Expat's Partner/wife Work Permit?

[Gary77]

Hi There

We are a married Australian Couple (28 yrs old). I have just been offered an Expat Job in Bangkok. We will really appreciate if someone can answer the following question as this will really help us to make a decision:

- My wife is in IT. Will she be allowed to work on a dependant Visa or can she look for a Job once we are in Bangkok and then apply for workers Permit? Is it possible? Can you suggest any job websites

Thanks for your time in advance

Regards

Gary

[Ajarn]

I don't think there are any special provisions for married folks when it comes to Work Permits, so she would need her own visa, either a tourist visa, or a non-immmigrant visa. If she gets a job, she can change her visa at immigration, if needed, then get apply for a WP...

I'm just thinking, so maybe someone else is knowing

[samran]

You might be a guinea pig on this one. The text of the recently signed Australia-Thailand free trade agreement allows partners of Australian expats who are professionals to either (I can't remember which one) work without a work permit or easily get a work permit if they intend to work in their proffession.

You'll have to do a bit of research at www.dfat.gov.au where the text is located, but it is there.

As for process, I am not sure that the thai government even knows what to do with this clause, but the text of the FTA has been ratified by both parliaments.

[Oleg_Rus]

I had this question few months ago. the answer is no. she is dependant,and hear visa states she's not allowed to work. period.

[Indo-Siam]

Hi Gary –

Here is the CORRECT information.

In order for you to obtain a work permit, you will first need to obtain a non-immigrant visa, and then a non-immigrant entry permit. You will presumably obtain this non-immigrant visa on the basis of an employment letter and company document packet – and you will be applying for a Class B non-immigrant visa.

What you should do is have your employer add to your employment/visa request letter a request that your accompanying spouse also be issued a non-immigrant visa. You then submit her passport along with yours, to the Thai diplomatic post where you apply for your visa. You will receive a Class B visa – she will receive a Class O visa, as accompanying spouse.

You both now enter Thailand, and receive 90 day initial entry permits. You are now each eligible to apply for a work permit (do not listen to anyone who tells you that a Class O visa is not suitable to apply for a work permit – it is absolutely routine for a work permit to be issued against a Class O entry permit).

But – you can only obtain work permit if sponsored by a qualifying Thai employer – and employer with tax and VAT registrations, and (in the case of you two) at least 2,000,000 baht registered capital. And – that employer must withhold personal income tax each month, from the salary stated in the work permit application. So – your wife needs to find a Thai employer – or create her own company, and work for that company.

And – any initial work permit issued will only be valid for as long as a person’s entry permit is valid. So – all initial work permits expire in less than 90 days. To get a longer work permit, you need an entry permit extension – and to sponsor such an extension, an employer must meet higher standards – 2,000,000 baht paid-in capital, and four Thai employees, per each such extension sponsored.

Now, once you and your wife are inside Thailand, if your employer sponsors you for an employment-based entry permit extension, if your wife’s passport accompanies yours, then you both get matching extensions – hers being based on YOUR employer situation. With this extended Class O visa, she can now obtain a matching work permit - as long as she has a Thai employer.

Good luck!

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

[samran]

Just further to my previous post, i was wrong.

The automatic granting of work rights for intra-company spouses has only been set aside as a future negotiation point, and it is not part of the current FTA package.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/...e_benefits.html

so I'd go with Indo-siam's advice

Edited May 23, 2005 by samran