Jump to content

Do youtubers need a work permit?


Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, balo said:

If you want to get paid money from Youtube into a Thai bank account you need a WP.  If you want to live here longer than 6 months every year you also need a WP.

 

But if Thailand is not your permanent address, you do not need a WP as long as any income from Youtube are transfered to an account outside of Thailand.   You are considered working as a digital nomad. And since there are no special visas available for nomads, you can stay here on a normal tourist visa. 

 

 

You sure about that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, jackdd said:

The Chinese company had an office space in Thailand where the Teachers went to work, so the teachers were employees in a (illegal) company in Thailand which does of course require a work permit and is quite different to somebody who makes youtube videos by himself.

If you work in Thailand Whether it is via youtube or online teaching then technically that is your "office" space from where you are working, whether it be your bedroom or co-working space.. therefore it is illegal. 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Kaopad999 said:

If you work in Thailand Whether it is via youtube or online teaching then technically that is your "office" space from where you are working, whether it be your bedroom or co-working space.. therefore it is illegal. 

You were talking about English teachers working online for a Chinese company, they were not working in their bedroom or a co working space, but in a designated space together with other employees of this company, probably they even had a set work schedule, this is quite different from the usual people who work online.

We have no evidence which shows that the usual "digital nomads" (business abroad, clients abroad, money abroad, working in their room or a co working space) staying in Thailand without having a work permit are doing anything illegal, so currently we can assume that it's legal to do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

But when the blogger is focused mainly on Thailand, he / she needs a work permit. "

so when you come on Thai Visa and do a trip report or start giving out any local advise about Thailand you need a work permit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

so when you come on Thai Visa and do a trip report or start giving out any local advise about Thailand you need a work permit.

I think you're missing the point..

Simply providing information without asking for money would be completely legal. But, a lot of bloggers and vloggers are monetizing their websites and videos which are bringing in an income stream. That is illegal, as it's classed as working.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

You were talking about English teachers working online for a Chinese company, they were not working in their bedroom or a co working space, but in a designated space together with other employees of this company, probably they even had a set work schedule, this is quite different from the usual people who work online.

We have no evidence which shows that the usual "digital nomads" (business abroad, clients abroad, money abroad, working in their room or a co working space) staying in Thailand without having a work permit are doing anything illegal, so currently we can assume that it's legal to do.

Isn't just a case of they haven't quite worked out yet exactly what the charge would be? 

Wait for a while until they do.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, Kaopad999 said:

I think you're missing the point..

Simply providing information without asking for money would be completely legal. But, a lot of bloggers and vloggers are monetizing their websites and videos which are bringing in an income stream. That is illegal, as it's classed as working.

6. A travel blogger writes about Thailand.

The verdict: "YES, this is work and it could be our concern. This work could have been done by a Thai person. Also, in order to produce the blog, the blogger uses information, sources, material, pictures from Thailand to sell it in the international market place. Finally, the content of the blog may affect the security and image of Thailand. The blogger definitely needs a work permit to do this. "

Are you kidding me? This would mean that many well-known travel bloggers, in particular the ones that specialise on Thailand only are in fact operating illegally and would need a work permit.

" When the blogger is an international travel blogger writing not only about Thailand but many more places and he stays in Thailand not too long but just as part of a longer trip to several countries, we allow this case without a work permit. But when the blogger is focused mainly on Thailand, he / she needs a work permit. "

But many bloggers don't even make a dime with their content.

" Even if the blogger does not make any money with his blog, he is still using his knowledge and ability with content that is derived from Thailand, so he needs a work permit.

However, bloggers may not be a main concern to this office, unless there are some problems. "

Interesting judgment and somewhat surreal, it means that all specialised travel bloggers about Thailand are in fact breaching the law if they don't have a work permit for it, even if they don't generate money with their blog.

We browse over a few well-known blogs, such as Richard Barrow in Thailand.

" Yes, this blogger clearly needs a work permit, however we do not really know where he is, if not in Chiang Mai it is not a main concern of us. "

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, dcnx said:

Letter of the law = maybe 

 

Spirit of the law = absolutely not 

 

Youtubers and social media influencers are not targeted here unless you make a video that upsets the Thai netizens. 

 

Same with digital nomads doing online work from their homes. I do it myself from time to time , but I feel what is important here is where you pay your taxes and where your money goes. 

 

In my case the money goes into my Norwegian bank account and every year I pay the income tax in Norway. 

 

A Youtuber who earns maybe 20k US dollars, making videos in Thailand , money paid into a Thai bank account and don't care about paying taxes and live in Thailand  is at risk for sure. 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many who study Thai law will disagree with you on that. Just read some old topics on this discussion that has been going on for years. 
 
You need to pay taxes if you earn money in Thailand, and what about a Thai company ? Things start to get complicated once you involve Thailand

Not necessarily


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, balo said:

Thai laws can be complicated, staying in Thailand for 1 year requires the proper visa  , based on marriage , retirement , but not based on work unless you have a WP. 

 

 

Can stay here on retirement or marriage extension. If none of your YouTube revenue comes into Thailand, not a problem. Doesn't matter where you make the vlogs. Several well known Thai vloggers do this and have had no problems. One got into trouble over a video he made in Thailand. Authorities didn't even mention WPs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From what I've seen, most YouTubers don't really make much money at all.  They may try for a while and then they give up.  Others are just documenting their vacations or their lives and the focus doesn't seem to be on making money.  All things considered, I can't imagine the endeavor being considered much of a "problem" by the authorities.  If anything, YouTube videos are probably a net positive, since they would tend to promote Thai tourism.  Free advertising for Thailand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Step into any Co-Working operation in Chiang Mai and you will meet a dozen bloggers making money. They teach online as well as make travel and food videos, none with a work permit. The older generation tends to vlog about their life just for fun, never getting paid. Immigration and Labor Office both seem to look the other way and ignore these vloggers. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.




×
×
  • Create New...