Business Visa Question

[preposterous]

Hello - I'm looking into having a small business in Thailand so I can do freelance/contract work and possibly hiring contractors in thailand for projects for internet work originating in Canada - all in the film & design industries.

Was wondering if you need to have a business established before coming to Thailand, then have it recognized when getting a Business visa, or if you can come into Thailand on a business, tourist or ED visa and start the business in Thailand ?

Any advice on what to do / the reality of grey areas/enforcement ?

Canadian citizen / 22 years old.

Thanks!

[lopburi3]

You can not do any work until you have a work permit from a Thai company but you can come here to invest/set up a Thai company. You will require the non immigrant B visa to obtain a work permit at some point if you intend to work but not for initial ground work.

[preposterous]

You can not do any work until you have a work permit from a Thai company but you can come here to invest/set up a Thai company. You will require the non immigrant B visa to obtain a work permit at some point if you intend to work but not for initial ground work.

Okay, so can I come on a non-business visa (ED or tourist visa) and once in Thailand, setup a business to do the work I'm describing?

[jazzbo]

If you have a legitimate business set-up in Canada -- stress legitimate -- and you come to Thailand to contract for services with existing Thai film and design companies (as opposed to just hiring individuals) then under the terms at "Foreigners who wish to conduct business in Thailand must provide the following documents" 2(2) you may not be required to either set-up a company in Thailand nor obtain a work permit but just come to Thailand under a Non-IMM 'B' visa obtained in Canada:

http://www.mfa.go.th...482.php?id=2492

[preposterous]

If you have a legitimate business set-up in Canada -- stress legitimate -- and you come to Thailand to contract for services with existing Thai film and design companies (as opposed to just hiring individuals) then under the terms at "Foreigners who wish to conduct business in Thailand must provide the following documents" 2(2) you may not be required to either set-up a company in Thailand nor obtain a work permit but just come to Thailand under a Non-IMM 'B' visa obtained in Canada:

http://www.mfa.go.th...482.php?id=2492

Good to know, thanks!

A few questions:

- How much enforcement is there of a legitimate/established business from a foreign country? I have a sole-proprietorship that earns a small income and has work expenses, but no employees, not incorporated/limited/registered - ie I don't have corporate taxes at all. I've read what documents they want when applying for a Non-IMM Business visa, but how much is this enforced if I can't provide all of them due to my business situation?

- Is it easy for Thai nationals to setup or work under a startup or sole-proprietorship company in Thailand? ie. if I wanted to hire Thais to do work, could I have them work under their own startup company that I contract for work? In Canada this is easy as you don't need to register a business to be considered self-employed legally.

[Mario2008]

If you want to work in Thailand you will need a work permit and for a work permit you will need to be employed by a Thai company. For a Thai company you will need Thai employees.

For the visa it will depend on the consulate you apply. I advise applying for the visa at a honorary consulate, they tend to be much friendlier than consulates and embassies.

[jazzbo]

Rather than visas or work permits, the bigger question IMHO is whether the Canadian or other companies would contract with you to provide off-shore services in any shape or form given your level of experience... unless you are some video and graphics wunderkind or have some exceedingly prolific track record.

If however you have those big contracts already in hand to provide those companies with off-shore services, I am sure you can find a way WPs, visas, or otherwise.. if not, it may be a long uphill venture.

you might want to check out e.g.

With offices in the U.S.A. and Thailand, Cyberimage is in touch with the markets of the West and the East and is

equipped to meet the overwhelming demand of worldwide clientele.

http://www.usa.cyber-image.com/