Hi, does anybody know if its still possible to get a workpermit as a representative of a foreign tour company? I remember it was possible some years ago.

I'm a german national and a tour operator from Germany wants me to work for them in Bangkok to represent the company and do marketing and sales. They have tours from Germany to Thailand and they have new cruise ships on the Mekong river sailing from Chiang Saen/Thailand upriver to China and downriver to Laos. Which documents are required for the application?

And does anybody know the telephone no. of the one-stop service center. I was able to find the new adress and even a map but no telephone no. The old one (66) (2) 693-9333-9 is out of service.

Thank you very much, Detlef Krause

There are few foreigners working in the tourism business with a work permit. You can not work as a tour guide - this is only for Thai with a licence from TAT.

Your employer will have to prove that your job can not be done by a Thai national and they have to stick to a certain quota (which I don't know) of tourists. Some tour operators get one work permit per foreigners for a certain number of tourists they bring to Thailand (and this number is very high: 50.000 in one year at one big tour operator I know).

In my opinion you can't do it on your own but your potential employer has to make sure that he can provide you with a work permit.

If I were you I insist that they prepare everything in advance.