Hope I'm in the right section. I'm interested in esoteric subjects such as Indian philosophy, Yoga, Buddhism and such and in my own country, ran courses for anyone who was interested, at my home. We might practice yoga or meditation and try DIY detoxes and herbal remedies. A whole lot of stuff. Nothing illegal that I'm aware of. It wasn't anything commercial just a group of enthusiasts.

I've just retired to LOS and would like to pick up where I left off, maybe creating another group, to stave off boredom mostly. Someone has warned me I could be in breach of immigration rules and that they might decide I'm working. I can't see that it I am but all the same I thought I would check. Can anyone enlighten me?

Also, if I decide it's nobody's business but my own and I'll do what I want in my own home, what would happen if someone decided to investigate me? Would they kick me out? Just warn me? Fine me? Force me to change my Visa status? Lock me up? Do they need some kind of legal paper to enter my home? If there is no money changing hands, no web site, no advertising, no other evidence besides someone's mischief-making, surely there is no case?

Sorry if this seems like paranoia but better to be safe than sorry. Would someone running the local ladies knitting circle and pooling their pennies to buy biscuits be 'working'?

In thailand you need a work permit even for volunteer work. In your case I don't know and it might depend on the official involved. Pure a meeting group without any numeration might be ok, but you want to run courses and teach.

You can find the regulations here.

MFA

Someone has warned me I could be in breach of immigration rules and that they might decide I'm working. I can't see that it I am but all the same I thought I would check. Can anyone enlighten me?

Also, if I decide it's nobody's business but my own and I'll do what I want in my own home, what would happen if someone decided to investigate me? Would they kick me out? Just warn me? Fine me? Force me to change my Visa status? Lock me up? Do they need some kind of legal paper to enter my home? If there is no money changing hands, no web site, no advertising, no other evidence besides someone's mischief-making, surely there is no case?

I believe I read somewhere that here in Thailand [and elsewhere] even 'Thinking' can be considered to be WORK. It is entirely up to the Investigator to decide, though eventually a Court would rule on it, if it ever got that far. In order to do ANY work legally in Thailand one needs the appropriate Work Permit and correct Visa. NO EXCEPTIONS !

Of course in practice lots of Foreigners here do 'work', of one kind or another and are left in peace. However I have seen with my own eyes how the 'Ministry' can swoop down on 'illegal foreign workers' [and I do NOT mean Burmese, they were White Collar Americans] and force them to CLOSE their operation. Following which they had to obtain the proper paperwork, and rumour has it 'compensate' the unexpected visitors.

In that instance it was an 'unlicenced language school', with a Westernised Buddhist 'Ashram' tacked on. Money was changing hands in both cases, and they were damned lucky not to get into serious trouble.

SO to directly answer your question; in my humble opinion you could be in trouble if anybody 'unfriendly' ever got wind of what you were doing and decided to take a negative attitude to it, or you. PLEASE NOTE: In some ways [in my opinion] Thailand is quite Chinese in that there is a 'system' of Informers who report to the authorities. Not as organised or 'Evil' as the old East German STASI, nor as formal as the 'building superintendents' the Chinese use to monitor everyone. BUT I assure you that in Thailand your neighbours [friendly or otherwise] are very curious about 'what you do', and will endlessly discuss you if there is anything 'unusual' going on. Mostly it is friendly gossip, but not always.

So, sure if you have 'friends over' and chat about 'the meaning of life' then you ought to be safe. But the slightest suggestion that you are 'Teaching' [rewarded or not] and you risk some kind of confrontation.

SORRY to seem negative 'daftasabrush', but I nearly fell into the same potential trap myself.

GOOD LUCK !

I just checked the Labour Ministry link.

“ Work ” means to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits.

This reads as if it is all-encompassing. Isn't offering advice on a forum 'using knowledge'. So do all the moderators have to have work permits to post?

I just checked the Labour Ministry link.

“ Work ” means to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits.

This reads as if it is all-encompassing. Isn't offering advice on a forum 'using knowledge'. So do all the moderators have to have work permits to post?

I have..