Are you looking for an exotic location to live and work abroad? Choose Thailand. This country is incredible with modern bustling cities, beautiful islands, beaches, tasty food and some of the friendliest people in the world. Find paid jobs and volunteering work for foreigners, English speakers, backpackers in Thailand.
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Latest Vacancies
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Global Work & Travel
Get paid to live and work in Thailand! Teach, intern or volunteer. Get flights and 24/7 support.
International TEFL and TESOL Training
Take a TEFL certification course with International TEFL and TESOL Training and get a recognised qualification to teach English in Thailand.
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary is an award winning elephant foundation in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand offering volunteering opportunities, marketing and photography internships.
How to Work in Thailand
Thailand is traditionally known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, and any visitor to this beautiful country will soon understand why. It is a tropical country, with its rich and varied landscape ranging from thick jungles in the north to exotic islands. It has much to offer!
Thailand is unique in many ways, not least in the fact that it is one of the only South East Asian countries to have resisted colonisation. Thais have fiercely retained their history and culture, and are hugely proud of their heritage. Another overriding aspect to this country is the way that Buddhism underpins every aspect of life, not just in the plethora of temples and pagodas, but also in the attitudes and outlook of the people: witnessing how a religion can motivate a people is one of Thailand’s most fascinating traits.
Thais have a genuine love of fun (‘sanuk)’, and respond to problems with the expression, ‘mai pen rai’, meaning ‘It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry’. And this is just the beginning of any volunteers’ linguistic explorations: at the beginning of their year, they have the opportunity to go on a three-week Thai language course, which opens many doors and makes them some of the best linguists abroad with Project Trust! Juxtaposed against this easy-going, laissez-faire exterior, is a very conservative society which places enormous importance on the family, the monarchy, and religion.
Buddhist monks are treated with the utmost respect, and the vast majority of Thai men enrol as a monk at some point in their adult life. Any visitor to Bangkok will see that Thailand has been influenced by the west, but all is imbued with a very distinct ‘Thai-ness’. Even in this large cosmopolitan city, with its infamous nightlife and modern buildings, Thai culture remains dominant. Night markets and street cafes line the pavements selling all manner of foods: from beautifully spiced green curries through spring rolls and nutty ‘pad thai’, Thai cuisine at its best is difficult to beat.
Go to work in Thailand and you will be met with a warmth and friendliness; you will be treated to one of the world’s finest cuisines, and you will encounter a colourful, vibrant country.
Thailand Facts
• Population: 69 million
• Capital: Bangkok
• Life expectancy: 75 years
• Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy under a military junta
• Currency: Baht (฿) (THB)
• Official language: Thai
• Religion: Buddhism
• Time zone: UTC+7 (ICT)
• Major Industries: Tourism, computer parts, garments, rice, gems, jewellery
Reasons to Work in Thailand
• Choice of places to live, from modern cities to idyllic paradise islands with beautiful white sandy beaches
• Integrate into a totally different country and culture
• Friendly local people
• Chance to improve your language skills
• One of the best qualities of living in the world
• Competitive salaries compared to other Asian countries
Best Places to Live and Work
The largest cities in Thailand which are where a lot of foreigners find work:
• Bangkok
• Nakhon Ratchasima
• Samut Prakan
• Chiang Mai
• Mueang Nonthaburi
• Hat Yai
• Udon Thani
• Pak Kret
• Chon Buri
• Si Racha
Other places which are some of the most popular tourist destination are also recommended when job hunting:
• Phuket
• Krabi
• Koh Samui
• Koh Tao
• Koh Chang
Paid Jobs for Foreigners and English Speakers in Thailand
Education & Teaching
Teaching English is one of the best ways to live and work in Thailand. There are a lot of teaching jobs in places like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. While the pay is above average, it’s nothing spectacular, especially outside of Bangkok. However, life here is very easy and cheap, tropical islands are close, and the nightlife is some of the best in the world.
Travel & Tourism
There are large international and local companies which hire foreigners in the tourism industry. Jobs range from hotels, travel activity providers and tourism operators. Roles can include sales, marketing, housekeeping, hospitality and more.
Volunteer Work in Thailand
Popular with people seeking gap year jobs, or for anyone going backpacking in Asia, volunteering abroad in Thailand can be a life changing experience. Popular projects include working at wildlife sanctuaries or helping communities. Although generally unpaid, some projects are really special where you will learn a lot and get to contribute to great causes.
Working with elephants in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is a popular experience. These projects also include great activities such as Thai cooking and village life experience. To get a paid job with elephants or animals in Thailand you usually need to have a specific skill e.g. a background in veterinary, or work as a coordinator for a local/international volunteer organisation.
You can usually start every week of the year. On some projects volunteers stay at a homestay with a Thai family where you can experience an authentic Thai lifestyle. All meals and activities as per the itinerary below are usually included.
Hotel and Resort Jobs
Nikki Beach
Nikki Beach Hotel & Resort is one of the world’s finest luxury beach clubs. Nikki Beach offers a wide variety of employment opportunities in different areas: food & beverage service, hostessing/reservations, marketing, fashion retail, culinary/kitchen, and others.
FAQ
What’s it Like Working in Thailand
Like other destinations in Asia, people in Thailand are very hard working. Most “normal” working hours are 8 hours per day, 5 days a week but you can find a lot of Thai people working very hard, some as long as 10-12 hours per day or 6/7 days per week.
Visas
Most visitors can stay for 30 days without a visa. Extensions are mostly easy, or a trip to the border will get you a new 30 day entry visa. Work permits are difficult to come by, especially if you don’t have a university degree in the field relevant to your work. Work permits can only be obtained once you have a confirmed post and the employer signs various forms and deals with the relevant bureaucracy. However, it should be noted that where there is a will in Thailand there is almost always a way.
Currency
The currency of Thailand is the Baht (currency code: THB).
Denominations:
• Coins: 25 Satang, 50 Satang, 1 Baht, 5 Baht, 10 Baht
• Notes: 20 Baht, 50 Baht, 100 Baht, 500 Baht, 1000 Baht
Be careful of confusing 1000 Baht notes with 20 Baht notes; although they are a different size, the design and color can be cause for confusion.
Food Costs:
• Budget: Bht 30-40 (local)
• Mid-range: Bht 70-200 (fast food etc)
• High: Bht 300-500 (nice restaurant)
• Deluxe: Bht 500+ (very nice restaurant)
Some more local knowledge and some language can get you a plate of food as low as 20 Baht in Bangkok, but usually figure on 30 to 40 Baht. There are also many street vendors which sell snacks for 5 Baht up.
Thailand Public Holidays
The Thai Calendar Thailand has adopted the western calendar to divide the year into days, weeks and months, using Thai names for these units. Years are numbered according to the Buddhist era (BE) which commenced 543 years before the Christian era.
Therefore 2003 AD is BE 2546 and 2004 is BE 2547. National public holidays Thailand’s national public holidays are linked to religious or agricultural traditions and follow the lunar calendar, therefore the dates for some of the holidays change each year.
New Year’s Eve : 31 December, New Year’s Day : 1 January, Makha Bucha Day : late January to early March, Chakri Day : 6 April, Songkran Day : 13 April , National Labour Day : 1 May, Coronation Day : 5 May, Visakha Bucha Day : May, Asanha Bucha Day : July, Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) : July , HM the Queen’s Birthday : 12 August , Chulalongkorn Day : 23 October , HM the King’s Birthday : 5 December , Constitution Day : 10 December.
Business Hours
The opening time of offices varies depending on business sectors. They are usually open from Monday to Friday from 07:30 or 08:00 until 17:00 or 18:00 and often close for lunch between 11:30 and 13:00. In some business sectors, also open Saturday morning. The banks are generally open from Monday to Friday from 8h00 to 15h30. The shops open early and close any time between 18:00 and 22:00 during 7 days a week.
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