Aside from immigration and visa requirements, income is one of the most asked about topics that we get regarding making a smooth transition to Thaland.
You should know that finding gainful employment in Thailand is NOT easy. There are significant hurdles to finding a job in Thailand for foreigners. These include:
- In most cases, a requirement to speak Thai
- Employer sponsored work permit (this is cumbersome for any organization)
- Non immigrant visa is required BEFORE coming to Thailand
- Background and or criminal check is required in many cases
That being said, it is possible to find employment. You should be prepared however, to spend a significant amount of time searching - in most cases, we advise having enough liquid funds to support a 6-9 month job search (even longer if possible). Even better? You have some type of passive income from assets overseas, including rent payments, pension, social security, royalties, etc.
If we had to guess, the number one reason for non Thais to leave Thailand is that their financial situation simply becomes untenable. Even worse? We see it routinely where a foreigner becomes desperate and resorts to some type of crime to further their stay in the Kingdom. Do not let this happen to you.
How to find employment?
The simple answer is, networking. Get on the ground and begin your search on day #1!. Use all available resources including LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job boards. Get involved in the food groups on Facebook (if you're a chef, demand here is always high), etc.
Are you an IT or online marketing person? You MAY be able to find remote jobs online, but these are generally low paying and in super high demand. Your skills need to be in top shape to compete effectively.
Patience, diligence and luck all play a large part in finding employment in Thailand. The safest and surest route though is, to simply start up your business. Owning a successful, or even mildly successful business is the safest and most effective way of ensuring you're not back on that flight to Omaha Nebraska hat in hand.