Hi Forum

I want to open an internet cafe with my wife just for something to do. I believe the only way to get a work permit is to make 80,000 a month. But isn't there anyway around this?

I want to do this the most legit way I can.

Could I also just get a volunteer visa? Would that work?

I know of around a dozen ex-pats over the last 10years or so, who have opened e-cafes - some of them out in rural locations, some in urban areas: none of them stayed at it, and all of them said they got tired of the prime clientale - kids playing online games!

In the begining when the internet was just starting to catch on in Thailand, and computers were still pricy, and the cost of a decent connection was still expensive, it was money maker.

But thats all changed now, and the net is only going to become more and more easily accessible and cheape for home-uses to invest in and setup - I'm not sure if e-cafes are viable anymore in Thailand, especially as stand alone businesses. Maybe different if there is a resturant or hair salon attached, but e-cafes take up retail space that more often than not can be used to generate better returns for the space taken up.

I know its not the question you asked, I'm just expressing an opinion - and for it worth, I could be completly wrong. In any event, I don't believe the 80k rule is strictly correct. What is important is that you get in touch with on of the several ex-pat companies around that specialise in giving advise on how to go about these things - check out the advertisers on ThaiVisa for a start: a phone call to or 2 to a few of them will give you a lot of info and help you to understand what to do and how to go about it properly.

On a different but related matter: getting your work permitt and structuring your assets and the money you invest in your business are 2 different matters. The forum is full of expats who fronted their business through their Thai partner, only because it appeared to be a short cut to satisfy legal requirements, and then lost the lot when the relationship broke down at some later point. Their are ways to structure your business and it's assets so that the investment is protected. Take advise professional advise on that as well.

As you said yourself - yes, keep it legit and don't settle for shortcuts.

All the best.

I know of around a dozen ex-pats over the last 10years or so, who have opened e-cafes - some of them out in rural locations, some in urban areas: none of them stayed at it, and all of them said they got tired of the prime clientale - kids playing online games!

In the begining when the internet was just starting to catch on in Thailand, and computers were still pricy, and the cost of a decent connection was still expensive, it was money maker.

But thats all changed now, and the net is only going to become more and more easily accessible and cheape for home-uses to invest in and setup - I'm not sure if e-cafes are viable anymore in Thailand, especially as stand alone businesses. Maybe different if there is a resturant or hair salon attached, but e-cafes take up retail space that more often than not can be used to generate better returns for the space taken up.

I know its not the question you asked, I'm just expressing an opinion - and for it worth, I could be completly wrong. In any event, I don't believe the 80k rule is strictly correct. What is important is that you get in touch with on of the several ex-pat companies around that specialise in giving advise on how to go about these things - check out the advertisers on ThaiVisa for a start: a phone call to or 2 to a few of them will give you a lot of info and help you to understand what to do and how to go about it properly.

On a different but related matter: getting your work permitt and structuring your assets and the money you invest in your business are 2 different matters. The forum is full of expats who fronted their business through their Thai partner, only because it appeared to be a short cut to satisfy legal requirements, and then lost the lot when the relationship broke down at some later point. Their are ways to structure your business and it's assets so that the investment is protected. Take advise professional advise on that as well.

As you said yourself - yes, keep it legit and don't settle for shortcuts.

All the best.

one cannot get a better overview than this one offered here. no matter what, protect your investments n beware of fall-outs with partner/s. yes, keep everything legit too, as suggested.

Op who would be sitting in the cafe 12 hours per day for a few bht profit? you or you wife