Hello,

If you are a foreigner that has recently married to a Thai citizen, I need your help!

I am from Hong Kong and am getting married to a thai citizen this year and would like to ask what I can do in Thailand after the marriage. Can I work in Thailand or do I need to apply for a separate work visa to work?

If I want to work, do I need to know how to speak and write fluent Thai? For job interviews, are they conducted in English or in Thai?

Also, did you ship all your personal belongings from your home country to Thailand? Do we get tax-free shipping within some certain periods after the registration of marriage?

There are so many uncertainties for me!

Thank you!

Stephanie

Hi Stephanie, welcome to the forum!

marrying a Thai man only means you get the one year extension a little easier. But, you must get a work permit (you can do so on a married to Thai non-o visa however)

i did ship sentimental stuff, but it was years ago and we just paid the guy a small "fee" to let my box of stuff in. Best to check around about exemptions, i don't think you get any tbh.

Being married to a Thai citizen will not have any effect on your ability to work here; you will always need to have a proper visa (non immigrant type "O" usually) + a work permit. You can get the visa in your own country once married (they will give you the visa when you can show you're married to a Thai). The work permit will need to be arranged by your employer (and will only be valid for that specific job).

Keep in mind that working in Thailand (find a job etc) is not something you should take to lightly. Finding a job an English teacher is usually quite easy (not sure for Asians though), anything else becomes quite difficult, especially if you don't have any connections here.

I suggest reading around here on the forums, most questions you have have been answered many times already.

Best of luck!

Besides having another option to obtain a visa (non-immigrant "O"), based upon marriage, there aren't many benifits of being married to a Thai national (outside of the marriage itself).

To work you need to follow the same rules as everyone else that is not a Thai national. Which means - yes, you do need to have a work permit if you want to work in Thailand.

Do you need to know who to speak and write Thai? Depends on the job.

Job interviews - in English or Thai? Depends on the job.

Speaking, reading, writing Thai will open more doors for you, but is by no means required to have a life here in Thailand.

I moved from Tokyo to Thailand. Brought basic personal belongings - clothes, books, CD's, laptop, etc. But no large bits - no car, no furniture, etc.

As far as I know only Thai nationals are eleigible for any form of duty free shipping - and only if they have lived outside the country and are now returning to Thailand.

Regarding the work, it all depends on what job you're looking for. I'd imagine you'd want a job where speaking Thai was not necessary. Therefore, the interview could be in English. You would most likely need an advanced degree to work in, say, academia, teaching at the university level and perhaps at the secondary level in an international school. If you're a non-native Thai speaker, there's no point working in a job that a Thai person could do because you're language skills would put you at a distinct disadvantage. Besides, you wouldn't be eligible for a work permit if (in theory) the job could be done by a Thai.

What is your education level and in what field?