Do I need a work visa to work in thailand or wing it?

[paul69wallace]

Hi,

Im new to this forum and my friend Bowen (Zues Thunderbolt) says I dont need a work visa being a personal trainer as he has been working in Pattaya for over a year.

He has also been on the morning pattaya show telling people to train with him.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9isi9g26CAI

We I come to payyaya and train as a personal trainer should I also get a tourist visa aswell?

Any help will be good

Thanks

Paul

[mrtoad]

You need a WP

You can't fix stupid

[paul69wallace]

You sure I need a work permit?

Why can my friend work on a tourist visa for over a year?

[Soutpeel]

your right you don't need a work visa, seeing as there is no such thing as a work visa

however one would need a work permit...

seems to me your friend could be looking for trouble being so blatant as all it will take is for someone to report him

[Soutpeel]

You sure I need a work permit?

Why can my friend work on a tourist visa for over a year?

Yes you do, your friend is working illegally that's how he is doing it

[mrtoad]

You sure I need a work permit?

Why can my friend work on a tourist visa for over a year?

You need a WP period.

Advertising the fact that he is flagrantly breaking the law isn't a good idea.

Immigration do read this forum

[tolsti]

With friends that give advice like that you are probably best off avoiding them... that is if they are real and not just Facebook friends.

[ubonjoe]

You need a work permit to work. Perhaps your friend has just been lucky.

[tonytigerbkk]

What a clever individual.

Working illegally and then appearing on Television.

I suppose that the saving grace is that your friend would be difficult to recognize with those distinguishing tattoos.

[Soutpeel]

What a clever individual.

Working illegally and then appearing on Television.

I suppose that the saving grace is that your friend would be difficult to recognize with those distinguishing tattoos.

obviously he is not the sharpest tool in the shed....

[tonytigerbkk]

What a clever individual.

Working illegally and then appearing on Television.

I suppose that the saving grace is that your friend would be difficult to recognize with those distinguishing tattoos.

obviously he is not the sharpest tool in the shed....

Neither is the OP for sealing his 'friend's' fate

[mrtoad]

What a clever individual.

Working illegally and then appearing on Television.

I suppose that the saving grace is that your friend would be difficult to recognize with those distinguishing tattoos.

obviously he is not the sharpest tool in the shed....

Neither is the OP for sealing his 'friend's' fate

Maybe it's the competition, but that might be a little to clever for this lot

[mrtoad]

What a clever individual.

Working illegally and then appearing on Television.

I suppose that the saving grace is that your friend would be difficult to recognize with those distinguishing tattoos.

obviously he is not the sharpest tool in the shed....

Tool is quite fitting though

[paul69wallace]

Well my friend isnt the shapest tool in the shed but he did pick up a number of clients doing that morning pattaya show.

What happens if I dont get a visa/permit for working in thailand?

[steve187]

is this a troll thread designed to dob the personal trainer into immigration

[Soutpeel]

Well my friend isnt the shapest tool in the shed but he did pick up a number of clients doing that morning pattaya show.

What happens if I dont get a visa/permit for working in thailand?

Fine, Jail, deportation possibly if caught or all of them...

[mrtoad]

Well my friend isnt the shapest tool in the shed but he did pick up a number of clients doing that morning pattaya show.

What happens if I dont get a visa/permit for working in thailand?

Fine, Jail, deportation possibly if caught or all of them...

I don't think he likes the answer, so is hoping for a different one.

He could set up.his own company though

[paul69wallace]

How will they even catch me working as a personal trainer they will need evidence to prove it.

Plus if Zeus has been working there since october 2013, chances are they wont catch me as I will not go on morning pattaya show and advetise it

[paul69wallace]

If I set it up in a company name, do I still need a work/visa permit or other?

Cheers

[Lite Beer]

Yes and you need 4 Thai workers on the books

and pay their insurance etc.

[Lite Beer]

Nobody is saying you will get caught or not.

You asked a question and the answer is you need a Work Permit and a Visa.

If you want to chance it that is entirely up to you.

[tonytigerbkk]

How will they even catch me working as a personal trainer they will need evidence to prove it.

Plus if Zeus has been working there since october 2013, chances are they wont catch me as I will not go on morning pattaya show and advetise it

[asiaexpat]

Whats the saying " Birds of a feather flock together."

[Bernard Flint]

Speechless

[paul69wallace]

Thanks Lite Beer, do you have a link for more info about company

Cheers

Paul

[Soutpeel]

If I set it up in a company name, do I still need a work/visa permit or other?

Cheers

Yes, and a THB 2.0 million baht capitalized Ltd company

[Soutpeel]

How will they even catch me working as a personal trainer they will need evidence to prove it.

Plus if Zeus has been working there since october 2013, chances are they wont catch me as I will not go on morning pattaya show and advetise it

You have asked the question you have been given the answer and you don't like the answer given.

The facts:

1. You need a WP

2. If you get caught working without one, you could be jailed, fined and or deported

3. Immigration don't need proof per se, just suspicion of working to detain (arrest) you

4 all it takes is a complaint from someone, typically a Thai national and immigration will be crawling up your bottom.

5. further when your visa running, which you will be, all it takes is suspicion of working in Thailand and they can deny you entry into country

1 to 5 are facts, you have have the info, the choice is yours...as the Thai saying goes... "up to you"

Seems to me your friend is not the only one who is not the sharpest tool in the shed...

[Briggsy]

All the people I have known caught working without a work permit were out of the police station within a few hours after money (usually from their employer) changed hands.

I also recall a tv show on Thai morning TV (going back 15 years here) in which farang English teachers were used and the majority had no work permits.

As some earlier posters have said, if you feel lucky, you can take a chance. You've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk OP?

[paul69wallace]

Cheers for all the feed back, I font feel lucky nor stupid, just wanted some advice.

Cheers to the people that gave me possitive input but It seens like I will have to do it the right way as its too much to set up a company as its really a personal training thing, one on one training.

[ldiablo]

Op. I will tell you what you want to hear since you obviously aren't taking the advice from the TV memebers. It is perfectly legal in Thailand and any other country on Earth to work without a work permit at any job so long as after you have worked your job for a minimum of one month you must take your paystub into the nearest immigration office and show it to them.