8 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Can felangs stay indefinitely in Wats and do they do TM30's ?

Are they required to work and if so, how many hours a day work are required ?

Are working visas provided ?

it used to be that you could apply for education visa, and that also included living as a monk iirc

40 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Can felangs stay indefinitely in Wats and do they do TM30's ?

Are they required to work and if so, how many hours a day work are required ?

Are working visas provided ?

Yes farlangs can stay indefinitely in wats if they become monks, otherwise it's a brief stay.

Farlang monks have to apply for annual visas and presumably TM30s in order to stay as a monk in Thailand.

Farlang monks do get duties/work in wats same as Thai monks.

I don't believe farlang monks need a work permit to do their duties in a wat.

If you're interested, visit a wat and ask, or you can listen to Phra Pandit (a uk national) on past episodes of Bangkok Podcast - he's really worth listening to.

On 12/28/2025 at 12:00 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Could you post the videos up ?

Here you go!

A video I watched last night, posted online very recently, in which farlang bike tourists stay in different wats (3 or 4 stays).

On 1/6/2026 at 2:18 AM, Bredbury Blue said:

Here you go!

A video I watched last night, posted online very recently, in which farlang bike tourists stay in different wats (3 or 4 stays).

I rest my case M'Lud!

On 12/26/2025 at 12:09 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

But can anyone just walk into any temple and stay and eat for free ?

Anyone ever done it 

I've stayed at no charge in a temple for a few days with my family. We were attending a short (non-religious) course being held in the grounds. All of our group erected tents indoors in a large communal hall and our food was cooked by our group. We had use of toilets and showers and sockets to charge phones, etc. It was basic but it was fit-for-purpose and we were grateful.

I have also heard a few times that the temples will never turn anyone away.

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

I've stayed at no charge in a temple for a few days with my family. We were attending a short (non-religious) course being held in the grounds. All of our group erected tents indoors in a large communal hall and our food was cooked by our group. We had use of toilets and showers and sockets to charge phones, etc. It was basic but it was fit-for-purpose and we were grateful.

I have also heard a few times that the temples will never turn anyone away.

I rest my case M'Lud

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

I've stayed at no charge in a temple for a few days with my family. We were attending a short (non-religious) course being held in the grounds. All of our group erected tents indoors in a large communal hall and our food was cooked by our group. We had use of toilets and showers and sockets to charge phones, etc. It was basic but it was fit-for-purpose and we were grateful.

I have also heard a few times that the temples will never turn anyone away.

But you wasn't homeless, was you .

You went to the Temple for a specific reason .

I was asking about homeless people being able to stay in Temples , not people visiting Temples for festivals

On 12/26/2025 at 12:09 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

Its often been claimed that anyone can sleep and eat at a Temple for free of they are down on their luck .

Is that true or is it a  myth ?

I expect it has happened previously when Monks are sympathetic and  have a spare bed for the night .

But can anyone just walk into any temple and stay and eat for free ?

Anyone ever done it 

Rather than being so belligerent to people here that are trying to answer your question, why don't you ask a monk or go to a temple yourself and inquire? Then you will have first-hand information, and can report back here so we will all know. Unless, of course, you're just enjoying being belligerent.

28 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

But you wasn't homeless, was you .

You went to the Temple for a specific reason .

I was asking about homeless people being able to stay in Temples , not people visiting Temples for festivals

Just trying to help.

3 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Rather than being so belligerent to people here that are trying to answer your question, why don't you ask a monk or go to a temple yourself and inquire? Then you will have first-hand information, and can report back here so we will all know. Unless, of course, you're just enjoying being belligerent.

3 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Rather than being so belligerent to people here that are trying to answer your question, why don't you ask a monk or go to a temple yourself and inquire? Then you will have first-hand information, and can report back here so we will all know. Unless, of course, you're just enjoying being belligerent.

What makes you say that I am being "belligerent" ?

I haven't been belligerent at all .

I was asking about the general situation in Thailand , myself going to few local temples will not give a comprehensive answer

On 12/30/2025 at 4:45 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Yes, I did read it .

She answered about Thai Nationals .

Can you ask her what about non Thais ?

Can  any homeless person walk into any Temple and get fed and be given a room to stay in ?

How would a foreign homeless person get in the country? Some Buddhist from the area, maybe not Cambodia, would probably not have a problem being welcomed.

Back in the late 1970s, I made several short trips to Thailand, basically backpacking around different regions of Thailand, and often found myself in small towns in late afternoons. I would find a local temple and ask permission to stay for a night - I was never denied permission. I was always given a small space to sleep in and provided with food and water. I always made a small donation to the temple when I departed the following day or two later. I never encountered a rejection,and always ensured that I did not smoke, drink alcohol or behave inappropriately while at the temple.

I’ve put up quite a few homeless girls in the past and always helped them on their way the morning after with a thousand baht note.

On 12/26/2025 at 12:09 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

Its often been claimed that anyone can sleep and eat at a Temple for free of they are down on their luck .

Is that true or is it a  myth ?

I expect it has happened previously when Monks are sympathetic and  have a spare bed for the night .

But can anyone just walk into any temple and stay and eat for free ?

Anyone ever done it 

I attended 'monk talk' at wat chedi luang in CM once, when having relationship problems with my Thai gf. I asked the monks what to do, and their reply was, they were there because they couldn't cope with Thai women either, and invited me to join them for a week or two.

No obligation on my part required, no need to shave my head.

In short No, It's not the Salvation Army.
I stayed in a Temple for five days and from my experience it's hard.
You need to speak Thai or have a Thai with you
You have to adapt to temple life;
Wear appropriate clothing (white or soft colours without logos),
get up at 3am for prayers,
after prayers you clean the temple,
7am breakfast,
8-12 meditation,
12 dinner,
1pm-4 meditation,
4 prayers,
7pm clean temple, then bed, sleeping on a rug on the floor.
My girlfriend took me and although we slept in the same room, there is no touching, not even when passing a plate to her. I donated because I could as I am not destitute. As everyone was wearing the same I could not identidy if anyone was rich or poor.
Having said all this, I'd jump at the opportunity to do this again.
5 days No Alcohol, no eating after midday, early nights and early starts, came out feeling cleansed inside and out.

7 hours ago, Alidiver said:

no eating after midday

Those monks in the forest wats eat just once a day, that's tough.

On 1/16/2026 at 7:53 PM, placnx said:

How would a foreign homeless person get in the country?

Can become homeless after arriving in Thailand .

Mrs takes your house, go on the lash for few month spending all your money , next thing you know you re on skid row ,