Work Permit On Non Imm B Visa With Non Thai Employer

[dc123]

Dear All

I've been given the chance to work in Thailand for a year (possibly longer) by the UK company that employ me.

I would be working from telephone and computer mainly dealing with Australia (as I did when I was working in UK).

The non immigrant B type multiple entry visa seems straightforward, i.e. I send through the applicaion along with the template letter supplied that the UK employer fills in, confirming they will sponsor me for my stay.

I then have to apply for a work permit in my first 30 days here.

I have 4 questions:

Can I only apply for the work permit in Bangkok? (I'll be based in Koh Samui).

How often do Ii apply for the work permit? Would it last the 12 months (and possibly the extra 90 days I get on my last entry)?

How much does the work permit cost?

Will i have to pay tax?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[PoorSucker]

Sorry, only a Thai company can apply for a work permit on your behalf.

[dc123]

Sorry, only a Thai company can apply for a work permit on your behalf.

In the pdf download ' additional information for non imm B type visas' on the Hull Consulate it states:

Applicant possesses a letter from their Non-Thai employer - see page 2/6 for suggested wording'

The UK employer then prints of this letter on company letterhead and fills in requesting that the Consulate issue you a non imm b visa and declaring that they will sponsor you.

At the end of the pdf download, there is a page on work permits. It states:

'Under Thai law a Work Permit is required by all foreign persons working in Thailand. The Work Permit can only be obtained from the Ministry of Labour in Bangkok, usually by the employer, if based in Thailand, otherwise it will be necessary for the employee to apply themselves. If working in Thailand as an employee of a non Thai company for periods not exceeding 30 days it is not generally necessary to apply for a Work Permit provided you are in possession of a valid Non-Immigrant Category "B" Visa.'

As I shall be in Thailand as an employee of a non Thai company for a period that will exceed 30 days, it would appear from the wording that I have to apply for the work permit myself?

[Soutpeel]

Sorry, only a Thai company can apply for a work permit on your behalf.

In the pdf download ' additional information for non imm B type visas' on the Hull Consulate it states:

Applicant possesses a letter from their Non-Thai employer - see page 2/6 for suggested wording'

The UK employer then prints of this letter on company letterhead and fills in requesting that the Consulate issue you a non imm b visa and declaring that they will sponsor you.

At the end of the pdf download, there is a page on work permits. It states:

'Under Thai law a Work Permit is required by all foreign persons working in Thailand. The Work Permit can only be obtained from the Ministry of Labour in Bangkok, usually by the employer, if based in Thailand, otherwise it will be necessary for the employee to apply themselves. If working in Thailand as an employee of a non Thai company for periods not exceeding 30 days it is not generally necessary to apply for a Work Permit provided you are in possession of a valid Non-Immigrant Category "B" Visa.'

As I shall be in Thailand as an employee of a non Thai company for a period that will exceed 30 days, it would appear from the wording that I have to apply for the work permit myself?

Sorry mate, think Hull havent quite got it right.

Under a UK company sponsership you could a apply for a Non-imm B to investigate possible business possibilites in Thailand and under this dont need a WP, sseing as you are dealing with mainly Australia, technically speaking this has nothing to do with Thailand, so you may not even get the Non-imm B, if you state this on the form.

For application/ issue of a WP, application needs to come through a Thai entity, ie Thai company, you will not be issued a WP based on the fact you are dealing with a UK company, whose business is being conducted in Australia...

Your options:

1. Set up a THB 2.0 million Thai company, employ 4 Thai's and you could get a WP

2. Get married to a Thai national, requirements above are halved

3. Set up a respresentative office of the UK company in Thailand (this may not fly as it seems you are not sourcing Thai goods and services)

I am guessing 2 & 3 not viable ?....therefore only left with 1

option....work illegally

[satiariyan]

Your options:

1. Set up a THB 2.0 million Thai company, employ 4 Thai's and you could get a WP

2. Get married to a Thai national, requirements above are halved

3. Set up a respresentative office of the UK company in Thailand (this may not fly as it seems you are not sourcing Thai goods and services)

I am guessing 2 & 3 not viable ?....therefore only left with 1

option....work illegally

4. Form a Thai limited partnership with a Thai. The limited partnership can apply for a wp.

5. Get hired my a Thai paying minimum a certain amount of tax. The Thai can apply for a wp.

Sorry, haven't looked into the matters for more than 2 years so don't have any details or links in my ready-to-access memory. Just wanted to mention that those options do (did?) exist. I think some of the advertising lawyers do have more or less updated info re these matters on their website.