Hi everyone,

 

I'm thinking of teaching English online and living in Thailand using an Elite Visa.  Is this allowed? 

 

I know I can't work for a Thai Employer in Thailand on an elite visa but what if my employer is a Chinese company for example.  I did a quick search on this forum, couldn't find anything with this particular scenario.

No, you can't. You need a work permit to work in Thailand even online. You also need to pay income taxes to the Thai government.

 

Elite Visa is categorized under Tourist Visa, which does not allow the holder to legally apply for a work permit to work in Thailand. The Non-Immigrant Visa must be cancelled before Privilege Entry Visa is validated.

Working online is a grey area. Many are doing it without a problem and have no work permit. There have been many topics about it on this forum going back many years,

Almost all foreigners I know work online without work permit, and do so without problems. 

 

Nobody can see what you are doing on your laptop. So as long as you keep your mouth shut you will not have problems.

 

 

Edited July 16, 20205 yr by dimitriv

4 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

Almost all foreigners I know work online without work permit, and do so without problems. 

 

Nobody can see what you are doing on your laptop. So as long as you keep your mouth shut you will not have problems.

 

 

Yes, don't talk about. Gossip, jealousy or misplaced enthusiasm can bring you down. Keep it secret, keep it safe.

 

11 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

So as long as you keep your mouth shut you will not have problems.

you've just told the internet ....   lol

Elite visa is a tourist visa only, take your chances!

Legally no

 

However keep it quite and you will have no problems whatsoever ( speaking from experience )

 

Don't listen to the doom and gloomers on here - you will be fine

It is never technically legal. If your employer is overseas, and all of your students likewise, it is tolerated. Do not worry. If either your employer or any of your students are here in Thailand, you will probably be prosecuted if caught.

49 minutes ago, Isaan Alan said:

Yes, don't talk about. Gossip, jealousy or misplaced enthusiasm can bring you down. Keep it secret, keep it safe.

 

 

       In other words , tell your matey farangs , Nought ..

       The enemy , within ...

 

Edited July 16, 20205 yr by elliss

I suspect the OP is asking if an elite visa might somehow offer more 'protection' than than more conventional means of staying here.

Clearly the answer is “no” unless you want to play an awful lot of golf.

Teaching English would also need to be more lucrative as the elite visa is a very expensive option.

Edited July 16, 20205 yr by blackcab
Font normalised

12 minutes ago, Damrongsak said:

I don't drink while I'm robbing banks. 

I have no relevant previous experience, but I think I might need a stiff drink before daring to attempt a bank robbery.

Hey 

To confirm all the above and make it simple: work permit and Elite visa are mutually exclusive.

The more appropriate question would be: do you need a work permit when working online ?

And then you do the math 

 

Thank you all for your fast responses, it has been very enlightening.

Many people work online in a variety of ways without any problem. You can even day trade which technically you need a work permit for! The most important point though is  to do your work under the cover of a proxy server.

Legally you can't work if you don't hold a work permit and pay your income tax.