Residence Permit

[khunindigo]

Hi, I have just received a one year multiple entry visa to Thailand; I have a European passport. I plan on marrying with my Thai lady before year's end. I am just over 50. My hope is to find work in Thailand and/or setting up a small business. I can already guarantee a small income of an average of about 35,000-40,000 baht a month once I have set up a company that can bill clients in Europe for services rendered. As I will be working freelance in this capacity there is no employment contract to show. But...can I bill for services while living in Thailand to a European company if I do not yet have a company or a work permit? I will no longer have residency in Europe or elsewhere outside Thailand as of my arrival end July 2007.

What is the procedure involved and what are the requirements, once I am married and am seeking a residence permit? I have the impression things are unclear. As I am giving up my address in Europe, I will have to set up a company (alone or with my wife) in Thailand or in ether space.

Any help or suggestions that will steer me in the right direction will be appreciated. My hope is not to have to leave thailand again at all. As the requirements and laws seem not only to be somewhat unclear but also ever-changing I do have some worries.

thanks in advance for you input, Khunindgo

Edited May 4, 2007 by khunindigo

[Petch01]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74654

[lopburi3]

Believe you should discuss options with forum sponsor Sunbelt Asia or another firm that offers company set up service as that appears to be what you will probably have to do as you will not have overseas income that your Embassy can verify and if you want residence status there is going to have to be an extended working/tax paying period/extensions of stay.

[brianinbangkok]

"What is the procedure involved and what are the requirements, once I am married and am seeking a residence permit? I have the impression things are unclear. As I am giving up my address in Europe, I will have to set up a company (alone or with my wife) in Thailand or in ether space."

European laws are a lot more welcoming to foreigners then Thai laws are , keep this in mind.

Some of the laws would cause outrage if they where implemented in Europe.

Being married to a Thai woman will not open many doors in Thailand or give you much special privilages here.

Things you take for granted in a western country may not be the norm here....

Fact you get married here in Thailand will NOT automaticly take care of you being able to work and live here.

It will not even allow you to stay in Thailand just being married to a Thai without showing income.

Before you can apply for a residents permit you will need to have worked and payed tax for at least 3 years here in Thailand and this has very little to do with you being married to a Thai or not!

So for you thats out of the question for the next few years.

Foreigners will always need a workpermit in Thailand regardless of the fact you are married to a Thai or have a residents permit because of this reason it is not easy to find work here for foreigners , most (99%) jobs adds you will see in newspapers have "Thai nationals only" printed above it.

Workpermits are only given if there are no Thai that can do the job , paperwork and fees and fact they will not give workpermits below a certain salary makes a foreigner more expensive then a Thai.

Foreign owned companies are NOT treated the same as companies owned by a Thai person.

Foreigners can not own land , so your legal protection if you buy a house here is very limited.

Unlike a Thai person immigrated to Europe who after getting a permanent residents status will have virtually the same rights as any other person in that country , in Thailand you will NEVER be just like a Thai and always severely limited by Thai law regarding foreigners.

I suggest you spend a lot of time reading in the thaivisa.com forums before you move to Thailand....

Edited May 5, 2007 by brianinbangkok

[astral]

You will never qualify whilst you have a multi-entry visa.

Firstly you must get your visa extended for a full year based on your marriage,

and continue doing this for at least 3 years.

Secondly you need to establish yourself as tax payer in Thailand, which may be

difficult in your situation.

Good luck