Have a friend who works remotely for an Australian Government department but lives in the US. They are a full employee and receive a monthly salary.

The fact that they would probably be illegal in Thailand is exactly my point. If they lived here, they definitely would not take any jobs away from Thais but would contribute to the economy.

Why do you refer to your friend in the plural "they"? I find it rather confusing.

You might find this both interesting and educational:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/he-or-she-versus-they

English is a fluid and adaptive language......

You're Welcome!!

Thanks.Thought my usage was correct.

As the METV option has only been in existence since November 2015, it is speculation that one can obtain a succession of such visas for long-term stay. Each Visa application form requires that you declare the true and compete purpose of your visit and ALL visas are issued at the discretion of the Embassy/Consulate even if you meet all the stated requirements for that particular Embassy/Consulate.

But from my perspective people which are remote working from Thailand can still see themselves as a tourists so it won't be a lie if someone will declare that it's for tourist purposes. Well for me I want to go for tourist and culture prospects but for long term and if I will work remote I will make the money I need.

^ Agreed, by the UNWTO definition of a tourist:

Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. The travel must occur for any purpose different from being remunerated from within the place visited: the previous limits, where tourism was restricted to recreation and visiting family and friends are now expanded to include a vast array of purposes.

I take that to mean as long as you're not employed by an entity in Thailand, then you're a tourist, at least if it's not for more than a consecutive year.

So you could get 9 months out of the METV, then switch to an Ed visa for several years and be classed as a student, then reevaluate from there.

Thailand has never required anyone to declare that they run a blog or do a bit of affiliate marketing in a foreign currency on the beach, and send the proceeds from Paypal to a Thai bank account... neither does any country in the world. Only will you find this topic brought up by older Thai expats... the community here is fairly toxic.

Have a friend who works remotely for an Australian Government department but lives in the US. They are a full employee and receive a monthly salary.

The fact that they would probably be illegal in Thailand is exactly my point. If they lived here, they definitely would not take any jobs away from Thais but would contribute to the economy.

Why do you refer to your friend in the plural "they"? I find it rather confusing.

If they are working for a Government then, like an Embassy, it may well be considered sovereign part of the country i.e. Australia. Hence if it is Australian and NOT Thailand they could be paying tax in Australia and nothing in Thailand.

They don't work in an embassy. That would not really be remote working. They work alongside colleagues physically located in Australia doing the same job.

It's possible that some TV members do not understands how modern offices work. Nearly everything is done via email and by accessing databases.

In this case the individual's spouse was offered a job in the US and the department didn't want to loose their skills and experience so they agreed to remote working.

They have a normal employment contract, holidays, sick leave and pay tax but they are physically located in the US.

Welcome to the future!

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by mngmn

^ Agreed, by the UNWTO definition of a tourist:

Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. The travel must occur for any purpose different from being remunerated from within the place visited: the previous limits, where tourism was restricted to recreation and visiting family and friends are now expanded to include a vast array of purposes.

I take that to mean as long as you're not employed by an entity in Thailand, then you're a tourist, at least if it's not for more than a consecutive year.

So you could get 9 months out of the METV, then switch to an Ed visa for several years and be classed as a student, then reevaluate from there.

Thailand has never required anyone to declare that they run a blog or do a bit of affiliate marketing in a foreign currency on the beach, and send the proceeds from Paypal to a Thai bank account... neither does any country in the world. Only will you find this topic brought up by older Thai expats... the community here is fairly toxic.

Agree with your post but just wanted to point out that trying to survive on the income provided by "a blog or a bit of affiliate marketing" would quite possibly put you in a lower income category. Similar to a back packer but with a few funds coming in (or if you must a despised DM).

The OP and her partner are Software Engineers. Their combined income should be well into USD six figures if they are any good.

My points are about remote workers with proper jobs/contracts and good earning potential.

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by mngmn

^ Agreed, by the UNWTO definition of a tourist:

Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. The travel must occur for any purpose different from being remunerated from within the place visited: the previous limits, where tourism was restricted to recreation and visiting family and friends are now expanded to include a vast array of purposes.

<snip>

Yes -- but the above UNWTO definition implies that one returns to one's 'usual environment' within one year of initiating travel and does not travel for a consecutive year of tourism travel. That then does not include the perpetual tourist who rarely or maybe never returns to one's usual environment. If one is traveling on a UK or USA passport it would be hard to claim that Thailand was one's 'usual environment'.

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by JLCrab

^ Agreed, by the UNWTO definition of a tourist:

Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. The travel must occur for any purpose different from being remunerated from within the place visited: the previous limits, where tourism was restricted to recreation and visiting family and friends are now expanded to include a vast array of purposes.

<snip>

Yes -- but the above UNWTO definition implies that one returns to one's 'usual environment' within one year of initiating travel and does not travel for a consecutive year of tourism travel. That then does not include the perpetual tourist who rarely or maybe never returns to one's usual environment. If one is traveling on a UK or USA passport it would be hard to claim that Thailand was one's 'usual environment'.

While useful, current definitions such as this one can quickly become irrelevant. It is not really that long ago that being a "tourist" was something only available to the most wealthy. Well-heeled tourists went on "grand tours" lasting several months (or even years).

Then we entered the era of mass tourism with cheap travel available to everyone. Most likely the visa laws in many countries failed to keep up with those changes. Thailand was smart to quickly introduce visa exempt entries and grab a large share of the mass tourism market.

We are now entering an era of a different kind of mobility. People can now opt for a truly nomadic life style and once again visa laws are failing to keep up.

In Thailand's case they are sticking to the mass tourism model which means trying to attract ever greater numbers of tourists with all the negative impacts that has on the Thai environment and culture.

My point is that encouraging remote workers (and retirees) with proper visas and regulations could be quite a sensible transition away from mass tourism.

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by mngmn

Great -- Thailand on several ministry websites regarding high tech says they want to encourage non-Thais to come to Thailand for technology transfer and to hire Thai computer science graduates -- not to sit in their room and do all the work by themselves because they don't need anyone else.

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by JLCrab

Great -- Thailand on several ministry websites regarding high tech says they want to encourage non-Thais to come to Thailand for technology transfer and to hire Thai computer science graduates -- not to sit in their room and do all the work by themselves because they don't need anyone else.

Yes I am aware of that. I am talking about something different. Remote workers as a substitute for mass tourism. These workers would live and work in Thailand but for overseas companies. No contact or interaction with the local workforce.

In the same way that mass tourism brings income into Thailand, so would legalised remote workers but arguably with less impact on the environment and thai culture.

The concept is very similar to a retirement extension, except available to those under 50.

Great -- maybe go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HQ in Bangkok and look for this:

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by JLCrab

Great -- Thailand on several ministry websites regarding high tech says they want to encourage non-Thais to come to Thailand for technology transfer and to hire Thai computer science graduates -- not to sit in their room and do all the work by themselves because they don't need anyone else.

Yes I am aware of that. I am talking about something different. Remote workers as a substitute for mass tourism. These workers would live and work in Thailand but for overseas companies. No contact or interaction with the local workforce.

In the same way that mass tourism brings income into Thailand, so would legalised remote workers but arguably with less impact on the environment and thai culture.

The concept is very similar to a retirement extension, except available to those under 50.

Name one country, Western or otherwise, which offers long term visas to "remote workers"

Thailand Elite visa if you want the least hassle.

Thailand is trying to deter people like you from coming here long term and working remotely.

Tourists in their eyes are just that,the METV is designed that you show enough funds for the duration of your stay and aren't here to work,remotely or not.

In the eyes of the current regime tourists only holiday for a few weeks a year at most,not months and months.

The existence of a 6 months validity Multi entry tourist visa (the METV) would suggest that they do understand some people travel for months at a time.

And as for the remote working question, the laws just haven't caught up with the modern world. The current restrictions on 'working' and the definitions of 'working' pre date the internet. They were put in place to stop foreigners from coming and taking Thai jobs. They were not put in place to stop people working remotely.

Thailand Elite visa if you want the least hassle.

Thailand is trying to deter people like you from coming here long term and working remotely.

Tourists in their eyes are just that,the METV is designed that you show enough funds for the duration of your stay and aren't here to work,remotely or not.

In the eyes of the current regime tourists only holiday for a few weeks a year at most,not months and months.

The existence of a 6 months validity Multi entry tourist visa (the METV) would suggest that they do understand some people travel for months at a time.

And as for the remote working question, the laws just haven't caught up with the modern world. The current restrictions on 'working' and the definitions of 'working' pre date the internet. They were put in place to stop foreigners from coming and taking Thai jobs. They were not put in place to stop people working remotely.

Have the laws in the UK or Australia caught up ?

Can non citizens just walk into those countries by announcing they are a "remote worker" and remain for as long as desired ?

IMHO the Labour Ministry and the Immigration Bureau have both told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if you keep issuing consecutive Tourist visas to persons, don't expect us to do anything about what they do once they get here.

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by JLCrab

Great -- Thailand on several ministry websites regarding high tech says they want to encourage non-Thais to come to Thailand for technology transfer and to hire Thai computer science graduates -- not to sit in their room and do all the work by themselves because they don't need anyone else.

Yes I am aware of that. I am talking about something different. Remote workers as a substitute for mass tourism. These workers would live and work in Thailand but for overseas companies. No contact or interaction with the local workforce.

In the same way that mass tourism brings income into Thailand, so would legalised remote workers but arguably with less impact on the environment and thai culture.

The concept is very similar to a retirement extension, except available to those under 50.

Name one country, Western or otherwise, which offers long term visas to "remote workers"

Are you saying that Thailand is incapable of innovation by being the first to offer such a visa?

That Thailand should wait for a Western country to endorse the idea first?

Many Western countries do not offer retirement visas (extension of stay) either. The same things that make Thailand attractive to retirees would make it attractive to remote workers under 50.

Name one country, Western or otherwise, which offers long term visas to "remote workers"

Err, the USA, Germany, Chile, list goes on...

Name one country, Western or otherwise, which offers long term visas to "remote workers"

Err, the USA, Germany, Chile, list goes on...

Can non citizens just walk into those countries by announcing they are a "remote worker" and remain for as long as desired ?

Name one country, Western or otherwise, which offers long term visas to "remote workers"

Err, the USA, Germany, Chile, list goes on...

Can non citizens just walk into those countries by announcing they are a "remote worker" and remain for as long as desired ?

No one can remain as long as desired in Thailand by walking in, i.e. on a visa exemption.

They fill in paperwork to apply for a visa. Same as in those countries I mentioned. So what's your point?

Great -- Thailand on several ministry websites regarding high tech says they want to encourage non-Thais to come to Thailand for technology transfer and to hire Thai computer science graduates -- not to sit in their room and do all the work by themselves because they don't need anyone else.

Yes I am aware of that. I am talking about something different. Remote workers as a substitute for mass tourism. These workers would live and work in Thailand but for overseas companies. No contact or interaction with the local workforce.

In the same way that mass tourism brings income into Thailand, so would legalised remote workers but arguably with less impact on the environment and thai culture.

The concept is very similar to a retirement extension, except available to those under 50.

Name one country, Western or otherwise, which offers long term visas to "remote workers"

Are you saying that Thailand is incapable of innovation by being the first to offer such a visa?

That Thailand should wait for a Western country to endorse the idea first?

Many Western countries do not offer retirement visas (extension of stay) either. The same things that make Thailand attractive to retirees would make it attractive to remote workers under 50.

Thailand or any other country just loves it when non-citizens want to tell that country that they know how to run -- in this case their foreign affairs -- better than they do. Good luck.

Great -- maybe go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HQ in Bangkok and look for this:

Great. Thanks for the suggestion

I think it time to get back on topic. I have seen no answers to the OP's questions for awhile.

Yeah... I think we will just go and sign into school which allows us to get ED visa and after a year we will go to Japan for 2y Japanese course so we don't have to non-stop corss the border

Yeah... I think we will just go and sign into school which allows us to get ED visa and after a year we will go to Japan for 2y Japanese course so we don't have to non-stop corss the border

To ensure a stay of one year you will need to book a course of 400 hours with a school. The Visa is only obtainable (with supporting paperwork supplied by the school) outside Thailand and if applied for within the region will only be a single entry visa which provides for a 90 day stay. 90 day "extensions of stay" can be obtained (again with supporting paperwork) from an immigration office providing the conditions of the visa/extension are met which includes maintaining a good class attendance record.

maintaining a good class attendance record.

It would be a waste of money if we would sign in and won't attend the school and it would be a shame not to learn thai while our stay so it's ok. And I think that 400h for a year is not that much.

I think we can go on tourist visa and if we will like it we can sign in to school.

maintaining a good class attendance record.

It would be a waste of money if we would sign in and won't attend the school and it would be a shame not to learn thai while our stay so it's ok. And I think that 400h for a year is not that much.

I think we can go on tourist visa and if we will like it we can sign in to school.

What you choose to do is entirely your own affair.

The information was provided, in good faith, to assist in informing your decision making.

BTW

It is Thai not "thai"

I think it time to get back on topic. I have seen no answers to the OP's questions for awhile.

Several off topic posts made after this notice have now been removed.

As you can see form reading the posts here, the basic idea of coming to Thailand and working from a beach is not a new idea.

My advice, as someone who had exactly the same idea 14 years ago, is to just go for it and get a multi-entry tourist visa before you come. If you get a double entry visa that will effectively give you 6 months with a couple of extensions. That should be enough to decide if Thailand is right for you.

If you like Thailand and you decide you want to stay then various options are available.

I know you did not specifically ask about the legitimacy of working from a Thailand beach, but I would not worry about that too much for your initial stay in Thailand. You may like to use Thailand as a base to explore countries like Laos and Cambodia (though I appreciate Laos has no beaches), people also live and work in those countries without any problems.

My advice, as someone who had exactly the same idea 14 years ago, is to just go for it and get a multi-entry tourist visa before you come. If you get a double entry visa that will effectively give you 6 months with a couple of extensions. That should be enough to decide if Thailand is right for you.

There is no such thing as a Double Entry Tourist Visa anymore.

Likewise a Triple Entry.

Single or Multi Entry only.

Edited February 1, 201610 yr by Eclipse

As you can see form reading the posts here, the basic idea of coming to Thailand and working from a beach is not a new idea.

My advice, as someone who had exactly the same idea 14 years ago, is to just go for it and get a multi-entry tourist visa before you come. If you get a double entry visa that will effectively give you 6 months with a couple of extensions. That should be enough to decide if Thailand is right for you.

If you like Thailand and you decide you want to stay then various options are available.

I know you did not specifically ask about the legitimacy of working from a Thailand beach, but I would not worry about that too much for your initial stay in Thailand. You may like to use Thailand as a base to explore countries like Laos and Cambodia (though I appreciate Laos has no beaches), people also live and work in those countries without any problems.

Only the new real multiple entry tourist is available now. Only a single entry visas and the METV are issued now. There are no more 2 and 3 entry visas.

Thank you all for your responses I didn't know that my topic will be so busy haha

I think it is all clear for me now