For many people, Thailand is just a country to go on vacation. For others, however, it is a place to live as an expat and find work. If you are the latter, you are in luck: Thailand is one of the most friendly and welcoming countries when it comes to foreigners looking for work. Most of the jobs exist in teaching English as a foreign language, but many opportunities exist for those who want to work in other industries such as tourism or IT. In fact, there is a huge variety of different jobs available, not just in the hospitality sector, so if you are looking for telecommunications jobs in Thailand or work on a construction site, it is generally very easy to find something interesting if you look hard enough.

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#1: Getting a Visa for Work

The best part about securing a job in Thailand is that once you have been offered a job and formally accepted it, getting a visa becomes straightforward. Whilst requirements for a visa can change over time, they largely stay the same, but it is always a good idea to contact your embassy or local authorities for the most up-to-date details.

Getting a work visa and workers’ permit for Thailand doesn’t mean you can stay there forever, though. If you want to stay for the long-term, you need to make sure you meet the country’s permanent residency requirements.

#2: Thailand Working Schedule

Whilst this may sound obvious, working in Thailand is not the same as in the country you are used to. Whilst normal business hours are the same as in most western countries, it is still common for many people to work a half day on Saturdays. IF you do work in Thailand, don’t expect the typical Monday to Friday 9 to 5.

In addition, Thai workers don’t take annual vacations for extended periods of time like westerners do. In fact, most Thai workers won’t take more than one or two days off per year, even though there are over 15 public holidays

#3: Is Temporary Work Possible?

Yes! In fact, most companies that hire expats, especially from western countries, recognize that many western workers won’t be sticking around for the long-term. There has been a huge rise in digital nomadism in recent years, and this is massively benefitting the Thai economy. Companies recognize this, and they are completely aware that they won’t be getting permanent employees from most western workers.

If you are thinking of visiting Thailand and want to live there for a little while, taking on a job is a great idea, as it mitigates the possibility of completely running out of money. You can always take on full-time work, but if you are travelling it’s probably a better idea to get a part-time job instead.

For western visitors wanting to work in the country, there are so many opportunities available, yet many people don’t understand this. Thailand is very welcoming to expats and there are a whole host of Thai companies ready and waiting to bring people on board for both the short and long-term.