Hi,

I'm running online business and sell to thai peoples.

I wanna move there soon for living.

Can I open bank account and deposit my money there, Is there a problem with that (staying with tourist visa)?

Thank you.

Yes there is a problem on tourist visa.....you need a WP to do what you intend

You will be able to open a bank account without a problem. However, Thailand immigration law does not allow you to work while using a Tourist Visa. Once you establish your accounts and want to conduct your business in Thailand you must get a Non-B visa and a work permit. TV treads have a lot of information on this subject.

This question...or versions of it....has been asked MANY times on this forum.

Basically

1. No, you are NOT allowed to work in Thailand on a tourist visa. In order to "work" you need a non B "business" visa and a Work Permit.

2. This is true even if your business is conducted "on-line" although the law in that regard was written before the concept of "on-line busineses" was even thought of.

3. So in fact, you can probably get away with it.... but NOT legally,

4. There are also certain business areas that non Thais are not allowed to conduct. So you need to be careful to avoid those types of business activities prohibited to a non Thai, but legal for a Thai.

5. If you sell to Thais, and particularly if you earn any legal income from selling in Thailand, you have entered a new higher interest category....especially as regarding Thai taxes. This is true even if this money is NOT kept in a Thai bank account, but a foriegn account outside of Thailand.

6. To make it very clear, because of the loopholes in an old law you MAY be able to get away with running a (at best) semi-legal on-line business ... simply because the interpretation of the existing law is not certain.

However, especially regarding Thai income taxes, all it will take is one dissatisfied Thai customer who wants to pursue his or her complaint..... and things can be made VERY unpleasent for you.

Because, frankly, the legallity of an "on-line business" operated by a foriegner....without proper approval.... is a big question.

And it isn't the immigration.... it's the Thai income tax people who be coming after you first.

But as the Thai bargirls will say, "Up to YOU."

2. This is true even if your business is conducted "on-line" although the law in that regard was written before the concept of "on-line busineses" was even thought of.

6. To make it very clear, because of the loopholes in an old law you MAY be able to get away with running a (at best) semi-legal on-line business ... simply because the interpretation of the existing law is not certain

In the terms of the OP...if as a farang he was out walking the streets in Thailand handing out flyers/brochures to sell his product, could we definitively say in terms of the labour law that he was working ? is the answer is yes, then this must apply to on-line, as all that has changed is his medium of "advertising" thats all, he is still working, its just his method of working has changed.

My understanding of how the Thai's interpret "work" is that pretty much anything and everything can and will be interpreted as "work" by them if they choose to do so. As with everything here, the choice is an individual one as to whether to comply with the laws or whether to take a chance and do things "illegally".