Hello. I am Malaysian citizen, personal trainer and tennis coach. I like to work on Phuket of Khao Lak, get my Scuba diver instructor, then work as diver. I can gain 90 day tourist visa in Kuala Lumpur, then i need to get work permit. I guess i will have to work freelance unless can find hotel to hire me. how difficult is that? how can i do that? do i need hire lawyer, set up own company, etc...

do you think i can find work on either phuket or khao lak in this field?

thanks!

Free lance work is not available as no work permit would be issued.

So yes, you would need to set up your own company first if you want to work free lance.

As for the job market for Malaysians there, no idea. Ask in the Phuket forum section about job opportunities there.

how do i get work permit to work freelance? sorry, that was my question. guess it got lost in the words! but thanks... how do i manage to get work permit to work freelance?

ok. thanks. and for company, i need to see lawyer, right? then pay for work permit?

You have to set up a company, with some Thai employees, and then the company can apply for a work permit to employ you.

As has already been posted, in Thailand you need to be employed, or to have a company to get a work permit and it is increasingly difficult to work in diving, particularly in Phuket, without one.

Hotels in Phuket/Khao Lak do not employ dive instructors directly, although local dive companies will often have a desk/sales outlet in a hotel.

To get a job (and a work permit) with a local dive company in Phuket is not so easy as there is currently a lot of competition for little work, it can help if you are able to teach diving in several popular foreign languages (not just English).

If you are just starting, then your best option would be to get a work permit through forming your own company, this could also enable you to work as a personal trainer and fitness coach, as it is unlikely that you will make sufficient income in diving alone to justify the ongoing costs.