Current Local Times around the world World Clock with cities from all time zones Mobile Edition - iPhone and Android friendly!
Working in Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Largest city: Bangkok
Population: 66.7 million (2011 estimate)
Currency: Baht
Language: Thai
Located in South-East Asia, Thailand is a central Indochina nation that borders Burma and Laos to the north, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The country has a population of close to 67 million.
Formerly known as Siam, Thailand is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The capital of Thailand is Bangkok.
In recent decades, Thailand has experienced rapid growth and is regarded as one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Its major industries include automobiles and tourism.
The Work and Holiday visa arrangement between Australia and Thailand allows holiday and travel between the two countries for Australians.
Under the arrangement, university-educated Australians aged between 18 and 30 are allowed to work and holiday in Thailand for up to 12 months.
The arrangement was introduced with the aim of strengthening cultural exchange and widening economic ties and links between the two countries.
Tourism Video
Thailand’s Work and Holiday visa summary
Visa: Working and Holiday
Age: 18 to 30
Length of stay: 12 months
Application fee: $225
Processing time: 2 weeks
If you want to travel to Thailand under Work and Holiday arrangements, there are several eligibility requirements. These include, but are not limited to:
Hold an Australian passport
Meet health and character requirements
Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying
Have no dependent children accompanying you
Have a return ticket, or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
Have sufficient funds for the first part of the holiday (at least $5000)
A letter of approval from the Australian Government supporting the application
Tertiary education
The letter of government support can be issued by the ACT and Regions Office in Canberra, where the following details must be provided:
Certified copy of a valid passport
Certified copy of one other form of identification with current residential address
Certified copies of the applicant’s tertiary qualifications, a letter from the university confirming the level of study or originals of academic transcripts.
Emergency
Tourist emergency telephone services: Tourist Police 1155 Police (general) 191 Ambulance and Rescue 1554 Fire 199 National Disaster Warning Centre 1860 Crime 1195 Medical Emergency Call 1669 Private Air Ambulance 02 586 7654
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) encourages that Australian travellers to Thailand register with DFAT, whatever the reason for their travel. Registration can take place online or at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will assist in the event of a natural disaster, civil disturbance or family issue.
In Thailand, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Koh Samui Surat Thani, Thailand Contact through the Australian Embassy, Bangkok In a consular emergency, travellers unable to contact the Embassy can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 in Australia.
Embassies of Thailand in…
Argentina Thai Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina Vueltade Obligado 1947 1248 Buenos Ares Ph +54 11 4780 0555 F +54 11 4782 1616 Web: www.thaiembargen.org
Australia Thai Embassy in Canberra, Australia 111 Empire Circuit Yarralumba ACT 2600 Ph +61 2 6206 0100 F +61 2 6206 0123 Web: canberra.thaiembassy.org
Austria Thai Embassy in Vienna, Austria Cottaggasse 48 1180 Vienna Ph +43 1 478 3335 F +43 1 478 2907 Web: www.thaiembassy.at
Bangladesh Thai Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh House No. 14, Road No. 11 Baridhara Dhaka 1212 Ph +880 2 881 2795-6 F +880 2 885 4280 Web: www.thaidac.com
Brazil Thai Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil SEN Avenida das Nações lote 10 70.433-900 = Brasillia – DF Ph +55 61 3224 6943 F +55 61 3223 7502 Web: www.thaiembassy.org/brasillia
Canada Thai Embassy in Ottawa, Canada 180 Island park Drive Ottawa Ontario K1Y OA2 Ph +1 613 722 4444 F +1 613 722 6624 Web: www.thaiembassy.ca
Chile Thai Embassy in Santiago, Chile Av. Americo Vespucio Sur 100 15th Floor, Office 1501 Las Condes Santiago Ph +56 2 2717 3959 F +56 2 2717 3758 Web: www.thaiembassychile.org
China Thai Embassy in Beijing, China Chaoyang District Beijing 100600 Ph +86 10 6532 1749 F +86 10 6532 1748 Web: www.thaiembbeij.org
Finland Thai Embassy in Helsinki, Finland Eteläesplanadi 22C 00130, Helsinki Ph + 358 9 6122 6415 F +358 9 6122 6466 Web: www.thaiembassy.fl
France Thai Embassy in Paris, France Greuze Street 8 75116 Paris Ph +33 1 56 26 50 50 F +33 1 56 26 04 45 Web: www.thaiembassy.fr
Germany Thai Embassy in Berlin, Germany Lepsiusstrasse 64/66 12163 Berlin Ph +49 30 79 48 10 F +49 30 794 812 51 Web: www.thaiembassy.de
Greece Thai Embassy in Athens, Greece Marathonodromon et Kryprou Street 25 154 52 Psychico Athens Ph +30 210 671 0155 F +30 210 674 9508 Web: www.thaiembassy.org/athens
India Thai Embassy in New Delhi, India F 4/5 Vasant Vihar New Delhi 110021 Ph +91 11 2615 0130 – 34 F +91 11 2615 0128 – 29 Web: www.thaiemb.org.in
Indonesia Thai Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia JL Dr Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung kav. NO. 3.3. (Lot 8.8) Kawasan Mega Kuningan Jakarta 12190 Ph +62 21 2932 8199 F +62 21 2932 8201 Web: wwwthaiembassy.org/jakarta/
Ireland Thai Consulate in Dublin, Ireland Unit 43 Parkwest, O’Casey Avenue Nangor Road Dublin 12 Ph +353 1 643 6468 F N/A Web: www.thaiconsulateireland.com
Italy Thai Embassy in Rome, Italy Via Nomentana 132 00162 Roma Ph +39 06 862 20 526 / 7 F +39 06 862 20 529 Web: www.thaiembassy.it
Japan Thai Embassy in Tokyo, Japan 2-2-1, Kudan-Minami Tokyo 102-0074 Ph +81 3 3222 4121 F +81 3 3222 4122 Web: www.thaiembassy.jp
Latvia N/A
Malaysia Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 9206 Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Ph +60 3 2148 8222 F +60 3 2148 6527 Web: www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/
Malta Thai Consulate General in Valletta, Malta 4/4 Regent House Bisazza Street Sliema SLM 1641 Ph +356 21 324 261 F +356 21 319 324 Web: N/A
Mexico Thai Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico Paseo de la Palmas No. 1610 Lomas de Chapultepec 11000 Mexico D. F. Ph +52 55 5540 4551 F +52 55 5540 4817 Web: www.thailatinamerica.net
New Zealand Thai Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand 110 Molesworth Street P.O. Box 17-247, Thorndon Wellington 6144 Ph +64 4 476 8616 – 9 F +64 4 476 8610 Web: www.mfa.go.th/web/1327.php?depid=228
Norway Thai Embassy in Oslo, Norway Eilert Sundts gate 4 0244 Oslo Ph +47 22 12 86 75 F +47 22 04 99 69 Web: www.thaiembassy.no
Poland Thai Embassy in Warsaw, Poland Ul. Willowa 7 00-790 Warsaw Ph +48 22 849 64 14 F +48 22 849 14 06 Wed: www.thaiembassy.pl
Slovakia Thai Consulate General in Bratislava, Slovakia Viedenská cesta 3 – 7 851 01 Bratislava 5 Ph +421 2 6727 2124 F +421 2 6241 1838 Web: www.thaiconsultae.sk
Slovenia Thai Consulate General in Ljubljana, Slovenia Prazakiova ulica 12 1000 Ljubljana Ph +386 1 433 30 26 F +386 1 433 31 93 Web: N/A
South Korea Thai Embassy in Seoul, Korea (Republic) 635-7 Hannam-dong Yongsan-gu Seoul 140-210 Ph +82 2 790 2955 F +82 2 798 3448 Web: N/A
Spain Thai Embassy in Madrid, Spain Calle Joaquin Costa, 29 28002 Madrid Ph +34 9 1563 2903 F +34 9 1563 7959 Web: www.thaiembassy.org/madrid/
Sweden Thai Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden Floragatan 3 Box 26220 100 40 Stockholm Ph +46 8 588 042 50 F +46 8 791 73 51 Web: www.thaiembassy.se
The Netherlands Thai Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands Laan Copes van Cattenburch 123 2585 EZ’S-Gravenhage Ph +31 70 345 9703 F +31 70 345 0766 Web: www.thaiembassy.org/hague
Turkey Thai Embassy in Ankara, Turkey Resit Galip Caddesi, No:81 G06700 G.O.P. Ph +90 312 446 0500 F +90 312 437 1812 Web: N/A
United Kingdom Taiwanese Representative Office in London, the United Kingdom 50 Grosvenor Gardens London SW1W OEB Ph +44 20 7881 2650 F +44 20 7730 3139 Web: N/A
United States Thai Embassy in Washington, the United States 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington D.C. 20016 Ph +1 202 944 3600 F +1 202 944 3611 Web: www.thaiembdc.org
Uruguay Thai Consulate General in Montevideo, Uruguay World Trade Center, Torre 3 of 370 Luis Alberto de Herrera 1248 Montivedeo Ph +598 2628 1881 F + N/A Web: N/A
Tax System
Expats in Thailand are subject to tax on income from sources in the country. The system has a generalised tax system set over several salary brackets.
Tax rates of personal income tax (all figures in baht):
Taxable income
Marginal tax income
Tax rate
0 – 150,000
150,000
exempt
150,001 – 500,000
350,000
10%
500,001 – 1,000,000
500,000
20%
1,000,001 – 4,000,000
3,000,000
30%
4,000,001 and over
37%
Bank Account
Opening a bank account as an expat in Thailand requires several pieces of documentation, including: passport, proof of residence, proof of employment and tax identification numbers. Each bank account will usually include a debit card and option to open a savings account. Be aware that bank accounts in Thailand can only be opened when in the country.
The major banks in Ireland include: Bangkok Bank, Krungthai Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. Many foreign banks also operate in Thailand.
Working in Thailand
Thailand has an emerging economy on a global scale and is the second largest in South-East Asia. The major industries in Thailand include automobiles, electronics, tourism and agriculture. English-speaking expats in the Thailand would be well served to target work in Thailand’s tourism industry to supplement their stay.
Teaching English is an excellent employment option for expats on a working holiday in Thailand. According to TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language), there is a high demand for English tuition in Thailand due to its use for business and tourism purposes.
Communication
Thailand is well serviced by telecommunications and has several providers for expats to choose from. The major telecommunications players in Thailand are:
CAT Telecome
DTAC
TOT Thailand
True Corporation
Wellcom
To sign-up for a phone contract in Thailand, applicants will need to provide forms of identification, such as a passport and proof employment.
In Thailand, the Festival of Light fills the water and the sky with brightly shining lanterns. The Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival is a sight to behold as thousands of…