Hello

I am French, 42 years old

I am planing on moving to Thailand in October.

I want to start a business and export in Europe.

I dont have much funds but enough to start slowly.

Now I read about all the visas options. I want to get a year visa to give me time to start. I thought of volunteering for a year to get a visa, so I can help and as week ends free, I will have time to see things coming. So I could start like that.

Any better way to get a visa for a year in Thailand? even if this involve a cost.

Thank you

Study Thai at one of the language schools who sponsor this forum.

Have a look at their web sites.

Dont forget that if you go volunteering YOU WILL NEED A WORK PERMIT !

Education Visa by one of the language schools is the better option

And please do remember that the purpose of an ED visa is TO STUDY - actually studying thai would be very usefull for a future exporter.

Some people seem to think that the purpose of an ED visa is to stay long term in Thailand.

Do you need a work permit if you are buying things to export? Or would you just need non-imm visa of some sort (besides a Ed visa)?

Do you need a work permit if you are buying things to export? Or would you just need non-imm visa of some sort (besides a Ed visa)?

After 3.561 posts, you come up with this question?

Please tell me you are joking or trolling or fighting an extreme hangover.

Do you need a work permit if you are buying things to export? Or would you just need non-imm visa of some sort (besides a Ed visa)?

After 3.561 posts, you come up with this question?

Please tell me you are joking or trolling or fighting an extreme hangover.

None of the above. I'm just not up with all of the answers to visa and work permit questions.

I thought it was a valid question. Is buying something considered work?

You are allowed to visit Thailand with a non-imm visa to look at business opportunities with out a work permit.

A lot of foreigners go to the Pratunam area (for example) to buy bulk clothes to sell them in their home countries. Do all of these people have or need work permits?

And it is something that I don't think the OP has thought to ask.

If you have a company in France, get one-year B-visa from Hull

Do you need a work permit if you are buying things to export? Or would you just need non-imm visa of some sort (besides a Ed visa)?

After 3.561 posts, you come up with this question?

Please tell me you are joking or trolling or fighting an extreme hangover.

None of the above. I'm just not up with all of the answers to visa and work permit questions.

I thought it was a valid question. Is buying something considered work?

No, tourists are free to buy chang, sex, clothes, etc.

However, tourists need a work permit to sell chang, sex, clothes, etc.

You are allowed to visit Thailand with a non-imm visa to look at business opportunities with out a work permit.

A lot of foreigners go to the Pratunam area (for example) to buy bulk clothes to sell them in their home countries. Do all of these people have or need work permits?

If they do not have WP, they breach the laws of Thailand AND their home countries.

And good luck with customs at Swampy or in your home country, if they catch you with 10.000 pairs of underware.... just souvenirs from my thai gf's sir / just gifts for my european gf's sir.....

And it is something that I don't think the OP has thought to ask.

None of the above. I'm just not up with all of the answers to visa and work permit questions.

I thought it was a valid question. Is buying something considered work?

No, tourists are free to buy chang, sex, clothes, etc.

However, tourists need a work permit to sell chang, sex, clothes, etc.

You are allowed to visit Thailand with a non-imm visa to look at business opportunities with out a work permit.

A lot of foreigners go to the Pratunam area (for example) to buy bulk clothes to sell them in their home countries. Do all of these people have or need work permits?

If they do not have WP, they breach the laws of Thailand AND their home countries.

And good luck with customs at Swampy or in your home country, if they catch you with 10.000 pairs of underware.... just souvenirs from my thai gf's sir / just gifts for my european gf's sir.....

And it is something that I don't think the OP has thought to ask.

Who's doing the trolling?

The question is in relation to the OP who wants to export goods, not related to tourists visiting and spending some money. Obviously, if the OP wants to import goods into his home country, he needs to deal with the appropriate laws here and there relating to imports/exports. But this question is about work permits.

I'll rephrase the question to make it simple for you.

Do you require a work permit to buy and export goods made in Thailand to sell in your home country?

You seemed to answer this question:

A lot of foreigners go to the Pratunam area (for example) to buy bulk clothes to sell them in their home countries. Do all of these people have or need work permits?

If they do not have WP, they breach the laws of Thailand AND their home countries.

... except I don't understand why not having a work permit here would breach laws in their own countries.

OK - i can only TRY to explain.

Must be something wrong with me.

OK - i can only TRY to explain.

Must be something wrong with me.

Yes. There must be.

Maybe if you could try and answer the questions rather than being facetious, it would help.

Do you require a work permit to buy and export goods made in Thailand to sell in your home country?

A lot of foreigners go to the Pratunam area (for example) to buy bulk clothes to sell them in their home countries. Do all of these people have or need work permits?

If they do not have WP, they breach the laws of Thailand AND their home countries.

... except I don't understand why not having a work permit here would breach laws in their own countries.

Firstly,i apologise for talking about breaching european law.

A usefull remark to the OP, but yes, totally OFF TOPIC.

And it gave you the chance to change the subject..... but yes, i am responsibull for giving you that opportunity.

Now to answer your question to me, i will go OFF TOPIC again.

If the Op breaches thai law by not having the appropriate visa and WP, by not declaring the goods as for export, the OP will not have the paperwork (invoice) to declare the goods as business import in Europe.

And will breach european laws.

Firstly,i apologise for talking about breaching european law.

A usefull remark to the OP, but yes, totally OFF TOPIC.

And it gave you the chance to change the subject..... but yes, i am responsibull for giving you that opportunity.

Now to answer your question to me, i will go OFF TOPIC again.

If the Op breaches thai law by not having the appropriate visa and WP, by not declaring the goods as for export, the OP will not have the paperwork (invoice) to declare the goods as business import in Europe.

And will breach european laws.

Off topic? I thought it would be relevant for the OP if he was considering exporting goods from Thailand.

You did say "If they do not have WP, they breach the laws of Thailand AND their home countries." which I thought meant that if you don't have a work permit you breach laws of your home country.

But, I'm still not clear if you answered the important question "Do you require a work permit to buy and export goods made in Thailand to sell in your home country?"

I suppose I will need someone else to confirm.

Firstly,i apologise for talking about breaching european law.

A usefull remark to the OP, but yes, totally OFF TOPIC.

And it gave you the chance to change the subject..... but yes, i am responsibull for giving you that opportunity.

Now to answer your question to me, i will go OFF TOPIC again.

If the Op breaches thai law by not having the appropriate visa and WP, by not declaring the goods as for export, the OP will not have the paperwork (invoice) to declare the goods as business import in Europe.

And will breach european laws.

Off topic? I thought it would be relevant for the OP if he was considering exporting goods from Thailand.

You did say "If they do not have WP, they breach the laws of Thailand AND their home countries." which I thought meant that if you don't have a work permit you breach laws of your home country.

But, I'm still not clear if you answered the important question "Do you require a work permit to buy and export goods made in Thailand to sell in your home country?"

I suppose I will need someone else to confirm.

Surely, there will be an answer forthcoming from one of the mods that specialise in visa questions?

If you have a company in France, get one-year B-visa from Hull

non Immigrant visas are available from the RTE Paris Embassy.