If I live in Thailand, I understand that I need to apply for a work permit/visa to be allowed to work. My area of work is in the IT business as a web designer/programmer. Looking at the documents requiremented for a work permit/visa, it seems to be minded towards people working for Thai companies. Now what if my employer is not a Thai company, but a company located in Europe? What should I do in this situation, if I want to work legally while in Thailand?

To legally do any form of work requires a work permit. It does not matter where the company is, or whether the work is done online, all that is important is that YOU are in Thailand and therefore require a work permit.

You are facing the same problem as a lot of the other online/remote workers.

To legally do any form of work requires a work permit. It does not matter where the company is, or whether the work is done online, all that is important is that YOU are in Thailand and therefore require a work permit.

You are facing the same problem as a lot of the other online/remote workers.

And they do what to stay legal ?

Keep mum and don't spout off to every Tom,Dick and Harry.

Or do what ?

Please do answer the OPs question.

I'm also keen on knowing the answer.

Edited October 4, 201510 yr by stoneyboy

You do not mention your nationality. If you are lucky enough to be an American, you can create a sole proprietorship under the Treaty of Amity, and get a work permit through that. Otherwise, the only fully legal way is to establish a limited Thai company that, on paper, is majority Thai owned, and to work for that company.

As a practical matter, the labor department is unlikely to come after you if you do not have a work permit to do work online for an overseas company. However, without a work permit, visas/extensions may be a real pain.

What some people have done is find a Thai company willing (for some kind of compensation) to get a work permit for you. You would obviously pay all the costs, as well as pay taxes on the salary they pay you on paper. Your compensation to them might be giving them some free IT consulting. Finding such a company might be difficult unless you know the right people.

Please read one of the many other topics on the question, this is the most recent http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854461-work-online-for-an-overseas-company/

Now what if my employer is not a Thai company, but a company located in Europe? What should I do in this situation, if I want to work legally while in Thailand?

You need to be employed by a Thai entity to get the work permit. There are a few ways to achieve that but they can be expensive and or impractical.

Unfortunately Thailand only wants people living here that can fund their stay from passive income or that work for a Thai company, and there's no easy way around that.

Do not say anything to anyone. Keep your income outside Thailand, only import what you need. Get your visa from your home country every year, or buy an elite card (if you have the funds). When the internet gets so slow, only 1 gateway, relocate and take your income to another Asean country.