Employed by EU company, Working in Thailand, Work permit needed.

[elviajero]

I have a friend (UK citizen) that works for a European based company. That company use a Thai company to build and distribute their product. My friends role is quality control and he's required to travel to Thailand from his home in Taiwan several times a month to oversee production.

Due to increased production he is now being asked to relocate to Thailand permanently. He wants to work legally and needs a work permit. He will continue to be employed and paid by the EU Company. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of scenario.

Obviously the EU company can't apply or provide a work permit, but is it possible for him to be contracted to the Thai company and for them to provide the work permit? Or something similar.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

[ubonjoe]

His employer and the Thai company should be able to work it out to where he is working for the local company in order for him to get a work permit and extension of stay. Possibly an arrangement to where he is getting paid the minimum salary to get an extension that is reimbursed by the EU company and then get the remainder of his salary paid by his EU employer.

[elviajero]

Thanks Joe.

Do you know what the minimum salary and social security contribution by employer/employee would be? I've been told before that the minimum salary for a foreign employee is 50k THB per month.

[ubonjoe]

The minimum salary to get an extension of stay varies by the country a person is from. For a Taiwanese it is 45k baht a month. For the UK it is 50k baht.

Social security is 5% up to a max of 750 baht per month for the employee and employer

[elviajero]

Ok Joe. Cheers.

[elviajero]

The minimum salary to get an extension of stay varies by the country a person is from. For a Taiwanese it is 45k baht a month. For the UK it is 50k baht.

Social security is 5% up to a max of 750 baht per month for the employee and employer

Sorry just had an afterthought.

What is the tax payable on a salary of 50k?

[ubonjoe]

It would be 15% on gross income but could be less dependent upon deductions. See: http://www.rd.go.th/publish/6045.0.html

[elviajero]

Joe,

It seems different embassies offer B visa's under different rules and conditions.

Hull and London will issue 12/36 month multi entry visa's to people wishing to carry out business in Thailand on behalf of a non Thai company.

So it looks like my friend could get a B visa from the UK, and carry out his work legally in Thailand on the proviso that he exists at least every 90 days.

Would you agrree that this is correct?

[ubonjoe]

A non-b visa does not allow a person to work here, It allows for business trips for meetings and etc.

Living and working here full time would require a work permit.