Hello, New To The Site And New To Making A 'move' To Thailand

[larneylee]

Hello,

I am new to the process of finding out about immigration or a visa to buy, own and run a business in Thailand. I have just recently read some information with regards visas etc; however, being at the early stages right now, trying to get the info to make sense and sink in is taking time. I was wondering whether or not someone could advise me as to what the process may involve. In brief; I am currently living in the UK and I am seriously considering buying a business in Thailand within the new year. I am traveling to Thailand over Jan 2009 on a scouting trip and I would like to have some information to hand with regards the whole process.

I look forward to any information that may be of help.

Lee

[astral]

You do not say how long your scouting trip will be.

A Tourist visa will allow you to stay for 60 days.

For a longer trip a double entry Tourist Visa will give you 60 + 60 days,

you will need to leave Thailand at the end of the first 60 days and then come back in again.

This border run can be done all in the same day.

If you want longer than 4 months, then the multi-entry Non Immigrant O Visa from the consulate in Hull

is the best option. With this one you can stay for a year, doing border runs every 90 days.

Do you speak the Thai language?

How much experience do you have of the country?

I see you only joined the ThaiVisa forum today.

I suggest you do a lot of reading in the forum, particularly look at the Business section

but there is a wealth of information, and members willing to offer help.

Running a business in Thailand is not an easy matter.

There are many people out there just looking for the opportunity to rip off the un-suspecting.

The exchange rates make investment in less attractive at the moment

and also offer considerable risks

[Lite Beer]

There is lots of info on here if you search for it.

Here is one thread.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Buying-Busin...buying+business

[Mario2008]

Have a look here:

http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/legal_iss...n_investors.asp

[torrenova]

Assuming the OP is not talking about a mega business here then let's not complicate matters.

You can buy or start a business without any visa. What you cannot do is work in it. So, if you had a bar, you could own the bar but not pour a beer if you see what I mean.

Now if you want to work, then you will have to get a multiple entry non immigrant visa (O or from Hull prior to arriving. You would then, after jumping through lots of red tape hoops, be able to get a work permit and thus work, albeit not within a restricted occupation.

Basically, to get a WP, you will have to set up a company and pay about 1-2m baht into it for fully paid up shares. This is largely to show the authorities that your company can pay you your high foreign salary for at least the first year.

Company costs here are ludicrous compared to the UK (way OTT prices) and the hoops to jump through are much greater in number. For instance, you can run a UK company for about £20 per annum.

You'll have to pay yourself say 30k or more a month. They sometimes like to see 50k a month. That means your tax on 50k, the company side on 50k, setting up for VAT, complying with their stupid rules and paperwork and that basically means accountancy fees each month. Then you cannot really own more than 49% of the company ! There are ways around this but not 100% legal if they wanted to press the matter.

You also have to employ a certain number of Thais for each WP. You have to pay their salaries, their insurance payments etc. which just adds to the burden. All in all it is a right pain in the arse.

If you are just going to buy a small business then, though not advised by some, I advise you to forget about the company and WP and just concentrate on owning it and not working. If it grows then you can assess the need for you t become more hands on and see if the business can support the extra costs. They are in the hundreds of thousands of baht a year for most businesses.