Starting Small Food Store In Thailand

[KhunHay]

To Whom it May Concern,

I am a Singaporean age 40yrs old. I have the intention to rent a sidewalk shop in Bangkok selling food. I intention to stay there but have no idea how to get the permit for such intention. I tried looking online but mostl work permit topics refers to job employment by big company or transfer by their company as expat.

My questions are as below:

1) How can i obtain a work permit as partner of the food stall?

2) What are the documents that i need to proof to the authority?

3) Is there a minimum earning that my business required to qualify a work permit?

4) Can i apply the work permit in Singapore before my departure?

5) Will it be possible an estimation of the fees that required to get thing done?

I am very much appreciative of your reply and thank you in advance for your sincere helps.

Wish you have a nice day everyday.

Hay...the very much lost person

[whatchamacallit]

I don't know much about setting up a business here.... I hope other's will help you.

I used to live in Singapore from mid 70 to early 80 - back then they still allow the car park nightly open-air dining - I miss the following dishes sooo much lah:

1. Roti Pratha

2. Nasi Lemak

3. Chilli Crab

4. Mee hon goreng

5. Singapore noodle

6. Nonya and babah food

7. Sate with peanut sauce

if and when your sidewalk food shop opens here in Thailand (Bangkok?) - be sure to let me know

Good luck

Edited May 16, 2010 by whatchamacallit

[Colabamumbai]

You will not get a work permit to do that as an individual. Find a good Thai woman and have it in her name is the easiest way.

[Mario2008]

Starting abusiness in Thailand is not easy, also there are several jobs you are not allowed to perform.

This is a site where you can find some more information:

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

[KhunHay]

You will not get a work permit to do that as an individual. Find a good Thai woman and have it in her name is the easiest way.

Thx for your advise. I have a thai girl firend which i wanted to run the business. That why i needed a work permit to stay there with her. Must i own the shop? It kind of difficult to get good location, we scan around and found that we can only rent the shop. So do you think there is still possibile to apply for work permit? If i and my thai girl friend registered for marriage, will there be easier?

[KhunHay]

I don't know much about setting up a business here.... I hope other's will help you.

I used to live in Singapore from mid 70 to early 80 - back then they still allow the car park nightly open-air dining - I miss the following dishes sooo much lah:

1. Roti Pratha

2. Nasi Lemak

3. Chilli Crab

4. Mee hon goreng

5. Singapore noodle

6. Nonya and babah food

7. Sate with peanut sauce

if and when your sidewalk food shop opens here in Thailand (Bangkok?) - be sure to let me know

Good luck

Thanks for your support in advance. Will post here if i manage to open after confirming my work permit. Your luck blessing is appreciated.

[KhunHay]

Starting abusiness in Thailand is not easy, also there are several jobs you are not allowed to perform.

Thanks for your website. I saw it prohibited on List 3 "Sales of Food & Beverage". Does that mean all Food & Beverage in BKK are all strictly own by Thais only? If there any loop hole that i can probably try? Do you think Thai Embassy in Singapore will bother to entertain if i drop by?

[fredob43]

Starting abusiness in Thailand is not easy, also there are several jobs you are not allowed to perform.

Thanks for your website. I saw it prohibited on List 3 "Sales of Food & Beverage". Does that mean all Food & Beverage in BKK are all strictly own by Thais only? If there any loop hole that i can probably try? Do you think Thai Embassy in Singapore will bother to entertain if i drop by?

Answer's to some question's

1 Can you own a food shop NO

2 Are there any loop hole's NO

3 Embassy in S/P dont waste your time

4 If you marry your G/F and have 400000 bt in Thai bank you can get a yearly one. Not work

5 If your over 50 and have 800000 bt in Thai bank you dont have to be married. To get a yearly one. not work

other than that your buggerd.

Edited May 16, 2010 by fredob43

[lopburi3]

That is total nonsense - those married to a Thai are always eligible for non immigrant O visa entry and KL will provide multi entry with proof of 100k in a bank account so that provides annual stay with only a border crossing every 90 days. I suspect even Singapore would provide such a visa to a national of Singapore.

The issue will be work and shopkeeper would likely not fly. Now if you were the foreign purchasing agent or such there might be loopholes available. But you will likely have to consult a law firm to find/exploit them.

Perhaps it would be better to plan your life in Singapore?

[jazzbo]

You might try looking at this American owned restaurant as a model:

http://www.bourbonstbkk.com/texxan_co.html

[KhunHay]

Thanks for your website. I saw it prohibited on List 3 "Sales of Food & Beverage". Does that mean all Food & Beverage in BKK are all strictly own by Thais only? If there any loop hole that i can probably try? Do you think Thai Embassy in Singapore will bother to entertain if i drop by?

Answer's to some question's

1 Can you own a food shop NO

2 Are there any loop hole's NO

3 Embassy in S/P dont waste your time

4 If you marry your G/F and have 400000 bt in Thai bank you can get a yearly one. Not work

5 If your over 50 and have 800000 bt in Thai bank you dont have to be married. To get a yearly one. not work

other than that your buggerd.

So it seems that it offer no help me get a work permit even when i and my thai gf got married.

It also seems that the journey to obtain legitimate documents to live and work in Thailand with the person i love is harder than i thought.

I just planning to live a less pacy life in her home town than what i am having here in Singapore to stress my brain out. Life is not all about achieving number 1 as what my government wanted.

[KhunHay]

That is total nonsense - those married to a Thai are always eligible for non immigrant O visa entry and KL will provide multi entry with proof of 100k in a bank account so that provides annual stay with only a border crossing every 90 days. I suspect even Singapore would provide such a visa to a national of Singapore.

The issue will be work and shopkeeper would likely not fly. Now if you were the foreign purchasing agent or such there might be loopholes available. But you will likely have to consult a law firm to find/exploit them.

Perhaps it would be better to plan your life in Singapore?

If only you can help me clear the doubts:

1)So only those who are married is eligible to apply the O visa?

2)I read on other threads here saying that applicant must have supporting letter of invitation by the friend you know and image of their ID card. Is this true?

3) So what will be the criterias to obtain a work permit other than being relocate by firms, starts really huge investment & being engage by local firm. My gf & i just want a simple life.

I wish to plan my life in Singapore but i would also like to avoid being force to work till 85 years old. Everything is expensive, fast, demanding....people here just dont know what is life. Work work work till we die here in Singapore because your whole life is indebt to housing. That excluding starting a family. I would love to stya in Singapore if only i am firlty rich like the MP (million dollar salary).

[moe666]

My Thai girlfriend says if you want to lose money in Thailand open a street stall.

[KhunHay]

My Thai girlfriend says if you want to lose money in Thailand open a street stall.

Each and every business has it risk. It depends on what product you sells, who & how it is manage. Anyway, thx for your concern.