegal for me to do any work, including remote, without a work permit. 2. Marriage Visa or Elite Visa (the only long term visas it seems like I will be eliglible for) do not come with a work permit attached. 3. It is impossible to apply for a work permit for working remotely for a foreign company. In conclusion (?), it seems to be impossible for me to continue doing my job and I would have to quit my job and find a new employer (or clients) based in Thailand. Now I have heard that some people work remotely in Thailand who claim that authorities usually condone this. However, I would not like to build my future on the mercy of officials who may or may not allow me to do this in the future or on my ability to hide what I'm doing for years on end - something I'm not comfortable with in the first place. Is there really no "orthodox", legal way to do what I want to do? It's not like I want to avoid paying taxes or anything like that. Suggestions? Next likely step for me would be to try some professional consulting. Thank you.