Thailand Working

In general, Let’s Go discourages working in Thailand, given the country’s low employment rate and the arduous process of obtaining a work permit (see Work Permits, ). If you’re brave enough to tackle long-term employment in Thailand, teaching English is the most commonly available job and one of the best ways to give back to Thailand while also getting paid.

Visa Information. To volunteer, study, or work for less than 30 days, US, Austrialian, Canadian, European, New Zealander, and South African citizens do not need a visa. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you can buy a tourist visa good for 60 days (US$25). If you have set up a job or volunteer placement before arriving in Thailand, you need a 90-day non-immigrant visa (single-entry US$65, multiple-entry US$175), which covers work in medical and educational fields. The Thai government will require a letter from your academic institution, volunteer program, hospital, NGO, or place of work indicating their need for your assistance. It generally takes about 2 weeks to process the application. Extensions can be granted from within the country if you already have a 90-day visa. If you don’t, you must either apply for an extension at an Immigration Office or simply cross the border and re-enter the country; this gives you a clean slate and you can now stay another 30 days without visa, as if you had only just come to Thailand. (Visiting countries hostile to Thailand such as Myanmar may slow this process). For those who would like to get an extension, instead, be aware that this process operates on a case-by-case basis, so contact the Thai embassy before your 90-day visa runs out, and before you leave the country in order to find out the most up-to-date procedures.

One of the best ways to do work with meaningful, long-term effects for the people of Thailand is to teach English, which opens a whole world of opportunities for the students you teach, who are often trapped in rural poverty. Accordingly, some of the teaching jobs listed here are on the charitable side and forgo a real salary. Even then, teachers often receive some sort of a daily stipend to help with living expenses. Thailand’s low cost of living also makes teaching more feasible. In almost all cases, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree to be a full-fledged teacher, although college undergraduates can often get summer positions teaching or tutoring.

Many schools require teachers to have a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. You may still be able to find a teaching job without one, but certified teachers usually find higher-paying jobs. The Thai-impaired don’t have to give up their dream of teaching, however. Private schools usually hire native English speakers for English-immersion classrooms where no Thai is spoken. (Teachers in public schools will more likely work in both English and Thai.) Placement agencies or university fellowship programs are the best resources for finding teaching jobs. Additionally, the Bangkok Post ’s “Classifieds” section is a good resource for those hoping to teach English in Thailand. The Australian Center in Chiang Mai provides a leaflet on working in the area. Alternatively, you can contact schools directly or to try your luck once you arrive in Thailand. In the latter case, the best time to look is several weeks before the start of the school year. The following organizations are extremely helpful in placing teachers in Thailand:

American University Alumni Language Center, Head office, 179 Rajadamri Rd., Lumphini Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand (☎02 528 1703; www.auathailand/slc/index.html). Hires teachers-in-training (250฿ per hr.) and teachers under contract. Locations all over Thailand.
Australia Center, 75/1 Moo 14, Suthep Rd., ( } 053 810 552; www.insearch.edu/international/accm). This center hires and places volunteers wishing to teach English to all ages.
English and Computer College, 97/11 Rajdamri Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand (☎02 665 1236; www.eccthai.com). Constantly recruits teachers for schools all over Thailand, from the most rural to the most urban. Also offers teaching certification courses, with guaranteed job placement in one of their programs upon completion.
Hasadee School, in Si Chiangmai, accepts volunteers to teach English for grades 7-12 (contact David Peel at peelieorion@yahoo.com). 1-week min. commitment.
International Schools Services (ISS), 15 Roszel Rd., P.O. Box 5910, Princeton, NJ 08543, USA (☎+1-609-452-0990; www.iss.edu). Hires teachers for more than 200 overseas schools, including some in Thailand. Candidates should have teaching experience and a bachelor’s degree. 2-year commitment.
Involvement Volunteers Association Inc., P.O. Box 218, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia (☎+61 39 646 9392; www.volunteering.org.au). The organization offers a variety of placements in Thailand and around the world for a placement fee of US$268.
Kanchanaburi Catholic School, in Kanchanaburi (☎98 890 050). Teachers receive room, board, and a stipend. School requests 1-month, 3-month, or 1-year commitment. Ask for Orwan.
Office of Overseas Schools, US Department of State, Room H328, SA-1, Washington, D.C. 20522-0132, USA (☎+1-202-261-8224; www.state.gov/m/a/os/). Has comprehensive lists of schools abroad and agencies that place Americans in schools in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Teach in Asia, (www.teach-in-asia.net/jobs). This website posts teaching jobs of all types, giving information about salary and necessary experience for each opening.

Further Reading On Beyond Tourism

Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide of Global Volunteer Opportunities, edited by Paul Backhurst. Food First, 2005 (US$12). The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Summer ...more