The Best Jobs for Expats in Thailand

Thailand is an increasingly popular country for people to relocate to. A quick search online tells us that there are thought to be approximately 3-4 million foreign people now living in Thailand. This makes up about 6% of the entire population.

The majority are from neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, but vast numbers still head over from Europe, the USA, Africa and Australia. In fact, it’s been reported that more than 40,000 Brits now call The Land of Smiles their home.

Many are retirees, others have relocated for family or work reasons, and some visited with the plan to move on but found themselves falling for this friendly and beautiful country.

If you are one of the many considering a move to Thailand and aren’t of retirement age, join us as we find the best jobs for expats in Thailand. Don’t think it will be plain sailing though. Visa requirements and even job types can be complicated affairs, and in this blog, we’ll explain what you need to do, as well as what you can do for work in Thailand.

Yes. However, you can’t work without a work permit and will also need to hold the appropriate visa. Without them, you could find yourself deported. Visa options vary and if Thailand is to become your long-term home, an LTR visa or long-term residence visa will be needed to accompany your work permit. Should the stay in Thailand likely be shorter, you should apply for the non-immigrant B visa.

There are a host of criteria to fill with each so you must be aware of those before applying. The LTR visa for example provides a greater degree of flexibility than the other visas you could apply for but comes with caveats such as a specific minimum annual income, being classed as highly skilled or have specific investments in the country.

The non-immigrant B vias on the other hand allows you to stay in Thailand but under condition that you report to the Thai Immigration Bureau every 90 days. The law firm Siam Legal has a very handy visa guide that breaks down each visa type and its criteria to make your application process much easier.

To work in Thailand, you’ll need a work permit, and it is essential that you only work the job shown on the permit. There are specific jobs open to foreign nationals with certain employment only available to Thai nationals. To apply for a work permit, you should first speak to your employer. They will normally coordinate the application for your relocation.

You will need:

Should you eventually change jobs, you will need to apply for a new work permit.

So, could you see yourself working in Thailand? Let’s look at the best jobs for expats there so you can see if your skills and experience meet the demand and the permit/visa criteria.

We’ve picked a selection of the best jobs expats could land in Thailand subject to work permits and visas being granted.

Despite Thai being the national language of Thailand, English is widely used and spoken. As a result, many job opportunities pop up in schools, colleges and universities all over the country.

Due to the large number of foreign nationals living in Thailand, there are also plenty of international schools and private schools where English is often used as the main language. This opens up further job opportunities for those with a teaching background.

The pay for teaching isn’t great but private tutoring is often seen as a great way to top up the wages.

You’d be expected to have previous teaching experience and a teaching degree, although a degree in any field is often seen as sufficient. If you do have a TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) certificate, you’ll be in a good position, but these can be acquired whilst you are in Thailand if need be.

Thailand is hugely popular with tourists. With an estimated 36.1m people expected to visit in 2024, it is no wonder that hotels are crying out for staff to help with the smooth running of operations. As an expat, you could find yourself in the role of hotel manager, chef or diving instructor.

With the B-visa in hand and with approximately 5 years of experience behind you, it is likely you’ll be seen in good light by the luxurious hotels that line the peninsula.

These are roles where experience along with your appropriate visas run hand in hand. You’ll simply need both. Management positions in these hotels will only go to those with proven track records and positions such as head chef will only be awarded to those who have run high-pressure kitchen environments in the past. Diving is popular, the idyllic beaches and clear waters certainly help to increase the demand. If you hold a PADI certificate and have enough previous experience, you could be working a hobby you enjoy.

If you can speak more than one language, you automatically open yourself up to more opportunities. Now in Thailand, this could be tricky, the Thai language, along with other languages in the area are difficult to learn. However, should you already be able to speak Thai and another language or two, you give yourself a fantastic opportunity in a wealth of large companies. Many tech companies have offices in Thailand as do many large-scale manufacturers. A role that helps them communicate with new business prospects and enhance relationships could be beneficial for you and them.

Whether you are an expert in SEO, web design, PPC or social media, businesses are clamouring for skilled professionals in these fields. Having experience in them will certainly help. It is unlikely a Thai business will employ a foreigner with little to no experience.  Depending on your area of expertise, the wage can vary but a digital marketing manager could look to earn up to 60,000 Thai Baht (£1689) per month. A highly skilled web designer could even see wages top 100,000THB (£2815) each month.

It is certainly a well-worn title, and many people seem to label themselves as such when they are out of work for a long time or simply want to spend time travelling whilst dabbling a little in work. However, Thailand may have got the criteria just right. The specialist Destination Thailand Visa or DTV exists purely for digital nomads or remote workers, allowing them to be based in Thailand, enjoying the climate, the culture and the sites all the while completing their job for a company thousands of miles away. You’d need to be at least 20 years old and have proof of savings to the value of 500,000THB (approx. £14,000). In addition, you will need to have proof of the purpose of your visit. These visas allow for stays of up to 180 days each year for five years and will not require you to obtain the traditional work permit nor allow you to work for a Thai company.

The property market in Thailand is booming as the number of expats increases and the population expands across the country. It has in fact become so prominent that 10% of Thailand’s GDP stemmed from property in 2023. This means that experienced estate agents who can cater to the needs of those relocating to Thailand are in high demand. An understanding of the cities and towns would certainly be useful as would a second language. A proven track record in sales should speak for itself. Most importantly perhaps though, is an understanding of Thai property law. It varies a little from what you may have been used to. Of course, training will likely be provided but if you want to hit the ground running and get those sales, brush up before you fly out.

Unless you have been put forward by your current employer as part of a relocation, you may have to go it alone in the search for work in Thailand. Luckily, there are plenty of places where you can source the best job opportunities.

JobsDB is one of the leading platforms to help people find work in Thailand for a host of industries. Ajarn.com on the other hand specialises in filling teaching positions across the country. You then have LinkedIn, often a good place to build relationships, network and find a route into a new role.

We’ve picked six of what we think are the best job prospects for expats hoping to work in Thailand. Each could provide you with fantastic career growth and see you make Thailand your forever home. Just remember the need for travel insurance when working abroad and a suitable expat health insurance plan. That way should anything unfortunate arise whilst travelling to Thailand or working there, you can be comprehensively covered.