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Working in Thailand.

Featured Replies

Is it possible to open a business and work unpaid within the business. I suppose you could say 'volunteering'on a daily basis without a work visa?

Nope.

You need a Work Permit to work.

It makes no difference if you get paid or not.

  • Author

It's just I seem to see many foreigners who have invested money in small business and oversee certain aspects of the business and I'm sure not all of them have work visa permit etc. Is there a payment to local authorities or other government body.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There is no work visa.

You need a work permit to work. In order to get work permit issued you need non a immigrant B visa

You would would need to show tax payments for a salary to get another visa after the 90 days the first visa gave you ends.

In order to get an extension of stay also requires a minimum salary be paid.

Foreigners overseeing or working in any sort of business without a work permit are doing it illegally.

Possible as in legal? Or possible to open the business without getting a work permit for yourself?

It is probably possible. You can get the business up and running and when you have enough money get yourself the permit. Just don't get caught.

Edited by AlexDorneles

I don't think that the replies to this post are correct .I have posted befor on this subject

In my case I had no problem. I was a shareholder and director of a compay running an upmarket restaurant and bar( no bar girls!). I had to sign a lot of papers , tax returns employment contracts and I actively ran the business for several years. I drew no salary . I did not infringe on the laws reserving certain jobs for thais, Like waiters and serving behind the bar etc. The relevant departments including the labour department all had copies of my passport and retirement visa. The liquor licence was in my name. Also I delt with the tax and labour office,

I think it depends what kind of busiess you are in. No doubt those running businesses with bar girls and such might come under scrutiny. Or some official tries to get a bribe to overlook you "working". It would be best to consult a lawyer on these matters to make sure

I don't think that the replies to this post are correct .I have posted befor on this subject

In my case I had no problem. I was a shareholder and director of a compay running an upmarket restaurant and bar( no bar girls!). I had to sign a lot of papers , tax returns employment contracts and I actively ran the business for several years. I drew no salary . I did not infringe on the laws reserving certain jobs for thais, Like waiters and serving behind the bar etc. The relevant departments including the labour department all had copies of my passport and retirement visa. The liquor licence was in my name. Also I delt with the tax and labour office,

I think it depends what kind of busiess you are in. No doubt those running businesses with bar girls and such might come under scrutiny. Or some official tries to get a bribe to overlook you "working". It would be best to consult a lawyer on these matters to make sure

"I was a shareholder and director of a compay running an upmarket restaurant ..."

" I did not infringe on the laws reserving certain jobs for thais, Like waiters and serving behind the bar etc. "

Possibly you could get away with it as an investor but, as you say, you weren't actually working in the restaurant, but the O/P was talking about working in the business. The investing aspect and the performing work aspect may be viewed as distinct.

Whether or not you consider the restaurant to be upscale and whether or not bar girls are employed and whether or not the employment is a reserved occupation is irrelevant legally. If he wants to work in the business, with pay or no pay, he would need a work permit, as would you. Otherwise people would feel free to invest in a business and work there without obtaining a work permit, which is clearly not allowed. I'm not saying that it never happens, but if the person doing it is found out, he could be charged with breaking the law.

Is it possible to open a business and work unpaid within the business

Edited by Suradit69

If it was possible, don"t you think everyone would be working in there own bar/restaurant ?

I don't think that the replies to this post are correct .I have posted befor on this subject

In my case I had no problem. I was a shareholder and director of a compay running an upmarket restaurant and bar( no bar girls!). I had to sign a lot of papers , tax returns employment contracts and I actively ran the business for several years. I drew no salary . I did not infringe on the laws reserving certain jobs for thais, Like waiters and serving behind the bar etc. The relevant departments including the labour department all had copies of my passport and retirement visa. The liquor licence was in my name. Also I delt with the tax and labour office,

I think it depends what kind of busiess you are in. No doubt those running businesses with bar girls and such might come under scrutiny. Or some official tries to get a bribe to overlook you "working". It would be best to consult a lawyer on these matters to make sure

You were working illegally without the work permit you needed. You were just lucky you didn't get caught otherwise you would have been jailed and deported.

I don't think that the replies to this post are correct .I have posted befor on this subject

In my case I had no problem. I was a shareholder and director of a compay running an upmarket restaurant and bar( no bar girls!). I had to sign a lot of papers , tax returns employment contracts and I actively ran the business for several years. I drew no salary . I did not infringe on the laws reserving certain jobs for thais, Like waiters and serving behind the bar etc. The relevant departments including the labour department all had copies of my passport and retirement visa. The liquor licence was in my name. Also I delt with the tax and labour office,

I think it depends what kind of busiess you are in. No doubt those running businesses with bar girls and such might come under scrutiny. Or some official tries to get a bribe to overlook you "working". It would be best to consult a lawyer on these matters to make sure

As an shareholder you can oversee your investment but not actively be involved in the actual operation of the business. When i opened my company

our lawyer advised us on everything. Me being a shareholder and director and handling the day to day operations of the company I had to have a work permit.

As pointed out you were working illegally, you were lucky you where not caught. My friend is part owners with a Thai partner of a bar. He does not work per say but is at the bar every night drinking with the customers and he had to have a work permit. I think he could get away without one since he does not really work, but he takes no chances as the cost for a work permit is not much.

I don't think that the replies to this post are correct .I have posted befor on this subject

In my case I had no problem. I was a shareholder and director of a compay running an upmarket restaurant and bar( no bar girls!). I had to sign a lot of papers , tax returns employment contracts and I actively ran the business for several years. I drew no salary . I did not infringe on the laws reserving certain jobs for thais, Like waiters and serving behind the bar etc. The relevant departments including the labour department all had copies of my passport and retirement visa. The liquor licence was in my name. Also I delt with the tax and labour office,

I think it depends what kind of busiess you are in. No doubt those running businesses with bar girls and such might come under scrutiny. Or some official tries to get a bribe to overlook you "working". It would be best to consult a lawyer on these matters to make sure

But were you actively workingin the restaurant?

Bookkeeping on the side is different than actually working.

gf has a business and i do the books for her but no one sees my name on anything.

As to what OP is discussing yes it is done a lot here but not legally. Most businesses starting out are not financialy able to pay the full freight so I think they give you a little leeway as long as you do not screw with them.

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