Is This Considered Work?

[tt61]

I have a friend who is a photographer. He is going to Thailand to do some photo shoots of people. He sometimes is made to pay in order to be allowed to take a picture (people, buildings etc.) as in many other countries. He will then return home and publish these photos in a travel book he is making.

My question is, does this constitute as work? In my opinion working in Thailand means actually gaining some sort of revenue for services rendered. This guy will not make any money in Thailand, only when he gets home and after the book is published.

As far as I interpret the law he will be doing nothing more in Thailand that the average tourist taking pictures. Only difference is he will profit from them after, but surely this has nothing to do with Thailand and Thai law, or...?

Can he do what he intends coming in on a tourist visa?

Cheers

[Jingthing]

I can't imagine any reason for him to make any official gestures unless he travels with so much professional gear that he is going to make a spectacle of himself.

[jdinasia]

Actually ... yes it is work. Thailand does not require any payment at all to have somthing considered work and require a WP

that being said ... nobody will know or care

[tt61]

Well, being a pro photographer he will carry a sizeable bag with camera gear. He could probably just go on a tourist visa and nobody will notice, but it would be interesting from a legal standpoint if this is considered work according to Thai law?

Only difference between him and a regular tourist is that he will have to pay some people to get the desired photos, but since this is paying and not receiving I cannot see how that could be interpreted as work in a legal sense. Perhaps I'm wrong. More comments please.

[Tony Clifton]

I think it is considered work but sure is way less obvious than running a noodle stand downtown BKK.

[kiakaha]

In my opinion working in Thailand means actually gaining some sort of revenue for services rendered.

Your opinion is not the law, the law is the law. Even non-thai volunteers need work permits.

[

As far as I interpret the law he will be doing nothing more in Thailand that the average tourist taking pictures.

Cheers

Can you read thai fluently ? What is the origin of your interpretation ?

My advice, said person should just pretend to be an "average tourist", as you put it. I doubt getting a Non Immigrant category "M" visa (for media personnel) would be worth the hassle, let alone getting a work permit and tax id, if even feasible for this individual's situation.

[Oleg_Rus]

In my opinion working in Thailand means actually gaining some sort of revenue for services rendered.

Your opinion is not the law, the law is the law. Even non-thai volunteers need work permits.

[

As far as I interpret the law he will be doing nothing more in Thailand that the average tourist taking pictures.

Cheers

Can you read thai fluently ? What is the origin of your interpretation ?

My advice, said person should just pretend to be an "average tourist", as you put it. I doubt getting a Non Immigrant category "M" visa (for media personnel) would be worth the hassle, let alone getting a work permit and tax id, if even feasible for this individual's situation.

He doesn't have to lie, pretend or act as someone who is not.

Consider tourist at Alcazar show paying trans's 100 baht to get a pic, and so

Work or no work, sitting in the early hours in the beer bar - NOT work, but with notebook running forex site - is Work.

pls, give him a break. Whatever you do is in the hands of officer with 2bit education from village school.

[sriracha john]

Strictly speaking, he is working in Thailand, which would necessitate a non-B visa and work permit.

Occupation: Photographer

Work Involved: Taking Photographs

Place of Work: Thailand

----------

but, he should be able to slide through without either.

[TAWP]

It's not work if he is here as a tourist and takes pictures and first when he is home decides to use them in his book...