Lacessit 23,332 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 As the title says, I have a retirement visa, six years now. I have an tentative offer of work in my home country, writing technical presentations for an education facility. I also have been offered a one-off subcontract by a corrosion consultant in the US. None of the work is related to Thailand in any way, is using physical facilities here, is in competition with any Thai, or depriving any Thai of employment. Am I breaching my visa conditions by working online? What is the position of Thai Immigration with respect to work outside Thailand? Any payment would be going to an Australian bank account. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post ubonjoe 48,629 Posted January 24 Popular Post Share Posted January 24 Nothing different for you from what many people (digital nomads) are doing already here. What you do at home on a computer is not a problem as long as you keep a low profile about what you are doing. 7 3 Link to post Share on other sites
JoseThailand 135 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 (edited) As long as you don't work for a Thai employer or customers within Thailand, it's not a problem. Edited January 24 by JoseThailand 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FritsSikkink 13,021 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 1 hour ago, ubonjoe said: Nothing different for you from what many people (digital nomads) are doing already here. What you do at home on a computer is not a problem as long as you keep a low profile about what you are doing. Tell him as well that it isn't legal. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
robblok 41,499 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 Just now, FritsSikkink said: Tell him as well that it isn't legal. It isnt but risk is quite low especially if you get paid abroad and you do all the work from home. Besides your not competing with Thais. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FritsSikkink 13,021 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 1 minute ago, robblok said: It isnt but risk is quite low especially if you get paid abroad and you do all the work from home. Besides your not competing with Thais. The risk is low, it isn't relevant that you are not competing with Thais. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post robblok 41,499 Posted January 24 Popular Post Share Posted January 24 2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said: The risk is low, it isn't relevant that you are not competing with Thais. Depends how you look at it, the laws are made so foreigners don't take Thai jobs. The authorities don't care much if your not taking jobs away from Thais. Unless your flaunting it just keep under the radar. If you do take jobs away from Thais the risk is higher as you can get turned in by the competition. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Tuvoc 213 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 I asked a large law firm in Bangkok about this. They said: "If you decide to go with a Retirement visa, you can practically work on your computer without any issue as there is no actual proof that you are working. Those who work under retirement visa in an office, work space, store.,.etc, are more likely to be in trouble." An interesting response. So yes technically illegal but low risk if it isn't visible and you keep it quiet. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
JoseThailand 135 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 It's not illegal to get income from abroad in any way. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JoseThailand 135 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 (edited) I openly say to officials that I work online and never had any problems. It is no different than getting a pension or dividends from your country. Edited January 24 by JoseThailand 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Joseph98765 0 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 Maybe the only thing you need to check is where to pay taxes, after 180 days living here...taxes has to be paid here, as I understood... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jackdd 8,811 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 20 hours ago, FritsSikkink said: Tell him as well that it isn't legal. Department of labor and immigration don't agree with you. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FritsSikkink 13,021 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 (edited) 2 hours ago, jackdd said: Department of labor and immigration don't agree with you. The department of labor does, immigration individuals can say what they want, not their department or expertise area. Edited January 25 by FritsSikkink 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Pravda 4,573 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 So you're paying us taxes? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ubonjoe 48,629 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 17 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said: The department of labor does, immigration individuals can say what they want, not their department or expertise area. They might of said that prior to 2018 when the definition of work changed. It now states. “To perform any professional work, regardless of whether or not there is an employer, but excluding the conduct of business of foreign business license holders according to the Foreign Business Act.” Does a digital nomad fit that description? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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