Earlier this year, the Thailand ruling military junta passed an executive decree that amended the rules, requirements, and penalties surrounding the country’s work permit law, including allowing foreigners to attend work meetings without holding a work permit.
But that change gave many foreign workers the false impression that they could simply attend a business meeting with only a tourist visa.
In fact, in order to take part in a work-related gathering in Thailand, despite foreigners not being required to have a work permit, they must hold a valid business visa and if “work”–defined broadly under Thai law–is engaged in by the foreigner, then a work permit is required.
“While arrests for attending business meetings on a tourist visa are rare, they still certainly occur for this kind of thing,” said Jiraporn Thongphong, a leading Thailand business lawyer.
Thongphong also notes that most foreign investors entering the country to engage in a meeting don’t even realize that they need a business visa or work permit.
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