Is It Possible To Get A Work Permit?

[Babb]

Hello

I have trawled the forum but can't find anything that matches my specific circumstances. I am hoping someone may be able to assist.

I am a freelance wedding photographer based in the uk. I cover destination weddings and have been approached by a couple who are resident in Australia, who will be getting married in Thailand. They want me to photograph their wedding.

Is there any way of getting a work permit to do so? I am planning to stay in Thailand for three weeks. Two days would be working and the rest would be a holiday.

I also want to add a bit of a holiday on to my trip, so I would be taking photographs as a tourist too (I don't do any commercial travel photography).

I suspect from what I have read the answer is no but I live in hope....

Thanks

[Mario2008]

Working requires a WP and you must work for a Thai company, so the answer would indeed be no.

[Tomtomtom69]

I used to work for the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce and we once had to do a temporary work permit for a group of Australian performers that had arrived just for a one night performance on a 30-day exempt stamp (this was in 2008). Note that this work permit is not the same as the one issued to foreigners working for a Thai company, but a special temporary one that can be issued (usually) within a day.

So the answer is yes if you fall into this category of temporary workers. I would try to contact the labour department to see if they can help you.

Edited April 21, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[Colabamumbai]

You cannot live in Thailand with hope. You need much more than that. Paperwork from employer, photocopies, visits to immigration and money money money. I have been working here nearly 4 years now. It never gets easier, Immigration always finds some excuse for the lack of one document etc.

I spent a lot of time here since the 70's, boy I wish somethings would change.

Just come for a month do your thing and go wherever.

[stoffel45]

My post comes from hope and ignorance.

If you, as a friend of the bride and groom/ family - were to take excellent photos/videos of the wedding events - as so very many people do, then in that capacity, I can not see the need for a WP.

It is the "professional" relationship which would, I assume, most definitely need a WP. Such assumes contracts and consideration (money/payment).

Whilst emphatically NOT suggesting you break any rules...

[Arkady]

There are termporary work permits for performers, technicians doing essential repairs etc but they need to be applied for by a company. I very much doubt that a company could get a WP for a wedding photographer since there are gazillions of Thai wedding photographers able and willing to do the job, ranging from dirt cheap morons with no training to highly accomplished artistic photographers. How would they complete the section of the application form where they have to explain why no Thai citizens are available to do the job? If you were a world renowned photographer coming to do a shoot in Thailand for an international magazine, sponsored by a large local company, things would be different. If you were a Home Office official, would you give a freelance Thai photographer a temporary WP to shoot a wedding in the UK? I thought so.

Just come and shoot the wedding and enjoy your vacation and don't be paranoid. No one is going to know you are not just a wedding guest shooting the wedding for fun and whatever financial arrangements you make with the couple will be between yourselves. If you really could get a WP, you would have to pay Thai income tax on it and the couple would have to withhold business tax and VAT after applying for their own business tax ID number using a Thai nominee!

Edited April 22, 2013 by Arkady

[Tomtomtom69]

There are termporary work permits for performers, technicians doing essential repairs etc but they need to be applied for by a company. I very much doubt that a company could get a WP for a wedding photographer since there are gazillions of Thai wedding photographers able and willing to do the job, ranging from dirt cheap morons with no training to highly accomplished artistic photographers. How would they complete the section of the application form where they have to explain why no Thai citizens are available to do the job? If you were a world renowned photographer coming to do a shoot in Thailand for an international magazine, sponsored by a large local company, things would be different. If you were a Home Office official, would you give a freelance Thai photographer a temporary WP to shoot a wedding in the UK? I thought so.

Just come and shoot the wedding and enjoy your vacation and don't be paranoid. No one is going to know you are not just a wedding guest shooting the wedding for fun and whatever financial arrangements you make with the couple will be between yourselves. If you really could get a WP, you would have to pay Thai income tax on it and the couple would have to withhold business tax and VAT after applying for their own business tax ID number using a Thai nominee!

Agreed - in my capacity working for the Chamber we applied for these performer WPs and of course given that artists are unique and thus no locally available substitute(s) can be found, the requirements for issuing a WP for these guys was met in our case.

[lopburi3]

Flame removed.

[Babb]

Thank you everyone for your replies. The Thai Embassy in London have advised that I don't need a work permit and that I can enter on a tourist visa, as my business is based in the uk and technically I wouldn't be doing any business in Thailand. This seems contrary to almost everything else I have read but I have emailed and asked them to put it in writing for me.

[Satcommlee]

I think that was a very sensible response from the Thai Embassy.. They are being realistic.

Everybody on here loves spouting off that you need a work permit to do any sort work in Thailand (technically they are not wrong) but common sense does prevail!

Please warn the happy couple that they must get a Thai citizen to cut the cake, as that could technically be construed as working in the catering industry too..

[whybother]

Thank you everyone for your replies. The Thai Embassy in London have advised that I don't need a work permit and that I can enter on a tourist visa, as my business is based in the uk and technically I wouldn't be doing any business in Thailand. This seems contrary to almost everything else I have read but I have emailed and asked them to put it in writing for me.

What work??? You're just coming to Thailand to go to a friend's wedding.

Sent from my Phone.