Hello,

I am planning to come to Thailand to start a hotel business. For the moment I am trying to get all kind of information from thai lawers by email contacts, but lot of points are still unclear. I'd be very thankful if somebody could help me in the following:

1. If I come to Thailand and receive a turist visa upon arrival, it will be for 30 days, then I understand I can get an extention for another 15 or 30 days... How can I extend further? Will "visa run" be any help?

2. Once in Thailand I will be throught LTD company formation, so is it possible to convert my turist visa to business visa after the company is properly registered? Do anyone has an experience doing things in this scheme?

3. What the working permit serves to? I mean, being a Director in my LTD company, I surely make all runs, hiring people, signing papers and so on - ok, thats work. But my partner (and shareholder) will not be Director, so does he need a work permit?

I'd be really happy if somebody having experience in these matters would be so kind as to contact me for a consultancy. We are planning to install in Koh Samui, does anybody know a reliable lawer there? THANK YOU!

It might help readers to provide information if you provided your nationality (passport country).

If I come to Thailand and receive a turist visa upon arrival, it will be for 30 days, then I understand I can get an extention for another 15 or 30 days... How can I extend further? Will "visa run" be any help?

Obtain a non immigrant visa before you come as a 30 day entry is worthless when it comes to getting a work permit.

Once in Thailand I will be throught LTD company formation, so is it possible to convert my turist visa to business visa after the company is properly registered? Do anyone has an experience doing things in this scheme?

If you have a 60 day tourist visa, you can change this, if a minimum of 21 days are still remaining on this visa. If you are Indian, Pakistan it is 30 days remaining.

However the change is much more complicated then if you simply came in with a non immigrant visa in the first place.

For instance in the hotel industry you must have 4 Thai employees per work permit in order to apply as this change of visa is with Immigration. ( Note it has nothing to do with the Labor Dept.) Difficult to have 4 Thai employees without you working illegally as the Managing Director with no work permit in the first place! The employees have to have worked for at least one pay period as they will look at the withholding tax records. To top it off you will need a hotel license and how do you apply for that without a work permit? A never ending circle!

Also you will need a college diploma and job experience (letters from former employers), notarized by your Embassy and then translated and certified twice by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No such requirement again if you simply came in with a non immigrant visa at first.

Our firm can sponsor you for this non immigrant visa.

What the working permit serves to? I mean, being a Director in my LTD company, I surely make all runs, hiring people, signing papers and so on - ok, thats work. But my partner (and shareholder) will not be Director, so does he need a work permit?

If he is not working, then no work permit is required.

We are planning to install in Koh Samui, does anybody know a reliable lawer there?

Our firm would be happy to help.

www.lawyer.th.com

Thank you very much for replying!

I was already thinking about obtaining a non-imm before arrival to Thailand, though, as I understood, I will have to provide the embassy/consulate the thai company's papers and letter... How can I do so if the company is yet to be formed?

Our firm can sponsor you for this non immigrant visa.

How exactly could you proceed? It really seems to be a good way for me. BTW I am an israeli citizen and currently I am living in France.

Thank you very much for replying!

I was already thinking about obtaining a non-imm before arrival to Thailand, though, as I understood, I will have to provide the embassy/consulate the thai company's papers and letter... How can I do so if the company is yet to be formed?

Our firm can sponsor you for this non immigrant visa.

How exactly could you proceed? It really seems to be a good way for me. BTW I am an israeli citizen and currently I am living in France.

Please check your PM. I've responded to your post that we can assist.

www.lawyer.th.com