Although Thailand is relatively open in allowing foreigners to work through legal work visas, the law still restricts certain occupations exclusively for Thai nationals. Foreigners who do not receive specific exemptions are prohibited from engaging in these professions or roles.
According to the most recent legislation defining reserved occupations, there are 40 professions, grouped into four categories:
List 1: Twenty-seven occupations strictly prohibited to non-Thai nationals
- Cutting or polishing diamonds or precious stones
- Making Thai dolls
- Clerical or secretarial work
- Gold ornaments, silverware or pink gold-making
- Driving motor vehicles, driving non-mechanically propelled carriers and driving domestic mechanically propelled carriers, except for driving international aircraft or forklifts
- Silk reeling and twisting by hand
- Paper or cloth umbrella making
- Auctioning
- Mat weaving or utensil making from reeds, rattan, hemp, straw, bamboo, bamboo pellicles, grass, chicken feathers, coconut leaf stick, fibres, wires or other materials
- Alms bowl making
- Cloth weaving by hand
- Peddling goods
- Manual typesetting of Thai characters
- Making Thai musical instruments
- Wood carving
- Making Buddha images
- Making silk products by hand
- Thai massage
- Lacquerware making
- Cigarette rolling by hand
- Being a tour guide or operating sightseeing tours
- Stone inlay craftsmanship
- Legal services in proceedings, except for the following occupations:              (A) Performing duties of arbitration                                           (B) Assisting or representing in arbitral proceedings where the law applicable to the      dispute is not Thai law
- Brokerage or agency work, except for international trade or investment
- Mulberry paper making by hand
- Nielloware making
- Haircutting, hairdressing or beauty treatments
List 2: Three occupations allowed only for foreigners from countries with treaties or agreements with Thailand, or under international obligations
- Engineering professionÂ
- Accounting profession
- Architecture profession
List 3: Skilled or semi-skilled work permitted for non-Thais under conditions, and only when employed (eight jobs)
- Hat making
- Agriculture work
- Mattress making
- Pottery making
- Shoe making
- Garment making
- Knife making
- Bricklaying, carpentry or construction work
List 4: Manual labour permitted only for foreigners employed under an official MOU, or otherwise restricted (two jobs)
- Labour work
- Shop-front sales work
Foreign nationals can get more information on jobs in Thailand by visiting the Department of Employment website: https://e-service.doe.go.th/.
Source: Bangkok Post