How younger people can stay (visa) longer in Thailand?

[dcpo]

It's all very well arguing about what should and should not qualify as working when it comes to online income, but at the end of the day it comes down to some immigration or labour officer's opinion. If you are living in Thailand and you're making money somewhere in a way that isn't covered by a work permit, then if it comes to the attention of the authorities and they decide they want to screw you, you will get screwed. Like with everything else in Thailand, the written law and what happens are only loosely related.

[rwdrwdrwd]

• The elite visa which costs 500,000 thb for 5 years.
• You shouldn't have a problem getting another tourist visa from your home country or another country neighbouring Thailand.
• You won't be refused entry if holding a TR.
• Set up a company so you can have a non 'B' visa and WP.
• There are companies that will, for a fee, employ you and organise a work permit. (sorry I don't know much about them other than they are expensive)

Unfortunately Thailand doesn't want people your age living and working here illegally.

You misunderstand!

The "digital nomads" live in 5* hotels , use the "gratis" Wi FI and pay tax on their huge incomes!

They also contribute to the economy of the local mobile noodle stall !

Actually there are quite some digital nomads that make far more as the old guys, there are also many old guys that live of a meager pension contributing almost nothing to the country.

But as with all groups there are those who make only a bit of money and those that are successful.

The older guys don't like the younger crowd as they don't have to pay for the girls.

As usual complete tripe

Only the last part.. it is probably true that the old guys don't have to pay for the old girls.

The remained of robblok's post is however entirely true. There are 'digital nomads' that make good money, I know a number. By 'good' i mean 100k US NET (and it goes a lot higher). Plenty of retirees on a fraction of that.

Edited October 13, 2015 by rwdrwdrwd

[Kitsune]

You should check Singapore's requirements more carefully !

"Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: $8,000 per person (6 months of financial statements)"

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/visa-matters-/-consular/visa-requirements/tourist-visa

: > )

Edit to include link

In Singapore, METV are only available for residents so there is no point of going there in the first place.

[oncearugge]

You should check Singapore's requirements more carefully !

"Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: $8,000 per person (6 months of financial statements)"

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/visa-matters-/-consular/visa-requirements/tourist-visa

: > )

Edit to include link

In Singapore, METV are only available for residents so there is no point of going there in the first place.

Provide a link which proves that assertion.

[jspill]

You're the one clutching at straws by interpreting the Alien Working act with bias

I'm just reading it as it is, it keeps talking about being an employee of a Thai employer, contributing to an expense fund out of wages, having a set place of work and so on.

Says nothing about entrepeneurs with partially passive income, in foreign currencies, derived from outside Thailand... feels more like I'm just using common sense than clutching at straws.

Edited October 13, 2015 by jspill

[jagfx]

Man I wish I was the OP's age again. Now the internet is well and truly established as a viable source of income which permits people to work remotely, then hell yeh, I'd be heading to Thailand also. Good luck to him and I do hope he finds a way around his problem.

Some posters in here have to get of their high horse and relax a bit. Digital nomads have been recently detained in CM and no action was taken against them once the authorities understood the whole concept of working like this. I believe they even released a statement locally confirming no law had been broken. Sure some young ones are bootstrapping it and trying to build their business and won't be really big contributors to the Thai economy, but I do know of quite a few that are making decent money and are contributing more than enough.

I'm here on retirement being over 50 but also have a strong background in working online and very familiar with the whole scene. Places like Thailand, Vietnam, Berlin, Barcelona and Medellin are big communities for the DM community for various reasons. Thailand, because of the weather, the food and the cheaper cost of living etc. There are co-working offices set up all around BKK and CM specifically for them. I'd rather be there using my brain and then having a few beers in the evening than sitting at a crappy old bar at midday with a few old grumpy men that are wanting to know what's the cheapest beer available today. Who's contributing. Good luck young man....

[Suradit69]

make baby in thailand and got same me unlimited non o visa

Ah, farang morality at its best. One's thoughts are with the child who facilitated your long stay.

[Kitsune]

Back on topic, you guys forgot extra voluntary work.

A/ Contributing to Thailand

B/ Giving you a visa

C/ Escaping capitalism

That could be a possibility...

[rwdrwdrwd]

Kitsune

A ridiculous comment which adds no value to the discussion.

A poor attempt to justify the illegal workers who exist on tourist visas which clearly state that working is prohibited.

Normal activities of daily living are not "work" in a legal sense!

The Thai legal definition simply says that 'working is working'.

Your interpretation of what 'work' is, and what is '"work" in a legal sense', is entirely opinion based.

Edited October 13, 2015 by rwdrwdrwd

[oncearugge]

Back on topic, you guys forgot extra voluntary work.

A/ Contributing to Thailand

B/ Giving you a visa

C/ Escaping capitalism

That could be a possibility...

If you or anyone else wishes to "escape" Capitalism you should head for Vietnam, Laos, or the Indian State of Kerala . All places where the Red Flag flies.

The big Daddy collapsed under the weight of failed Tractor Factories !

[elviajero]

You should check Singapore's requirements more carefully !

"Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: $8,000 per person (6 months of financial statements)"

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/visa-matters-/-consular/visa-requirements/tourist-visa

: > )

Edit to include link

In Singapore, METV are only available for residents so there is no point of going there in the first place.

Provide a link which proves that assertion.

The website: "Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa will only be granted to Singaporean nationals or Long-Term Pass Holder of Singapore."

[Kitsune]

In Singapore, METV are only available for residents so there is no point of going there in the first place.

Provide a link which proves that assertion.

LOL

It's your OWN link... Do you ever read what you post? it's written in bold and underlined, what else do you need? A flashlight?

• Tourist Visa will only be granted to Singaporean nationals or Long-Term Pass Holder of Singapore.

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/visa-matters-/-consular/visa-requirements/tourist-visa

[Kitsune]

Back on topic, you guys forgot extra voluntary work.

A/ Contributing to Thailand

B/ Giving you a visa

C/ Escaping capitalism

That could be a possibility...

If you or anyone else wishes to "escape" Capitalism you should head for Vietnam, Laos, or the Indian State of Kerala . All places where the Red Flag flies.

The big Daddy collapsed under the weight of failed Tractor Factories !

Oh my gosh, escaping capitalism does not mean switching to communism, not since 1950 anyway.

Could you stop contradicting every each of my post for the sake of it and pestering me constantly?

[tajtom]

Thailand Elite funny

Who wants to be robbed LOL

Just get 6 month tourist Visa

Simple cross aborder each 90 days or go into immi office and pay MORE of COURSE

[Kitsune]

Thailand Elite funny

Who wants to be robbed LOL

Just get 6 month tourist Visa

Simple cross aborder each 90 days or go into immi office and pay MORE of COURSE

Hang on

You can actually go to Immi instead of leaving after 90 days??

How much? How?

[elviajero]

You're the one clutching at straws by interpreting the Alien Working act with bias and probably ignoring the Immigration act. I've worked here online for years, and for years I thought I was legal, but even though it suits me to follow your rationale I can't because I know the facts direct from the authorities in Thailand which is all that count.

And you have these facts in some written form, or?

I've read the immigration act and the criteria for persona non grata - http://www.thaivisa.com/392-0.html

In fact from that link, people who are persona non grata include:

2. Those who have no appropriate means of earning a living once they have entered the Kingdom.

3. Those who, having entered the Kingdom to take up employment as laborers or practice other forms of manual work that require no special skill or training

Those two points seem to imply to me that I'm ok as long as I support myself and don't take jobs from Thais in the process.

Your visa only grants entry to the country for the following activities.

Section 34 : aliens entering into the kingdom for a temporary stay may enter for the below listed activities ;

1. Diplomatic or Consular Missions.

2. Performance of official duties.

3. Touring

4. Sporting

5. Business

6. Investing under the concurrence of the Ministries and Departments concerned.

7. Investing or other activities relating to investing subject to the provisions of the law on

investment promotion.

8. Transit journey.

9. Being the person in charge of the crew of a conveyance coming to port, station , or area in the Kingdom.

10. Study or observation.

11. Mass media.

12. Missionary work under the concurrence of the Ministries and departments concerned. 13. Scientific research or training or teach in a Research Institute in the Kingdom.

14. The practice of skilled handicraft or as a specialist

15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.

Your visa doesn't give permission to work. If you want to work you have to be authorised.

Section 37 : An alien having received a temporary entry permit into the Kingdom must comply with the following :

1. Shall not engage in the occupation or temporary or employment unless authorized by the Director General. or competent official deputized by the Director General . If , in any case , there is a law concerning alien employment provided hereafter , the granting of work privileges must comply with the law concerned.

Edited October 13, 2015 by elviajero

[jacksam]

Kitsune

A ridiculous comment which adds no value to the discussion.

A poor attempt to justify the illegal workers who exist on tourist visas which clearly state that working is prohibited.

Normal activities of daily living are not "work" in a legal sense!

Only because you are not educated.

Life salary,where every work is considered as such and rewarded and as a way out of capitalism, has been for years supported by political movements and is seriously debated as a way to end poverty, exploitation and unemployment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Friot

So how much did you pay yourself for doing your laundry, and more to the point, what does some disputed French academic theory have to do with a young fellow staying longer term in Thailand?

My point is that the concept of work is not as black and white as some posters might think.

It's not just about who you work for or what you do and here they don't condemn you for working online YET, so lets leave the OP alone and get back to the actual topic: How to stay when you are not an old fart yet?

Finally after your normal typical nonsense you wish to return to the actual OP.

As for the very rude old fart comment. I may very well be.

However I worked hard accumulated a lot of wealth. Pay my taxes in AU etc. What have you done on your ed visas.

Edited October 13, 2015 by jacksam

[louse1953]

Baby = Visa

You only need 9 months worth of visa runs.

Baby does NoT equal visa/extension of stay unless the legal father with sole custody or married to the Thai mother.

Then there is the need to have 400,000 Baht in a Thai Bank!

And then the marriage has to be seen to be legit.

[jacksam]

Legit??? If you mean was not solely for purpose to obtain visa to remain in Thailand . I'm sure the OP would have the smarts to use tourist visas for some time and develop a relationship where marriage is a possibility. DON'T imagine many would suggest marry a thai just to live here. Particularly at a young age. Legit wouldn't come into play

Edited October 13, 2015 by jacksam

[TheRascal]

Technically illegal to do that in Thailand. No work permit. Anyway the common problem is most of possible suggestions, like the elite card are

You can't say it's illegal. You can say your interpretation of the law is that it's illegal but no one has ever been arrested for it and immigration officers in CM said it was no problem. Still, this doesn't mean it is no problem but it's not clear.

Everyone on here is just posting conjecture - no one really knows a thing for sure one way or the other.

I always find it amazing the number of "digital nomads" who are working online, want to live it up somewhere... but don't want to do so legally.

the fact is if you can't afford the 500,000 baht for a elite card, you probably aren't contributing significantly to the economy anyway.

at current exchange rates that is around $250 usd a month - which isn't really that much if you are making a good living and want to settle down somewhere like Thailand.

The reality though, is a lot of these folks are making just enough to sustain themselves - which is fine; so I suggest they go to countries with easier visa's (say cambodia or malaysia, or many places in africa) at which they want to be somewhere cheap, but also with reliable infrastructure... infrastructure they don't contribute to the upkeep of with their taxes (sure they pay taxes on purchases etc. but its not really the same)

Firstly as someone else already pointed out, if it's illegal it's illegal, Elite doesn't change this.

I'm currently living off savings and investments and a business I have shares in but don't currently work in. I'm not plagued by the working/not working legality that some people are but you could suggest as I pay no tax I don't contribute to the economy. However I'd say I do, I spend 25k a month on a condo that's owned by a Thai, I pay to go to the gym, I eat in restaurants, buy clothes, electronics, pay a laundry shop to wash my stuff.

I don't spend a fortune but I'd say that money is going into the economy and that filters its way through, I take taxis and motorbikes - do they not pay licenses that (in theory) pay towards the upkeep of the roads? I take the BTS - surely a tiny fraction of which goes towards the development of new lines, I pay electric and water etc etc.

The Thais won't see the stamps, but most are recorded in their database(s) so it is very likely they will sort things out. Deliberately lying and saying you lost your passport is fraud, and illegal. I am surprised the moderators let that post slip by.

It's completely pointless too, I replaced my passport with 10 pages left as I plan not to go home for a while and will travel a fair bit, as long as you pay you can get a new passport when you want.

[TheRascal]

You misunderstand!

The "digital nomads" live in 5* hotels , use the "gratis" Wi FI and pay tax on their huge incomes!

They also contribute to the economy of the local mobile noodle stall !

Actually there are quite some digital nomads that make far more as the old guys, there are also many old guys that live of a meager pension contributing almost nothing to the country.

But as with all groups there are those who make only a bit of money and those that are successful.

The older guys don't like the younger crowd as they don't have to pay for the girls.

As usual complete tripe

What's tripe? There are definitely online guys making fortunes, I'd say a significant number in Bangkok - probably less so in Chiang Mai. There are a couple of large affiliate marketing conferences here every year, they wouldn't bother if there weren't a lot of big affiliate players.

How incorrect can you be ? YOU are in Thailand and YOU are working, be it remotely or not - that is illegal without the correct visa and work permit.

Tell the online teachers that were arrested and deported from Chaing Mai that there have never been any arrests !

They were working for a Thai company and getting paid in Thailand without work permits. Look up the details before scaremongering.

[balo]

As always , only one opening post from the OP and this thread ends up with a lot of BS posts .

The elite visa is probably to expensive for a 27 year old earning a few bucks online.

So if you insist on living here , and stay single, tourist visas is the way to go .

Or move to Cambodia , digital nomads are fleeing there in numbers these days.

[F4UCorsair]

make baby in thailand and got same me unlimited non o visa

Bad and irresponsible advice. Giving a local a bellyfull of arms and legs just to remain in Thailand is the wrong motivation.

[Kitsune]

Edited October 13, 2015 by Kitsune

[jacksam]

The tripe I was referring to is to quote "the older guys don't like the younger crowd as they don't have to pay for the girls" ......this is the typical stuff we see from the usual suspects, that distracts from the OP and frankly just display a level at very best immaturity and at worst stupidity

[Enoon]

Well it's been nearly 24hrs, 108 posts and nothing from him/her/she-he since their initial post.

Does anybody think "AndyFth" (27 year old digital nomad) could handle an answer that required "it" to exercise the slightest amount of intellectual diligence/hard work or long-term planning to attain the required objective? (look at their previous posts).

AndyFth, just in case you are still there: 27 years old, internet derived income - why would you want to stay anywhere? Or is it "Calypso" again?

That's all folks!

[TheRascal]

The tripe I was referring to is to quote "the older guys don't like the younger crowd as they don't have to pay for the girls" ......this is the typical stuff we see from the usual suspects, that distracts from the OP and frankly just display a level at very best immaturity and at worst stupidity

Yep, we should really treat one another with a little more respect.

I'm sure there's jealousy in some instances but also I think up to a certain age older guys have no problem getting normal girls and not paying for sex (I personally know of a couple of guys around the 60 mark) just by dressing well and treating girls nicely.

[steven23]

Dear Andy,

I wouldnt recommend you elite visa, first it is expensive, second, why would you spent so many money when there is solution for digital nomads?

Many companies provide working visa ( legally ) for digital - internet employers, I think they also cover your health insurance and social welfare, ( whatever that mean in Thailand)

I am not familiar with this world since I am not digital nomads but my friends are and they are using Igloo in Chiang Mai,

however, I dont know what are their experience and you should maybe ask on forum ( maybe this one but just other part or another one) whee digital nomads gather to discuss their option,

best of luck

[TheRascal]

Dear Andy,

I wouldnt recommend you elite visa, first it is expensive, second, why would you spent so many money when there is solution for digital nomads?

Many companies provide working visa ( legally ) for digital - internet employers, I think they also cover your health insurance and social welfare, ( whatever that mean in Thailand)

I am not familiar with this world since I am not digital nomads but my friends are and they are using Igloo in Chiang Mai,

however, I dont know what are their experience and you should maybe ask on forum ( maybe this one but just other part or another one) whee digital nomads gather to discuss their option,

best of luck

Works out at over 20,000 baht a month to be employed in this way. 21,296 at the current exchange rate. Elite works out at around 8333 baht albeit paid upfront.

Edited October 13, 2015 by TheRascal

[oncearugge]

Dear Andy,

I wouldnt recommend you elite visa, first it is expensive, second, why would you spent so many money when there is solution for digital nomads?

Many companies provide working visa ( legally ) for digital - internet employers, I think they also cover your health insurance and social welfare, ( whatever that mean in Thailand)

I am not familiar with this world since I am not digital nomads but my friends are and they are using Igloo in Chiang Mai,

however, I dont know what are their experience and you should maybe ask on forum ( maybe this one but just other part or another one) whee digital nomads gather to discuss their option,

best of luck

Iglu charge 30% of income to provide their support/service.

Most DN would not earn sufficient to allow them to work under the umbrella provided by Iglu.