Work permit for someone who helps to install part of a factory

[robblok]

My dad who is retired but has quite some experience in his field has been asked to help setup a transport and packaging system for fertilizer in Thailand. This would mean a 2 month job and the company paying him would be Dutch. (would not just be him but a few other experts and assistants too) As the system is sold inclusive installation and some training.

The client company would be Thai.

Now the question is about work permits as he is working in Thailand and I would hate to visit him in jail. This is not a job that would be done out of sight and it would involve major companies. Not some small scale setup but a large Thai company.

But he is not working for the Thai company, but for the Dutch one. Just wonder how about this and its better to find out everything before he agrees to things.

[ubonjoe]

He would need a work permit and a non-b visa.

Some arrangements would need to be made for the Thai company to get the work permit.

[robblok]

He would need a work permit and a non-b visa.

Some arrangements would need to be made for the Thai company to get the work permit.

Thanks, I will make sure the company sending my dad and the others will know this.

Doesn't this kind of stuff bother companies that even if you come to provide support on the product you sold you have to have a work-permit. I can understand it for nickle and dime things but for large projects ?

[KhunBENQ]

Compare this with the situation in your home country (whatever it is).

Just the opposite seems fair to me.

Of course you need a work permit for working on a big project.

And a written: if that Thai company is interested to get the product running they will do the necessary support with the documents and your dad will get a WP.

[robblok]

Compare this with the situation in your home country (whatever it is).

Just the opposite seems fair to me.

Of course you need a work permit for working on a big project.

And a written: if that Thai company is interested to get the product running they will do the necessary support with the documents and your dad will get a WP.

I'm sure it will be arranged, we are talking about a large company here. (though i worry about the famous mai pen rai attitude).

It won't be just my dad but a group of technicians, not a small thing. Would have thought that for obvious large project like that it would be easier.

Where I am from barriers like that are gone to make trade easier and I agree with that.

If I understand correctly then they need to apply for non B visa's and then when they arrive in Thailand they need to get a WP.

I assume lawyers can take care of this ?, because would cost a lot of money to have them waste their time with waiting for Thai bureaucrats. (meaning they don't have to be present there ?)

Just checking here a bit dad is hired by a Dutch company to work with a team of other technicians to setup the product and get it running for the Thai client (big factory) . My father still has to agree but I am trying to get things clear a bit so he knows what he is getting into.

[Gulfsailor]

Good info here; http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/386712-temporary-work-permit/

[robblok]

Good info here; http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/386712-temporary-work-permit/

Thanks, but from what I have been told the work would be 1 or 2 months so not the 15 days they are talking about.

But from what I have read I will make sure that he tells the Dutch company that hires him to put into the contract with the Thai company that they have to get work-permits.

They have time enough its not something that will happen this year but early next year (if they all agree). So time enough id guess. Just wanting to get good information before the negotiations. I just wanted to be real sure, so they would not accept a "no its not needed" from the Thai company and end up in trouble.

Im sure the Dutch company that want to hire him for the project will look into it too, but just want him to mention it too and get assurances in his contract with the Dutch firm. Then the Dutch firm can make sure that the Thai company arranges the work permits for him and the others.

I am probably worrying for nothing as that Dutch firm does projects all over the world but still knowing Thailand its better to be sure.

[ericthai]

He would need a work permit and a non-b visa.

Some arrangements would need to be made for the Thai company to get the work permit.

Thanks, I will make sure the company sending my dad and the others will know this.

Doesn't this kind of stuff bother companies that even if you come to provide support on the product you sold you have to have a work-permit. I can understand it for nickle and dime things but for large projects ?

Prior to moving to Thailand I used to come to Thailand for large projects. I would be in Thailand anywhere from 2 weeks up to 6 weeks at a time, leave and come back 2-3 weeks later.

The Thai customer would provide us a letter and documents to get a 1 year mulit-entry visa in the USA and then when we got to Thailand they arranged work permits. However we started working

as soon as we got to Thailand even though it took 1-2 weeks for our WP to show up. Coming back for system checkup only staying 1-2 days we would not get a WP.

[GOLDBUGGY]

Compare this with the situation in your home country (whatever it is).

Just the opposite seems fair to me.

Of course you need a work permit for working on a big project.

And a written: if that Thai company is interested to get the product running they will do the necessary support with the documents and your dad will get a WP.

I'm sure it will be arranged, we are talking about a large company here. (though i worry about the famous mai pen rai attitude).

It won't be just my dad but a group of technicians, not a small thing. Would have thought that for obvious large project like that it would be easier.

Where I am from barriers like that are gone to make trade easier and I agree with that.

If I understand correctly then they need to apply for non B visa's and then when they arrive in Thailand they need to get a WP.

I assume lawyers can take care of this ?, because would cost a lot of money to have them waste their time with waiting for Thai bureaucrats. (meaning they don't have to be present there ?)

Just checking here a bit dad is hired by a Dutch company to work with a team of other technicians to setup the product and get it running for the Thai client (big factory) . My father still has to agree but I am trying to get things clear a bit so he knows what he is getting into.

I have worked on many projects World Wide in the Construction of a Refinery or Gas Plant which employed several hundred expats working their. All of us required Work Permits and Residency Visas.

Generally their is someone from that country working for this company who has government contacts and handles all this for them as the Agent.

Yes! It is time consuming and costly but is also part of doing business overseas. The last thing any of these companies want is to be doing something illegally and thus being shut down. That is much more costly and inconvenient.

[robblok]

Ok, so it is doable, you guys that had the experience did you have to come with someone to the department of labor or could lawyers take care of everything ?

That is actually now the main question its clear a WP is needed.

[ubonjoe]

If is is a large Thai company that they will be doing the work for I suspect they may have staff that can handle the WP applications. If it is a company with BOI privileges it will be even easier.

[robblok]

If is is a large Thai company that they will be doing the work for I suspect they may have staff that can handle the WP applications. If it is a company with BOI privileges it will be even easier.

I assume its a large company otherwise they can't afford the product.

Ok I will tell him what to expect and what to ask in the negotiations with the Dutch company. They can then arrange it with the Thai company.

Probably overkill me asking all these things as I assume the Dutch company that is big too and does a lot of foreign projects has experience here. Just being cautious here and trying to make it painless for dad as he really dislikes bureaucracy.

Thanks for the excellent information everyone.

[vaultdweller0013]

Ok, so it is doable, you guys that had the experience did you have to come with someone to the department of labor or could lawyers take care of everything ?

That is actually now the main question its clear a WP is needed.

If I recall correctly, I had to go in person to a Ministry of Labor office once when initially getting my WP, but not for the renewals. However, that was a few years ago so things may have changed, or I may not be remembering correctly. On the up side, getting the WP was the easy part and only took and hour or so of my time; the agent took care of the rest.

The time consuming part was always the extension of stay -- I've spent an entire day at immigration once or twice, but assuming the contract will be completed in a couple of months, he shouldn't need to do this.

[AlQaholic]

The best thing would be to "officially" work for the Thai Company. Arrangements has to be made. That being said, many years ago, I know of many foreign companies who's staff on the building site was here on tourist visas for more than a year, but I doubt that is possible nowadays with stricter enforcement.

[Soutpeel]

If is is a large Thai company that they will be doing the work for I suspect they may have staff that can handle the WP applications. If it is a company with BOI privileges it will be even easier.

I assume its a large company otherwise they can't afford the product.

Ok I will tell him what to expect and what to ask in the negotiations with the Dutch company. They can then arrange it with the Thai company.

Probably overkill me asking all these things as I assume the Dutch company that is big too and does a lot of foreign projects has experience here. Just being cautious here and trying to make it painless for dad as he really dislikes bureaucracy.

Thanks for the excellent information everyone.

The easiest way, granted more expensive to get the Dutch company to retain a Thai body shop to arrange the WP and he would be enployed by them for the duration, they will be looking for a cut of 12% to around 18% but they will take care of all the bureaucratic BS