Freelance Graphic Work Permit

[Marshy98]

Hi

I am a 42 year old freelance graphic designer looking to move to Thailand, I would like to continue working for my Uk clients and get paid into my Uk bank.

I only plan to work 4 months a year.

Could you please advice on work permit requirements and yearly cost.

Regards

Marshy

[falang07]

why bother? if you do not have Thai clients, no one cares

[TerryLH]

WP for 1 year is 3000 +100 filing fee.

You won't get a WP for freelance work. You'd have to get it through a Thai company.

Terry

[Marshy98]

Hi Terry

Thanks for that.

Currently my clients find me through my website, i complete there work from my home office and email it back to them.

How would this work if i was to work for a Thai company ?

Regards

Marshy

[digitalchromakey]

Phuket Labour announced last year that you can use form WP1 to apply for a 'Freelance' Work Permit; to date I do not personally know of any cases yet where there has been such an application (succesful or otherwise)..

[rct99q]

you need an immigration visa first (imm-.

[digitalchromakey]

you need an immigration visa first (imm-.

You don't need any specific visa to apply for a Work Permit, but you do need one for the WP to be actually issued, however visa are certainly generally easier to obtain in your home country..

[innerspace]

You need a non immigrant visa to actually lodge your work permit application despite what is said above.

Work permit fees are low but you also need to pay tax, possibly with a minimum salary even if you dont earn that.

If you setup the company just for the work permit you also need to pay tax on your 4 thai staff even if you dont need or have them.

Gets expensive.

Working freelance for overseas clients is 100% illegal without a work permit although it may be hard to detect.

[lopburi3]

You do not need a non immigrant visa to apply for a work permit and receive a receipt for that application (which is actually often required to obtain the non immigrant B visa). Only for the work permit to be issued will the non immigrant visa be required.

[asiaexpat]

From The Labor Office:

ALIENS WHO ARE NOT IN THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND BUT WISH TO WORK IN THE KINGDOM MUST COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING:

1. Contact a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in you country for advice and recommendation for Granting a non-immigrant VISA.

2. Employers in Thailand may apply for a work permit for prospective alien employees who wish to work in the kingdom. In case receiving the letter of approval for Work Permit , employer sends that letter to foreigner in order to apply for a Non-immigrant visa from the Royal Thai Embassy. Then the foreigner has to enter to the Kingdom in order to apply for a Work Permit with documents which specified in that letter within 30 days from the day of picking up the approval letter..

[JLCrab]

There are US and maybe UK website design firms that sub-contract in Thailand. Maybe you can have a change of mindset in that, in coming to Thailand, you are here to explore sub-contracting possibilities for your UK business.

[Maestro]

Current Thai laws and regulations have no provisions for freelance work. To be legal, you need a work permit and to obtain that you need to be employed by a company registered in Thailand.