How common is it for foreigners to be taken on as interns in Thai companies?  I'm a British national currently studying undergraduate engineering in Malaysia, but have full working rights in Thailand.  Anyone know the length of a typical internship? 

I'm not sure why you think you have "full working rights" in Thailand, unless you also have Thai nationality.  Engineering is a restricted profession here, only open to Thai people.  (The Free Trade Agreement theoretically opened that up to other ASEAN nationals, but it's more in theory than in practice.)

 

To work here as a non-Thai national you'd need an appropriate visa and work permit.  The latter can only be obtained once you have secured employment and with a stack of paperwork.

 

And to answer your first question, it's extremely rare.

 

 

Mechanical engineering is not in any way protected or forbidden to foreigners.

Full working rights in Thailand???

Sounds like you've met "Honest Somchai", the visa agent

Correction then: full working rights as far as being an intern is concerned.

23 minutes ago, rjw said:

Correction then: full working rights as far as being an intern is concerned.

 

You have no working rights here whatsoever without an appropriate visa and work permit.  Being an intern confers no special rights any more than being an unpaid voluntary worker.

 

Not sure why "Mechanical Engineering" isn't a prohibited form of "Engineering", though.

20 minutes ago, Oxx said:

 

Not sure why "Mechanical Engineering" isn't a prohibited form of "Engineering", though.

Everything I have read on Prohibited Occupations states only Civil Engineering as being Prohibited.

 

Otherwise, intern or not, the OP would require an appropriate Visa and Work Permit.

Edited September 13, 20169 yr by mikebike

50 minutes ago, rjw said:

Correction then: full working rights as far as being an intern is concerned.

Mmmmm, not so much.

 

Government Gazette Vol. 95, Part 73, Special Issue, dated 21stJuly B.E. 2521

Section 5. In this Act,

"alien" means a natural person who is not of Thai nationality;
"work" means engaging in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefit;

 

There have been updates to the law, most recently 2010, I believe, but this part from 1978 remains...

Edited September 13, 20169 yr by mikebike

6 hours ago, Oxx said:

 

You have no working rights here whatsoever without an appropriate visa and work permit.  Being an intern confers no special rights any more than being an unpaid voluntary worker.

 

Not sure why "Mechanical Engineering" isn't a prohibited form of "Engineering", though.

When I first came to Thailand I was working as an engineer and did so for 6 years until I started my own company. However i was referred to as a specialist in bulk material handling not sure if that makes a difference. 

 

OP as stated to work in Thailand inter or not you would need a B visa and a work permit. 

Edited September 13, 20169 yr by ericthai