Is it possible to arrive on a Tourist visa and get work?

Hello grayfoto,

Welcome on board !

I have created a new thread from your topic on the Thailand forum although this question has been discussed so many times.

You won't be able to work on a tourist visa. Are you asking whether you can change your tourist visa in Thailand to the "appropriate" visa that will enable you to work ?

Have a look at the Work visa in Thailand article.

All the best,

Bhavna

@grayfoto contact

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@grayfoto contact
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Hi Gray here.
Im a South African from Cape Town.
I am an ESL Teacher and I’m hoping to find work in Thailand and would love advice from fellow South Africans.
Is it possible to arrive on a Tourist visa and get work?
-@grayfoto

You need a work permit to be allowed to work legally in Thailand. There's no way around it. Don't you think a visa named "tourist visa" says it all?  🤔

@Bhavna

thanks for your reply.

I have been offered a teaching job in Thailand and the school has told me to arrive on my tourist visa and work at the school. They have said they will then try apply for a suitable visa. So I’m concerned it’s becoming a grey area.

I was hoping fellow South African teachers could give some advice, as

I know lots of SA teachers in Asia who have gone on holiday and landed a teaching job.

thanks for the link to working in Thailand.

@grayfoto

illegal to work on tourist visa. Also what happens to you when they don’t get you promised visa?

If it  was me, Say NO to come and start working on a Tourist Visa, Even so i know many do so.

The problem you might run into is not not worth it i think.

If the School cant setup everything by the book, Then go find a school that can.

It say to me STAY AWAY with big letters when/if school ask people to start out illegal.

And If starting out working here illegal, Your be easy to push to stay that way.

If thing go wrong, The school can make a deal to get out of it Cheap.

But you not going to be that lucky. Special if you dont know the right people.

Why take that chance for a few baht ?

But and the end of the day, It is up to you.

Kindly.

@grayfoto no, a tourist visa does not allow you to work

Also, even though some people do it, consider that if you get caught working illegally, you may be barred from re-entry. Not worth the effort.

All the replies and advice seem to agree that it is a no no.

@Bhavna
thanks for your reply.
I have been offered a teaching job in Thailand and the school has told me to arrive on my tourist visa and work at the school. They have said they will then try apply for a suitable visa. So I’m concerned it’s becoming a grey area.
I was hoping fellow South African teachers could give some advice, as
I know lots of SA teachers in Asia who have gone on holiday and landed a teaching job.
thanks for the link to working in Thailand.
-@grayfoto

It's been years since I last taught in Thailand but as far as I remember, you can arrive on a tourist visa, then the school sends you with a letter to immigration (or maybe you have to leave the country and return) and they convert your visa to a 90-day non-immigrant O (or issue a new visa). Once you have the non immigrant O visa, the school applies for your work permit.

So, unless things have changed, you should be able to arrive on a tourist visa, look for work and start the official process to apply for and be issued a work permit.

However, the information above is correct regarding working on a tourist visa. Don't do it.

@Bhavna
thanks for your reply.
I have been offered a teaching job in Thailand and the school has told me to arrive on my tourist visa and work at the school. They have said they will then try apply for a suitable visa. So I’m concerned it’s becoming a grey area.
I was hoping fellow South African teachers could give some advice, as
I know lots of SA teachers in Asia who have gone on holiday and landed a teaching job.
thanks for the link to working in Thailand.
-@grayfoto


It's been years since I last taught in Thailand but as far as I remember, you can arrive on a tourist visa, then the school sends you with a letter to immigration (or maybe you have to leave the country and return) and they convert your visa to a 90-day non-immigrant O (or issue a new visa). Once you have the non immigrant O visa, the school applies for your work permit.

So, unless things have changed, you should be able to arrive on a tourist visa, look for work and start the official process to apply for and be issued a work permit.

However, the information above is correct regarding working on a tourist visa. Don't do it.
-@johnross23

Immigration has nothing to do with the work permit,which is the first thing you must get. With the work permit you can apply for the Non-immigrant B Visa at the local immigration office.In some cases you can change from O to B, but not always,then you must leave the country and re-enter.

All the replies and advice seem to agree that it is a no no.
-@stumpy

I agree,but it seems like people have to post exactly same answer (or wrong answer) over and over again when the first reply was a big no. I wonder if they even read the thread.

Taking into account the many time people post information the not correct, Or they dont give all the  information to the questions ask, Why on earth only have 1 respond to a questions ?

What a silly thing to write.

Many people that post the same thing, Give a better view on what can be the correct answer.

For myself i can say, I want a forum where many give feedback, And not only 1 answer.

Kindly.