Many foreign visitors come to Thailand with the intention of staying longer or making the life-changing choice to relocate here. If you’re extremely fortunate and have a good deal of sustenance funds, you can do so with ease. Else wise, you will have to work to earn your living in Thailand. This article intends to elaborate on the best industries and trades with jobs for foreigners in Thailand.
If you want a better-paying job, you’ll have to hunt for one that Thai people don’t hold the qualifications to do. Unlike many other countries, Thailand retains some jobs for its own citizens. If locals lack the necessary skills or expertise, foreigners will be able to fill the role. Because the cost of living on this paradise island is so much lower than it is back home, don’t expect to be paid as much as you would back home.
The following are some of the most common jobs for foreigners in Thailand:
Teaching English and Translation
Teachers are in high demand in Thailand. In Thailand, the majority of employed foreigners teach English. A bachelor’s degree in linguistics or English is the minimum prerequisite for teaching English. Even if you can acquire a teaching job without a degree, the remuneration is usually not particularly good.
However, the compensation policies are quite good if you have a degree and you can deal with bilinguals, i.e., both Thai and English. English is the international business language. Working as a translator for Thai enterprises is extremely possible in Thailand.
Computer and Information Technology
In Thailand, programmers, web designers, and IT experts are in high demand. It is generally not too difficult to acquire a position in this industry, especially if you have previous expertise in the field. Recently, the Board of Investment has made announcements to promote the Digital Economy of Thailand in their BCG initiative. Therefore, the need for IT experts and professionals in the digital industry will surely get a boom.
Engineering
Although foreigners are not permitted to work in civil engineering, Thailand has a large number of open vacancies for specialized engineers. The Free Trade Zones in Thailand are attracting foreign investors for various business avenues. Moreover, most of the applications are related to manufacturing and industrial production. This can be a great opportunity for engineers with qualifications in manufacturing, production, metallurgy, chemical or mechanical engineering.
The BCG initiative of BOI Thailand promotes agriculture, biochemical and bio petroleum industry. Therefore, this can be a good opportunity for engineering professionals in the relevant industries. Else wise, the doors of Thailand are always open for engineers holding degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology or Communication Technologies.
Writing and Editorial
A few writers-editors are hired by national broadsheets and other media. Freelance editing of various papers, articles, and books is another way to make money.
Hotel Management and Culinary
Foreigners are being hired as general managers and public relations managers at tourist hotels to communicate with their visitors, listen to and resolve their problems, and so on. Additionally, cooks with experience in European cuisine are often sought by hotels and restaurants owned by foreigners.
Music and Entertainment
In any country, including Thailand, breaking into the music and entertainment industry is difficult. Although Thailand has a large number of artists and English-speaking DJs, yet, the number of open positions for foreigners is aptly available. Moreover, hotels are also on the lookout for great musicians to perform in their cocktail bars, restaurants, and lobby areas. You’ll stand a decent chance of getting a job if you can play the guitar or keyboard well and sing well.
Specialized Skills
Foreigners with particular capabilities, such as those listed above, are permitted to work in Thailand. Lawyers, pilots, investment gurus, and others are examples of such skills.
Opening Your Own Business
In Thailand, you have the option of starting your own business. You can register a business in Thailand to operate in multiple industries, but, you will need a Thai partner in your venture. However, if your country holds any bilateral treaty with Thailand, you may have an exemption in this rule.
But, in any case, you won’t be able to work there unless you have a work permit. There are various grounds which hold exemptions for work permits. However, you will also need a non-immigrant B Visa to operate your business in Thailand.
Prohibited Jobs
According to our earlier mentions, jobs for foreigners in Thailand are open majorly for Thai nationals. But foreigners with enticingly high skills are welcome to the Land of Smiles. However, following are few sections that are open for Thais and foreigners cannot find work herein:
- Wood carving
- Driving motor vehicles, driving a non-mechanically propelled carrier or driving a domestic mechanically propelled carrier, except for piloting international aircraft or forklift driving
- Auction
- Cutting or polishing diamond or precious stones
- Haircutting, hairdressing or beauty treatment
- Cloth weaving by hand
- Mat weaving or utensil making from reeds, rattan, hemp, straw, bamboo, bamboo pellicle, grass, chicken feather, coconut leaf stick, fiber, wire or other materials
- Mulberry paper making by hand
- Lacquerware making
- Making Thai musical instruments
- Nielloware making
- Gold ornaments, silverware or pink gold making
- Bronze ware making
- Thai dolls making
- Alms bowl making
- Silk products making by hand
- Buddha images making
- Paper or cloth umbrella making
- Brokerage or agency work, except brokerage or agency working in international trade or investment
- Thai massage
- Cigarette rolling by hand
- Tour guide or sightseeing tour operation
- Peddling
- Manual typesetting of Thai characters
- Silk reeling and twisting by hand
- Clerical or secretarial work
- Legal services or services in legal proceedings, except for the following occupations:
- Performing duties of arbitration.
- Providing assistance or representation in the arbitrary proceedings in the event that the law applicable to the dispute being considered by the arbitrators is not the Thai law.
The Bottomline
There is a good scope for jobs for foreigners in Thailand, but, to make that practical, you need to get an entry to the kingdom. Certificate of Entry, Non-immigrant B Visa and Work Permit are few of the major necessities for your entry to Thailand. For any and all of these reasons, you will need an authentic immigration law firm in Thailand to communicate with. You can email us at [email protected] to book a free round of consultation regarding your entry to Thailand.
