Thinking Of Moving To Thailand

[rich06]

I am currently a Europe based freelance web developer and I am thinking of moving to Thailand as I loved the country when I was backpacking there many years ago and am getting very frustrated with the bureaucracy and high taxes here.

Basically the plan was for me and my family (wife and 10yo girl) to move out there and get a place to live and once settled I would continue working from my new home with my existing clients (all US or Europe based) via the internet.

I had a look at the 'restricted jobs' list that is banned to foreigners and it didn't seem to include web development so I think I'm OK for that restriction. Would I need to set up a partnership with a Thai? I am from the UK and I believe foreigner sole proprietorship is restricted to US citizens... Would I get a work permit for this type of activity and what would be the tax position? Is this scenario feasible?

Sorry lots of questions!

Thanks for any replies, tips or pointers to other resources on this subject.

Cheers

Rich

[Tommy89]

Hi my friend,

this is possible I'm starting as a SEO consultant, and will be moving next year to thailand, same as you I have 9 year contracts

[ubonjoe]

I am currently a Europe based freelance web developer and I am thinking of moving to Thailand as I loved the country when I was backpacking there many years ago and am getting very frustrated with the bureaucracy and high taxes here.

Basically the plan was for me and my family (wife and 10yo girl) to move out there and get a place to live and once settled I would continue working from my new home with my existing clients (all US or Europe based) via the internet.

I had a look at the 'restricted jobs' list that is banned to foreigners and it didn't seem to include web development so I think I'm OK for that restriction. Would I need to set up a partnership with a Thai? I am from the UK and I believe foreigner sole proprietorship is restricted to US citizens... Would I get a work permit for this type of activity and what would be the tax position? Is this scenario feasible?

Sorry lots of questions!

Thanks for any replies, tips or pointers to other resources on this subject.

Cheers

Rich

In order to get a long term visa/extension for Thailand will require forming a company which will require a minimum of 4 Thai emplyees to get 1 work permit. This can be a long and expensive process.

The process is the same for all nationalities.

If you can find a company to work with or for here then it can be done and is the only way around this.

Without a work permit the only visa/extension you can get is a tourist visa which will let you stay for 60 plus another 30 days by getting an extension at immigration. If you get a 2 entry visa you would leave after 90 days and return for another 90 days and after 180 days you would have to go get another visa.

Also you can go to school and get a visa/extension if you want to go that route.

Of course without a work permit you cannot legally work in Thailand.

[PoorSucker]

Take contact with lawyer like sunbelt (ThaiVisa sponsor)

They can set up you with all legal stuff.

Where are you planning to stay.

With a 10y old daughter off course you have found a good school already.

[QED]

In order to get a long term visa/extension for Thailand will require forming a company which will require a minimum of 4 Thai emplyees to get 1 work permit. This can be a long and expensive process.

The process is the same for all nationalities.

If you can find a company to work with or for here then it can be done and is the only way around this.

Without a work permit the only visa/extension you can get is a tourist visa which will let you stay for 60 plus another 30 days by getting an extension at immigration. If you get a 2 entry visa you would leave after 90 days and return for another 90 days and after 180 days you would have to go get another visa.

Also you can go to school and get a visa/extension if you want to go that route.

Of course without a work permit you cannot legally work in Thailand.

Sorry Ubonjoe, but my advice to the OP would be to ignore the above post.

Many people work here over the internet without work permits or taxation. Yes it is officially illegal, but unless you plan to open an office, which I assume you are not, then you will never get busted as someone working on his PC at home.

Brace yourself for the naysayers - yes you are taking a risk, but it is miniscule. You are an individual sat infront of a computer in his house, the same as 90% of the world population at some point each day.

Tax wise you will need to declare yourself non-resident in the UK, and preferably have your money sent there, as well as any correspondence which can be forwarded. A Thai address does not go down well in the business world. Due to the above a VPS or proxy would be advisable too.

As for visas, as a UK citizen you can get a 12 month multi entry non immigrant 'O' visa from the Hull consulate by post - you will need to do border runs every 90 days, but this will be good for 15 months, after which you just go back to the UK and get another. Your reason for coming to Thailand on the form is visiting friends. Not sure about your daughter, I would give Hull a ring and ask about that one, but if you and your wife are both coming here I am sure there is some provision for kids.

Good luck, just go for it - trust me you will never look back.

[Mario2008]

It is good practise to state the leagl point of view, in which Ubonjoe is right. OP might do it illegaly and their might not be much risk involved, but if found out the consequences would be serious. Further it would give OP les certainty to keep on going on tourist visa's and maybe multiple non-O's based on visiting friends. It is the quewstion if one would move together to Thailand based on that.

However when the child goes to school the child can get an educational visa and one parrent can get a dependent visa based on that.