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Thailand aiming to be "Start-Up hub of SE Asia - visas made easy for tech entrepreneurs


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Posted

Thailand aiming to be "Start-Up hub of SE Asia - visas made easy for tech entrepreneurs

 

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Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's government is allying with the private sector to make life easy when tech entrepreneurs apply for visas to the country.

 

Visas will be fast tracked and extensions made easy.

 

Re-entry permits will be unnecessary for those with talent.

 

Apichai Somboonpakorn - an adviser to the Science and Technology Ministry was speaking at the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit in Bangkok on Friday.

 

He announced a joint collaboration with True Incube and the BoI who will help to verify the credentials of investors and executives wanting to do business in Thailand. It is a first of its kind.

 

Apichai said that Thailand wants to be the "Start-Up Hub of South East Asia".

 

They want to attract talent, investors, executives and those setting up start-up businesses.

 

Categories of visa are "Smart I" (for investors), "Smart T" (for talent), "Smart S" (for start-ups) and "Smart E" (for executives).

 

The government hopes that by making applying for visas and extensions easy they will be able to promote such business.

 

In the first instance Smart Visas of one year will be given and these should be easily extended with no necessity to apply for re-entry permits if those holding such visas leave the country.

 

Source: Daily News

 
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-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-04-30
Posted
19 minutes ago, overherebc said:

90 day reports?

 

Yeah, that's the most interesting part of them trying to attract entrepreneurs to Thailand, the specifics of their visa requirements....

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Posted

Good idea,

though as with everything here,

the devil will be in the detail

and

most here know they do good job making them convoluted, time consuming and denigrating.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
9 minutes ago, johng said:

And maybe not having to employ 4 Thais to get a work permit to work in your own business

 

You recon they are going to be interested in startups that employ less that 4 people? What would this start up be, a bar?

  • Haha 2
Posted
8 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

You recon they are going to be interested in startups that employ less that 4 people? What would this start up be, a bar?

On the other hand I was talking to one guy who started a restaurant/bar in a neighbouring country and once a year the police/Imm' came to his place of work and stamped another year in his passport, had a drink then left saying 'see you in 12 months'

Posted
8 minutes ago, johng said:

surely a "start up hub"   should encourage every size of start up and not impose unnecessary burdens or red tape  if 1 person can  run the start up business but is forced to employ 3 unneeded people the business is already at a significant disadvantage...if they need more people to run the business then they hire more staff.

 

The term startup doesn't normally refer to models that need only a couple staff, and why on earth would a government encourage foreigners to come to start businesses that do not employ people, what would be the advantage?

Posted

"The application process seems arduous and an application has to be approved by the BOI, the National Innovation Agency, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others."

Hmm, do you know, I think I will stick with toddling off to Savannakhet clutching my wedding certificate every 17 months!

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

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Posted
32 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

You recon they are going to be interested in startups that employ less that 4 people? What would this start up be, a bar?

Most IT startups begin with 2-3 founders and are financed by them and/or angel investors.

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Posted
1 hour ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

The term startup doesn't normally refer to models that need only a couple staff, and why on earth would a government encourage foreigners to come to start businesses that do not employ people, what would be the advantage?

Well, at the moment, most one man band digital nomads appear to be tolerated- even with a tourist visa.  I guess it could go one way or another- either they will be allowed access to one of these visas, or effectively it will be made unlawful (though possibly not enforced).

  • Like 1
Posted

For anyone interested, full details can be found here - http://www.boi.go.th/newboi/index.php?page=detail_smart_visa2
 

WHERE TO CONTACT?

 

SMART Visa Unit

One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit (OSS)

18th Floor, Chamchuri Square Building, Chamchuri Square Building, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Tel: 02 209 1100 ext. 1109-1110

Fax: 02 209 1199

E-mail: [email protected]

Download SMART Visa document here.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
12 minutes ago, seancbk said:

For anyone interested, full details can be found here - http://www.boi.go.th/newboi/index.php?page=detail_smart_visa2
 

WHERE TO CONTACT?

 

SMART Visa Unit

One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit (OSS)

18th Floor, Chamchuri Square Building, Chamchuri Square Building, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Tel: 02 209 1100 ext. 1109-1110

Fax: 02 209 1199

E-mail: [email protected]

Download SMART Visa document here.

 

Seems clear enough. For startups you need to set up a BOI company that fills the criteria for the visa. A major PITA. 

 

http://www.boi.go.th/newboi/index.php?page=procedure_to_apply

  • Like 2
Posted

The big question: Will this benefit or hinder the humble digital nomad perhaps doing a bit of vlogging, freelance writing, online teaching, or similar?  At worst, he could find himself outlawed!

 

 

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