Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing retirees or Retirement Visa holders here in Thailand and Work Permits or work authorization here in Thailand. 

For those who are unaware, just as a preface, foreign nationals do not have the automatic right to work in Thailand. Those who wish to work in Thailand who are foreigners have to obtain work authorization or specifically be under some kind of exemption, for example BOI. There are other exemptions and permits associated with work authorization but generally speaking the broad answer is you need a Work Permit if you are foreign national and want to work in Thailand. With retirees specifically, Retirement Visa holders are affirmatively precluded from working in Thailand.

Now a recent article from the Bangkok Post that is bangkokpost.com article is titled: Grimaces replace smiles for retirees. In this article they are actually interviewing the Immigration Bureau Deputy Commander, Police Major General Achayan Kraithong and it is kind of a Q&A. I thought there is a lot of information in here. I urge those watching this video to go check it out for yourself. Quoting directly: "Why are foreigners with Retirement Visas not allowed to hold any type of job here?" Quoting and as I said it is kind of a Q&A; quote: "The Law governing the employment of foreign nationals which is enforced by the Labour Ministry says Work Permits are granted to those with a Non-B Visa or those with Permanent Residence only. The details are specified in the regulations of the Department of Employment." 

As we have noted in other videos, it may be possible to get a Work Permit with a Marriage Visa. I think they just kind of overlooked it when they were talking about it here. It may be possible to get a Work Permit if one is in Thailand on an O Marriage Visa, again circumstantially dependent. The long story short is yeah look this operates under the Labour Code. Retirement Visas are specifically prohibited, Retirees those who are on a Retirement Visa here in Thailand are specifically prohibited from having a Work Permit. If you notice, especially on Retirement Visa Extensions issued by Immigration here in Thailand, they will put next to the actual extension stamp that says "Retirement" on it. That is to note for other agencies that that document, that travel document, does not confer any work authorization and therefore a Work Permit cannot be issued on that Visa. 

So it just kind of is what it is. Do I think it will ever happen? As we have discussed in other videos there are some visas which are approved in principle which we have yet to see any actual regulations for that supposedly will have some kind of employment component. We will certainly keep folks updated on this channel as the situation on that evolves.