I have just read that under the terms of the Thailand-Australia FTA or TAFTA, Australians can receive numerous advantages for visas to live and work in Thailand.

The wording is however a bit confusing (taken from the DFAT website www.dfat.gov.au/fta/tafta/key-outcomes.html):

"Thailand will grant a visa and work permit for up to five years' stay for all Australian citizens being transferred to work in Thailand within the same company (to be renewable annually) (previously one year)."

"Thailand will grant a visa and work permit for up to three years' stay for all Australian citizens entering Thailand to work on the basis of a contract with an Australian or Thai company other than their employer in Australia (to be renewable annually) (previously one year)."

First of all, nobody has, in relation to Thai work permits and visas ever mentioned that Australians can receive visas valid longer than one year at a time. However, the wording here states that these visas are renewable annually. If that's the case, isn't it meaningless to state that they are valid for 3 or 5 years? As it stands, all foreigners are eligible for visas and work permits that are valid for 1 year at a time (except Myanmar, Cambodian and Lao laborers that may be eligible for 2 year visas), and these permits are essentially renewable indefinitely, just that they have to be renewed one year at a time. So what's the point of mentioning a 5 or 3 year validity, respectively, if they have to be renewed annually anyway?

Can someone explain how Australians can benefit from these visa changes under TAFTA?

Maybe it means that after 5 years or 3 years respetively, you are not welcome anymore in Thailand.

Although each have to re renewed anually, maybe they are trying to say that after that we won't give you more.

Maybe they are referring to the APEC card, which is valid for some years. But don't know the exact details of that one.

Maybe they are referring to the APEC card, which is valid for some years. But don't know the exact details of that one.

Hi Mario

The APEC travel card is valid for 3 years --- but in no way does it confer any right to work in Thailand.

Hi Tomtomtom69,

I think you'll find there's zero chance of you taking advantage of this arrangement. The Thai's have either no idea about it, or are willfully not following up their end of the FTA.

Preview of ASEAN in a few years, me thinks.

Hi Tomtomtom69,

I think you'll find there's zero chance of you taking advantage of this arrangement. The Thai's have either no idea about it, or are willfully not following up their end of the FTA.

Preview of ASEAN in a few years, me thinks.

Hi EBF, yes I'm afraid you may be right. It's just strange that nobody has ever talked about simplified or longer term Thai working visas for Australian citizens as part of TAFTA unlike the E-3 visas that Aussies get for working in the States, which every Aussie who wants to work in the USA seem to know about and information is readily available for on the US Embassy/Consulate websites.

However, the wording on TAFTA goes on to say that non-APEC card holders don't require a work permit for conducting business meetings of up to 15 days in Thailand while APEC card holders get the same privilege for up to 90 days (3 months). I wonder how this compares to non-Australians who are citizens of APEC member states.