Can anybody tell me whether it is possible to legally work in Thailand as a freelance writer/ journalist publishing work in the Kingdom and beyond without setting up a company???

Short answer: No, you cannot legally work here as an unattached individual.

Working here legally means having a work permit. Awork permit must be sponsored by a Thai employer. Employer must be registered for VAT, and must be able to document 2,000,000 baht registered capital for each work permit sponsored.

There are exceptions that apply to teachers working at schools - but the schools still need to meet qualifying standards to sponsor work permits.

Effectively, the only way to legally "freelance" is to set up your own personal company here.

Cheers!

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

Short answer:  No, you cannot legally work here as an unattached individual.

Working here legally means having a work permit.  Awork permit must be sponsored by a Thai employer.  Employer must be registered for VAT, and must be able to document 2,000,000 baht registered capital for each work permit sponsored.

There are exceptions that apply to teachers working at schools - but the schools still need to meet qualifying standards to sponsor work permits.

Effectively, the only way to legally "freelance" is to set up your own personal company here.

Cheers!

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

[email protected]

Thanks for your quick repsonse Steve. I was hoping that perhaps with Thailand's new Free Trade agreement with Australia that I could qualify for some special work permit arrangement as am doing the same work now as a freelancer that I formerly did with a work permit ie. promoting Thailand tourism to the world. Any ideas most appreciated!

www.thaistartup.com

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You might want to ask in the "visa" section about the process of applying for a Non-imm IM visa (media visa). Not too sure about the documentation requirements, but don't the like of Andrew Drummond work here essentially as "freelancers"?

SM