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I'm self employed, what VISA should I apply for?

Anonymous 12 years ago • updated by richard hearne 12 years ago • 2

Hi Guys, I'm considering moving to Thailand for 12 months. I work for myself as a freelance designer. Will I need to apply for a type O VISA or is there an alternative route for self employed applicants?   

Gowri Sivakumaran 12 years ago

Hello,


I too would like to know if there is a different visa for self employed people. Was there any advice given here?

richard hearne 12 years ago

There is no distinction made for self-employed or employed.  To legally work in Thailand you must have a Work Permit.


However the reality is that that expats are self-employed, and work from home without ever having a problem. Especially in the digital area. It's not technically legal, and you may not be able to have a company or business bank account.  You should be able to open a personal bank account however.


It's also worth noting that to obtain a Work Permit as self-employed you will need to have 4 Thai employees (or 2 if married to a Thai national) and a registered business entity.


If your business is outside Thailand and you have the correct permits to stay/reside here you can probably work under the radar for as long as you like without problem.

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