Short term volunteering; visas and work permits

[jnp73]

Hi,

A friend's son wants to come to Thailand to do a few weeks volunteering teaching English. The volunteering company has said it's ok to come over on the tourist visa or on a visa-exempt basis and not bother with a work permit. My understanding is that it is necesssary to have a volunteer visa and get a work permit, even for a few weeks. The company has said noone checks and not to worry about getting official paperwork. Does anyone have anyknowledge, experience or advice on this?

[NativeBob]

Quote

volunteering teaching English

Teach English for free? How noble of him!

As long as there're no money involved - otherwise WP and proper visa required. Don't try to outsmart local immigration

[Will B Good]

20 minutes ago, jnp73 said:

Hi,

A friend's son wants to come to Thailand to do a few weeks volunteering teaching English. The volunteering company has said it's ok to come over on the tourist visa or on a visa-exempt basis and not bother with a work permit. My understanding is that it is necesssary to have a volunteer visa and get a work permit, even for a few weeks. The company has said noone checks and not to worry about getting official paperwork. Does anyone have anyknowledge, experience or advice on this?

 

From the 'tinterweb.......but someone on here might be more clued up...

 

 

Working for free in Thailand can still violate immigration laws, even if you are not being paid. Thailand has strict regulations regarding work for foreign nationals, and “work” is broadly defined. According to the Thai authorities, “work” includes any activity where one engages in an occupation, trade, or profession, whether compensated or not. This means even volunteering or unpaid work could be considered illegal if you don’t have the appropriate visa or work permit.

 

Foreign nationals wishing to engage in any type of work in Thailand typically need a work permit, regardless of whether the work is paid or unpaid. If someone works without the necessary permit, they could face legal penalties, including fines, deportation, or being blacklisted from re-entering Thailand.

 

To stay within the law, it’s essential to ensure that you have the proper visa and work authorization before engaging in any work, including voluntary or charitable activities.

[DrJack54]

43 minutes ago, jnp73 said:

A friend's son wants to come to Thailand to do a few weeks volunteering teaching English.

"Few weeks" in other words coming most likely visa exempt and wants to work in a school. 

Surely you are aware of how insane that plan is.

Wouldn't have near any of my kids (if I had any) 

 

Consider google "Soi dog foundation" located Phuket.

They have easy options for volunteering..

Minimum period 2 days. 

[jnp73]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

"Few weeks" in other words coming most likely visa exempt and wants to work in a school. 

Surely you are aware of how insane that plan is.

Wouldn't have near any of my kids (if I had any) 

Hi. I'm not checking the sanity of the plan but the legality. Do you have advice on that?

 

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, jnp73 said:

Hi. I'm not checking the sanity of the plan but the legality. Do you have advice on that?

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/volunteer-teaching-english-to-underprivileged-children-in-bangkok

 

That's a link to article in Thaiger.

[jnp73]

Thanks. A useful article. 

[Tropicalevo]

 

This may not answer your questions but it shows what goes on.

 

A friend come to Thailand every year for three months.

He 'assists' at a local International school. ie he sits with the kids, one on one and they read to him from an English book.

He corrects their pronunciation, explains words and so on.

He does this for one or two days a week and sits somewhere away from the classroom.

He is not teaching. He is listening and helping.

He has done this for many years. No WP needed.

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

He corrects their pronunciation, explains words and so on.

Followed later by ...

10 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

He is not teaching. He is listening and helping.

Are you serious. 

 

[jnp73]

Thanks for that info

[Tropicalevo]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Followed later by ...

Are you serious. 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

This may not answer your questions but it shows what goes on.

 

[DrJack54]

Just now, Tropicalevo said:

This may not answer your questions but it shows what goes on.

Probably moreso in the boonies.

I just find it amazing that a farang can "volunteer" any assistance that deals with children ie schools in any role. 

 

[scorecard]

14 hours ago, NativeBob said:

Teach English for free? How noble of him!

As long as there're no money involved - otherwise WP and proper visa required. Don't try to outsmart local immigration

-Who is organizing the classes?

-Are they being paid to organize the classes?

-Are the classes organized by existing levels of capability?

-Who 'recruits' the students?

-Is the 'teacher' qualified?

-Is there are progressive testing?

-Who provides/pays for books / materials used?

 

 

[edwardflory]

The only volunteer that does not need a work permit is with a THAI GOVERNMENT PROGRAM - Royal or local.

A ID Card is issued by the govt agency and good ONLY doing the assigned "work'at a assigned location. I was required to have a long stay. Visa / Extension, in my case retirement

[bigt3116]

6 minutes ago, edwardflory said:

The only volunteer that does not need a work permit is with a THAI GOVERNMENT PROGRAM - Royal or local.

A ID Card is issued by the govt agency and good ONLY doing the assigned "work'at a assigned location. I was required to have a long stay. Visa / Extension, in my case retirement

 

Guessing this would be things like the Tourist police volunteers?

 

[edwardflory]

1 minute ago, bigt3116 said:

 

Guessing this would be things like the Tourist police volunteers?

 

Tourist Police yes - usually retirement. I also taught English under a program developed his late Royal Majesty Rama nine

[jnp73]

Thanks, edwardflory. So, work permit is needed - even for short term.

[edwardflory]

And proper visa!!

[john donson]

18 hours ago, jnp73 said:

Hi,

A friend's son wants to come to Thailand to do a few weeks volunteering teaching English. The volunteering company has said it's ok to come over on the tourist visa or on a visa-exempt basis and not bother with a work permit. My understanding is that it is necesssary to have a volunteer visa and get a work permit, even for a few weeks. The company has said noone checks and not to worry about getting official paperwork. Does anyone have anyknowledge, experience or advice on this?

 

you only need one jealous thai that think they are losing out on this freeby good doer

[Liquorice]

1 hour ago, jnp73 said:

Thanks, edwardflory. So, work permit is needed - even for short term.

Paid or unpaid, he would need a Non Imm O (volunteer) visa and work permit to be legal.

 

 Q:    An NGO in Thailand has invited me to go there and work for them

as a volunteer for 45 days during my school break. I will not earn

any money in Thailand. I am a Belgian college student in Brussels. 

I understand that I do not need a visa, do I? 

 

A:    Although you will work as a volunteer, you do need a Non-Immigrant visa as well as the Work Permit. The NGO must be legally registered with the Thai authority, and that you need a recommendation letter from the NGO for your visa application and the Work Permit. 

   https://www.mfa.go.th/en/publicservice/questions-answers-on-thai-visa?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c30600068d3      

[Liverpool Lou]

18 hours ago, jnp73 said:

Hi. I'm not checking the sanity of the plan but the legality. Do you have advice on that?

 

His plan would make him illegal... that is factual and is the advice that he needs and that you're asking for.      Whether he would ever be checked is a different matter and no one can give you "advice" based on others' opinions.

[Liquorice]

18 hours ago, jnp73 said:

The company has said noone checks and not to worry about getting official paperwork. Does anyone have anyknowledge, experience or advice on this?

The company isn't at risk of being fined, held in IDC, deported, and possibly banned.

Should he choose to proceed on the conditions outlined, he would be termed as working illegally.
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

[Liverpool Lou]

17 hours ago, jnp73 said:

Thanks. A useful article. 

But it conveniently omitted to mention the subject that you are specifically asking about!

 

[Liverpool Lou]

17 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

This may not answer your questions but it shows what goes on.

 

A friend come to Thailand every year for three months.

He 'assists' at a local International school. ie he sits with the kids, one on one and they read to him from an English book.

He corrects their pronunciation, explains words and so on.

He does this for one or two days a week and sits somewhere away from the classroom.

He is not teaching. He is listening and helping.

He has done this for many years. No WP needed.

"No WP needed".

Doubtless confirmed by the Labour Department and the Immigration Bureau, yes?

 

17 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

He 'assists' at a local International school. ie he sits with the kids, one on one and they read to him from an English book.

He corrects their pronunciation, explains words and so on.

 

17 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

He is not teaching.

Oh yes, he is.

[Goethe]

You may not "volunteer" in Thailand in any capacity without the requisite documents. 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

His plan would make him illegal... that is factual and is the advice that he needs and that you're asking for.      Whether he would ever be checked is a different matter and no one can give you "advice" based on others' opinions.

 

Don't assume that NGO organizations or gov't offices / ministries / agencies are fully informed / are experts re visas and work permits, they aren't. But that doesn't stop them from making statements on such subjects, usually wrong.

 

My own example, during the process to get my Thai Social Security (SSO) Injury and SIckness benefits continued after I retired. 

 

I showed them my pink Thai ID card. SSO regional senior asked how I got the pink card.

 

I responded ' because i have Thai Permanent Residence'. He responded 'there's no such thing so this card is a fake. 

[Dan O]

22 hours ago, NativeBob said:

Teach English for free? How noble of him!

As long as there're no money involved - otherwise WP and proper visa required. Don't try to outsmart local immigration

Nope,  volunteering requires a permit regardless of whether you are paid or not. Thats why they call it volunteering

[BaanOz]

2 hours ago, Goethe said:

You may not "volunteer" in Thailand in any capacity without the requisite documents. 

 

Surely it would be rare (if ever) for a foreigner to be trouble for joining a team to pick up rubbish off a beach, walk dogs at the Soi Dog Foundation or volunteer to paint the in-laws house?

[DrJack54]

5 page thread re "volunteering" here

https://aseannow.com/topic/1299046-not-working-just-helping-the-wife/

[gomangosteen]

For all the talk and faux hysteria, can anyone direct me to a confirmed incident of a person being prosecuted  for volunteering? Ever? Anything from the last 20 years will suffice, I can't recall one.

 

Fined, imprisoned, deported, waterboarded, blacklisted any proven example will do. Even a jolly good official telling off will do.

 

Organisation I've supported has for many years a continual flow of volunteers through an international organisation; up to four at a time, three weeks minimum and usually six. They arrive visa-exempt. Housed and fed in exchange for 25hrs/week.  Nothing 'hidden' they're welcomed on a community-wide Facebook page. 

 

Daughter is at uni now, I was available as a parent helper all throughout her years at the local school. Should I confess, turn myself in?