Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Work Permits. We are specifically discussing these in the context of Thailand Elite Visas. Thailand Elite Visas have been a topic of concern in the Expat Community here recently because there is a lot of talk about discontinuation of the old programs and they are bringing online new programs. A lot of speculation is swirling around with regard to that. Are there going to be new requirements? Are there going to be new price structures associated with Thailand Elite? A lot going on in that sphere. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Mega changes ahead for Thailand's Elite Visa. Quoting directly: "Clarification is also needed on regular working in Thailand by Elite holders. Elite does not offer Work Permits as part of any deal although one program, Flexible Plus, has offered access to Department of Labour permits in return for a US$1 million investment in property, the stock exchange or companies." Again we talked about that at some length. I never got real clear on how that all worked and we never saw one - that was kind of one of those things I think it was kind of proposed out there in the Ether and then never really went anywhere." Quoting further: "Government policy does allow non-Work Permit holders to attend occasional business meetings or organize events." That is true on its face but it is one of those true statements that is very, very nuanced; you need to be very careful with that. Work authorization is something that can be very prickly so yes, and we have discussed this in prior videos in the past, there may be exceptions to work authorization requirements especially associated with certain corporate functions, specifically statutorily required corporate functions but that does not mean that you don't need a Work Permit to like work in a company or something. I have done the videos on that many, many times. And again, Elite Visas in and of themselves are not work authorized. Quoting further: "But the parameters are ambiguous and largely untested. The Thailand Privilege Card Company has promised to explain the brand new framework well in advance of the October 1 inauguration." 

So it remains to be seen exactly how this is going to look. I have a hard time seeing where Thailand Elite will be able to offer any kind of work authorization because I just don't see where they have the statutory authority to do that. Work authorization is dealt with under the Labour Ministry, Immigration is a different thing. That may not come about. I am not sure that that may be something that is even being proposed because at the end of the day, the Thailand Elite Visa was designed for just long stay folks who wanted to come to Thailand and just live here, stay here; it is kind of almost like a long, long holiday type of visa. I have likened it to a long Tourist Visa in the past and it is again, as the title implies, it is for sort of upper echelon type of tourist. Folks that want fast track to Immigration, they want the limousine services and all of the various perks. Again, it is a different type of traveller for the Elite Visa. Now exactly what this revised Elite Visa is going to look like remains to be seen but we will certainly keep you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.