Has anyone ever actually got into trouble for doing remote work on an elite visa, and how bad was it?

[bd2023]

I'd like to set myself up in Thailand long term. I'd much rather do it on a visa that matched my intentions, but there isn't one.

 

If I got an elite visa and worked at home for clients overseas (providing services completely unrelated to Thailand) what is the risk? I'm nearly 40 so would probably go for the 10 year elite with the intention of continuing on a retirement visa after that, depending on how things work out. My home tax authority could easily get to know that I was working in Thailand. It's not like they have a hotline to Thai immigration but it bothers me that I wouldn't be able to keep the arrangement completely under wraps.

 

It's possible I'll want to settle down at some point in the next 10 years, so the disaster scenario is that I get married and have a couple of kids, only to be ordered to leave for working without a permit and blacklisted. Is that something that has ever happened / could realistically happen to me? Even with no wife / kids I would be gutted if I wasn't allowed back in.

 

Obviously I have looked at other options but my clients would not deal with an iglu type company and I can't really go through a company of my own because I don't need any employees.

[sotonowl]

Surely there's ways of keeping your whereabouts a secret from the tax people at home. Like you're continuously on the move.

[robblok]

Unless they start checking income i doubt it would happen. Yes your home country could report but most dont do so as they have no clue of knowing if you actually pay taxes in Thailand.

 

I would not worry too much about this. Also as long as your not targeting the Thai market in most cases they dont care unless they are forced to act. But how the Thais will never find it unless you got a wife or gf that rats you out.

[bd2023]

3 hours ago, robblok said:

the Thais will never find it unless you got a wife or gf that rats you out.

I guess that could happen if there was a breakup. Or I might have to prove my income to the bank or something. It's still unlikely that I'd be found out by immigration, you're right, but what I need to figure out is what would happen if I was.

[lkn]

On 4/26/2023 at 11:15 AM, bd2023 said:

It's still unlikely that I'd be found out by immigration, you're right, but what I need to figure out is what would happen if I was.

By remote work, I assume you’re sitting in your condo in front of a computer?

 

I don’t see how anyone in the immigration or labour department would find out about this.

 

Even if you have a bad breakup, what sort of actionable intel can your ex really give the authorities? I know of plenty of people who work online here, but it would be near impossible for me to prove it, even searching their laptops would not necessarily make it clear that work was done while they were in Thailand.

[metisdead]

As you have now cross posted in the correct forum:

 

 

//Closed//