Freelance work permit (married to a Thai)

[MaiRoo]

Hello,

I'm a freelance web designer, married to a Thai woman but not currently working in Thailand.

I heard you can get a work permit when you're married to a Thai.

Is there such a thing as a work permit for freelancers in Thailand?

If not, what would be the easiest and most affordable way to make this legal?

Best regards,

Mai Roo

[ubonjoe]

There is no freelance work permit.

In order to get a work permit you have to be working for a business, partnership or company. That means that you would have to set up one of those up with your wife to do it.

The simplest and least costly would be to set up 51/49% partnership with your wife. It would need to be set up with 1 million baht of registered capital. Dependent upon where you apply for the work permit you would need 2 or 4 Thai employees.

[MaiRoo]

Thanks for the info UbonJoe,

The Thai employees can be my wife's relatives too, I assume?

[ubonjoe]

Yes they can be relatives. You have to pay social security and etc for them though.

[MaiRoo]

Great,

Thanks again UbonJoe

Very helpful

[umbanda]

Look at www.dbd.go.th before registering any company unnecesarely. If you register a limited partnership, you will have to pay a CPA and do taxed even if you do not make so much money. It is not necesary to register 1 million capital, can be just 100K or less depending in the business. Just go a dbd local office and get info. If you will work just online, may not be needs for a Thai bus registration.

[MaiRoo]

Thanks for the info Umbanda,

100k or less sounds good

I want to keep things as simple as possible:

A home office from where I design websites for a couple of customers every month.

And it's part time only, because I have to take care of our 3yo son as well.

So there's not a lot of money involved no.

Just need to earn enough to satisfy the immigration office, which shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again, appreciate it.

[MAMMartin]

Thanks for the info Umbanda,

100k or less sounds good

I want to keep things as simple as possible:

A home office from where I design websites for a couple of customers every month.

And it's part time only, because I have to take care of our 3yo son as well.

So there's not a lot of money involved no.

Just need to earn enough to satisfy the immigration office, which shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again, appreciate it.

If you are on a non-O married visa you will need a million baht of registered capital for a work permit and at least 2 Thai employees excluding directors that can go on the social fund. My advice go to one of the companies that specialise in setting up businesses. I use Indo Siam and they have been very useful and efficient to work with. www.indo-siam.com

[umbanda]

Thanks for the info Umbanda,

100k or less sounds good

I want to keep things as simple as possible:

A home office from where I design websites for a couple of customers every month.

And it's part time only, because I have to take care of our 3yo son as well.

So there's not a lot of money involved no.

Just need to earn enough to satisfy the immigration office, which shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again, appreciate it.

If you are on a non-O married visa you will need a million baht of registered capital for a work permit and at least 2 Thai employees excluding directors that can go on the social fund. My advice go to one of the companies that specialise in setting up businesses. I use Indo Siam and they have been very useful and efficient to work with. www.indo-siam.com

You don't need to show or have the "capital" money to register a LIMITED PARTNERSHIP....only to declare capital and it is for liability porpouses and taxes only. Also do not need to ask for any "expert" help. THE DBD office will give you all the info and the total cost of the registration is about 2000THB. A lawyer or a "helper" will ask for 10000THB or more for its "services". If you do not find an English speaker employee at the DBD office just go with a Thai friend to translate. To register a LIMITED COMPANY is more complicated, but IT IS NOT YOUR CASE if you are not started a BIG business or a corporation.

[FredNL]

Set up an offshore company in the UK or USA. Receiving your benefits (and paying your taxes) from there is the easiest way to have an income. While working for your company abroad you don't need a working permit for Thailand as long as you don't serve Thai customers.

[seancbk]

Thanks for the info Umbanda,

100k or less sounds good

I want to keep things as simple as possible:

A home office from where I design websites for a couple of customers every month.

And it's part time only, because I have to take care of our 3yo son as well.

So there's not a lot of money involved no.

Just need to earn enough to satisfy the immigration office, which shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again, appreciate it.

If you are on a non-O married visa you will need a million baht of registered capital for a work permit and at least 2 Thai employees excluding directors that can go on the social fund. My advice go to one of the companies that specialise in setting up businesses. I use Indo Siam and they have been very useful and efficient to work with. www.indo-siam.com

You don't need to show or have the "capital" money to register a LIMITED PARTNERSHIP....only to declare capital and it is for liability porpouses and taxes only. Also do not need to ask for any "expert" help. THE DBD office will give you all the info and the total cost of the registration is about 2000THB. A lawyer or a "helper" will ask for 10000THB or more for its "services". If you do not find an English speaker employee at the DBD office just go with a Thai friend to translate. To register a LIMITED COMPANY is more complicated, but IT IS NOT YOUR CASE if you are not started a BIG business or a corporation.

Umbanda, do you know where there is a DBD office in Bangkok? Their website only has an address in Nonthaburi....

Thanks!

[CookieMonster1]

Set up an offshore company in the UK or USA. Receiving your benefits (and paying your taxes) from there is the easiest way to have an income. While working for your company abroad you don't need a working permit for Thailand as long as you don't serve Thai customers.

I wouldn't be so sure of that as technically you are still working in Thailand!

It only takes one disgruntled neighbour or farang to report you and your in trouble.

Think about it if your sent to Thailand from the U.K by your company for work, then the company must supply you with all the documentation to get the correct business visa

company protocols in place ensure this happens.

[hobz]

The 1 million Baht registered capital does not need to exist. I think you deposit 100 baht for each 100000 baht registered capital. So in total 1000 baht for 1 million.

Note that your work permit will specify the type of work you do. And as a web developer you need to be considered an expert in your field. That means university degree + 2 years experience (documented). Or 5 years experience.

[timmyp]

Look at www.dbd.go.th before registering any company unnecesarely. If you register a limited partnership, you will have to pay a CPA and do taxed even if you do not make so much money. It is not necesary to register 1 million capital, can be just 100K or less depending in the business. Just go a dbd local office and get info. If you will work just online, may not be needs for a Thai bus registration.

Can you get permission to stay in Thailand if you are part of a partnership? Does that allow permission to work for that partnership? I checked the DBD website, but I couldn't find anything about partnerships and visas.

If a partnership does allow one to live and work on the partnership in Thailand, does it also require being married to a Thai citizen?

[GrantSmith]

Umbanda, do you know where there is a DBD office in Bangkok? Their website only has an address in Nonthaburi....

Thanks!

There's more than just the three below, but these three are the ones I know of...

Silom - opposite The British Club

Pinklao - in the Ministry of Culture building

Chaeng Wattana - Government Complex (same building as Immigration)

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[seancbk]

Umbanda, do you know where there is a DBD office in Bangkok? Their website only has an address in Nonthaburi....

Thanks!

There's more than just the three below, but these three are the ones I know of...

Silom - opposite The British Club

Pinklao - in the Ministry of Culture building

Chaeng Wattana - Government Complex (same building as Immigration)

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Many thanks Grant.

[umbanda]

Look at www.dbd.go.th before registering any company unnecesarely. If you register a limited partnership, you will have to pay a CPA and do taxed even if you do not make so much money. It is not necesary to register 1 million capital, can be just 100K or less depending in the business. Just go a dbd local office and get info. If you will work just online, may not be needs for a Thai bus registration.

Can you get permission to stay in Thailand if you are part of a partnership? Does that allow permission to work for that partnership? I checked the DBD website, but I couldn't find anything about partnerships and visas.

If a partnership does allow one to live and work on the partnership in Thailand, does it also require being married to a Thai citizen?

I am not sure, but I believe that only partnership will be not enough. The company will have also to show that your skills are necessary and will have to give you a contract and employment benefits. Being married and a partner with your wife in the business make easier to get the WP, but there are rectrictions about professions and roles foreigners can perform in Thailand . Ask the Labor Department about. I do not live in BK. I do not know where offices are located.

Edited June 17, 2014 by umbanda

[waxon]

There are also DBD offices in the Voravit Building on Thanon Surawong and in a 13 story white building (sorry, the name is in Thai) off of Bangna-Trad road about a klic past Index when heading east.

[ggt]

Freelancers come to Thailand from many nations...and work with/without work permits...the internet has many folks who work from home...do not market in Thailand...and do not feel obligated to go thru the Thai red tape and extra expense...do not speak of your internet adventure to anyone (especially your wife)...unless you do get the permit...good luck...this is not legal advice...just stating facts as I know them...

[ubonjoe]

Look at www.dbd.go.th before registering any company unnecesarely. If you register a limited partnership, you will have to pay a CPA and do taxed even if you do not make so much money. It is not necesary to register 1 million capital, can be just 100K or less depending in the business. Just go a dbd local office and get info. If you will work just online, may not be needs for a Thai bus registration.

Can you get permission to stay in Thailand if you are part of a partnership? Does that allow permission to work for that partnership? I checked the DBD website, but I couldn't find anything about partnerships and visas.

If a partnership does allow one to live and work on the partnership in Thailand, does it also require being married to a Thai citizen?

It would be possible to get a work permit with a partnership and work.

But you would not be able to get an extension of stay at immigration under clause 2.1 of the police order because it requires you to be working for a registered company. You would have to get a multiple entry non-b visa and make border runs every 90 days.

This is where being married to a Thai has it's advantages because an extension of stay can be obtained without any company paperwork. Just a work permit and proof of income by way of tax payments.

[Lobber]

I love some of these replies