What kind of work is absolutely not allowed for foreigners to do?

      If you are a foreigner who wants to work in Thailand, what you should know beforehand is that there are careers that you may and may not do.

      When examining the specific information on jobs that are strictly prohibited for foreigners, according to the Ministry of Labor's announcement in 2020 on the specification of jobs that foreigners are prohibited from doing, it will be found that there are 27 jobs that are strictly prohibited for foreigners, as follows: 

1. Wood carving;  
2. Motor vehicle driving, except forklift driving; 
3. Auction work; 
4. Diamond/ gem cutting work; 
5. Hair styling/ beautician work; 
6. Hand weaving work; 
7. Weaving mats or making utensils with reeds, rattan, straw, bamboo, chicken feathers, fibers, etc.; 
8. Making mulberry paper by hand; 
9. Making lacquerware; 
10. Making Thai musical instruments; 
11. Making niello ware; 
12. Gold/ silver/ copper alloy making; 
13. Making a stone machine; 
14. Making Thai dolls; 
15. Making food offerings; 
16. Making silk by hand; 
17. Buddha statue work; 
18. Making paper or cloth umbrellas; 
19. Broker/ agent job; 
20. Thai massage job;
21. Rolling cigarette job; 
22. Guide work; 
23. Peddling work; 
24. Alphabet or letter arrangement work;
25. Silk twist work; 
26. Secretarial work; 
27. Legal services. 

      Foreigners working without a work permit or working in jobs which they do not have the right to do will be fined 5,000 to 50,000 baht and will be sent back to their country of origin. 

Source : Dharmniti Law Office Co., Ltd.
Tel : +66 1506