Restricted jobs for foreigners in Thailand.

We have put together an article listing the restricted jobs for foreigners in Thailand.

Thailand welcomes foreign labour force working in Thailand; however, the government imposes certain rules and restrictions foreigners must follow. One particular area of restriction concerns employment opportunities in Thailand.

Let’s see what jobs are prohibited to foreigners.

Foreigners working in Thailand

A foreigner in Thailand cannot carry out work in occupations that are restricted or work without a valid work permit.

Employers in Thailand must also not hire foreigners to work for the restricted occupations or foreigners who do not have a work permit.

Restricted job lists in Thailand

Under the Notification stating jobs that are prohibited to foreigners pursuant to section 7 of the Foreigners’ Working Management Emergency Decree B.E. 2561, there are four lists of restricted jobs:

List 1: Strictly prohibited

Occupations that are strictly prohibited for foreigners include:

1. Wood carving
2. Driving motor vehicles, driving a non-mechanically propelled carrier or driving a domestic mechanically propelled carrier, except for piloting international aircraft or forklift driving
3. Auction
4. Cutting or polishing diamond or precious stones
5. Haircutting, hairdressing or beauty treatment
6. Cloth weaving by hand
7. Mat weaving or utensil making from reeds, rattan, hemp, straw, bamboo, bamboo pellicle, grass, chicken feather, coconut leaf stick, fibre, wire or other materials
8. Mulberry paper making by hand
9. Lacquerware making
10. Making Thai musical instruments
11. Nielloware making
12. Gold ornaments, silverware or pink gold making
13. Bronze ware making
14. Thai dolls making
15. Alms bowl making
16. Silk products making by hand
17. Buddha images making
18. Paper or cloth umbrella making
19. Brokerage or agency work, except brokerage or agency working in international trade or investment
20. Thai massage
21. Cigarette rolling by hand
22. Tour guide or sightseeing tour operation
23. Peddling
24. Manual typesetting of Thai characters
25. Silk reeling and twisting by hand
26. Clerical or secretarial work
27. Legal services or services in legal proceedings, except for the following occupations:
    1. Performing duties of arbitration
    2. Providing assistance or representation in the arbitral proceedings in the event that the law applicable to the dispute being considered by the arbitrators is not the Thai law

List 2: Prohibited with exceptions

Prohibited occupations for foreigners with a condition that foreigners are allowed to work under international agreements or obligations to which Thailand is bound under the provisions of laws are:

1. Controlling, auditing, performing or providing accounting services, except:
   1. Occasional internal audit work
   2. Work under international agreements or obligations to which Thailand is bound, which the Professional Association provides a certificate
2. Civil engineering concerning counselling, project planning, design and calculation, construction supervision or manufacturing, inspection, administration work to organise the system, research and test, except those who are registered under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and other international agreements
3. Professional architectural work concerning project study, design, construction management and supervision, inspection or consulting, except for professional architects under the ASEAN MRA for architectural services and other international agreements

List 3: Exceptions for skilled or semi-skilled workers

Prohibited occupations for foreigners with an exception that foreign workers are allowed to do skilled or semi-skilled work when working for an employer include:

1. Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry or fishery
2. Bricklaying, carpentry or construction works
3. Mattress or quilt blanket making
4. Knifemaking
5. Shoemaking
6. Hat making
7. Dress making
8. Pottery or ceramic ware making

List 4: Exceptions under treaties

Prohibited occupations which foreign workers are permitted to perform under the condition of having employers and permitted to enter Thailand by Immigration Law under MoUs or agreement between the Thai government and the foreign government are:

1. Labour (manual work and simple work which requires physical strength)
2. Shop front sellers (selling goods at a wholesale or retail establishment as well as selling goods at stalls or shops located in markets or roadsides)

Conclusion

If you are a foreigner who is seeking to work in Thailand in fields that are open to foreign employment, we recommend contacting Acclime to help you obtain a valid work permit and visa.