Hi,

Hoping for some advice really. I am starting up a digital tourism business (like an agent effectively) that can run completely with no shop or direct interaction with the public, all online.

Wanting to get full business visa and work permit as interacting with other Thai businesses - be legitimate. Am running into hurdles now. Have set up a company using friends names and will soon be transferring that into my name as director. My non 0 B will be issued at this end of this month with 3 months validity. I can also then get the work permit to run alongside it.

I have used friends up till now for their names and ids for the paperwork but it is becoming apparent that for the visa extension for 1 year and work permit for 1 year to be granted, I need 4 employees for all the paperwork. I actually have none and do not need any. It seems that there will be proof needed of my employees (photos at desks that kind of thing) and social security is also relevant. My worry is that i have spent the money to get the company up registered, get the 3 month non O B , get the 3 month work permit but it all will be wasted as no extensions will be granted due to the fact that I am effectively self employed?

Is there any way round this or have I gone down the wrong route given what I do. Should I have applied for a different kind of visa? I do feel I need the work permit and am covering myself by getting it, as I will be working with Thai companies on the ground to provide the services booked online.

Just some advice really if anyone has been down a similar route.

Many thanks

I don't know how to get around it...and no you are not going about it the wrong way. The reality is you need to be creating jobs in Thailand (4) to remain legal. That fact that you don't need them means you would be technically running a service business and taking a job away from a Thai if you were allowed to do things as a single employee.

If the business model is good and you can make some good revenue then agree to pay your 4 employees a reasonable salary and get on with it. If not, then you are not the type of business the Thai economy needs or wants.

Due diligence would have identified the problems you are now encountering before you went ahead with the company set up etc.

I doubt that a Work Permit will be issued for the business described.

An extension of stay would, again, probably be unattainable.

Had you researched these matters you would have discovered that Thailand offers very little to the foreign "one man" business.