What you need to know about living and working in Thailand

A tropical climate with endless hours of sunshine, the world’s most beautiful sandy beaches and a population world-renowned for its kindness and friendliness. There are many good arguments for working in Thailand, and it does not have to be difficult to find a job in Thailand for Danes. If you want to combine your work with an everyday life that is radically different from our life in Denmark, you may have to take the plunge and move to Thailand for a period.

In Thailand, a sea of culinary experiences beyond the ordinary awaits you, opportunities for diving, hiking and sailing – and there are good opportunities to work for Danish companies based in Thailand. Read more about the country and about career opportunities here.

Thailand: The basic facts

The Southeast Asian country has a population of as much as 69 million. people and an area of ​​513,000 square kilometers. In the capital, Bangkok, live 5.6 million. – or what in number corresponds roughly to the entire population of Denmark. Thailand borders Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. The climate is tropical with high temperatures and high humidity all year round – most of this year’s precipitation falls during the summer monsoon between May and October, and this is especially true in the northern part of Thailand. In the southern regions, precipitation is more evenly distributed throughout the year.

Buddhism has been the state religion in Thailand since the 13th century, and according to the constitution, the royal family must therefore also be Buddhists. On the whole, religion, state and monarchy are closely linked. The Thai people have great respect for both the royal family and religion, and as a tourist or newcomer, it is therefore important that you comply with the Thais’ requirements and expectations for good behavior when it comes to, for example, religious monuments and ceremonies, and how to refer to the royal family and religion.

A job in Thailand is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Thai culture

When you settle in another country to work, we always recommend that you set aside plenty of time to get to know the culture. In Thailand, there are a number of traditions and customs that differ from what we are used to – much has to do with respect, courtesy and general tact and tone. For example, there are strict laws when it comes to insulting His Majesty, and the royal family in general fills a lot in Thai everyday life and self-understanding. When you enter a Buddhist temple, for all intents and purposes, you must leave your shoes outside – and in many other places, footwear is not well-worn.

When interacting with other people, politeness is one of the most important things. Thais prefer to avoid confrontations and do not raise their voice, and if you need to point out a mistake or something you are not happy with, it should be done with great care and courtesy. If you make an effort to adhere to the cultural codes, you will find that the Thais are a very friendly, polite and accommodating people.

Thai cuisine offers tropical fruits and lots of flavors

The Thai climate makes the country Asia’s largest exporter of tropical fruits such as oranges, bananas, coconuts, lychees and mangoes. It’s easy to fall in love with the many delicious fruits that just taste a little better in Thailand. All in all, Thai cuisine offers a sea of ​​great flavors. The traditional Thai dishes often consist of many different flavors and spices – it provides complex and intense flavors, and it is no coincidence that Thai food is popular all over the world. Traditional dishes are eg pad thai (wokret with rice noodles), tom yum goong (soup with shrimp) and khao pad (fried rice).

Such is the work in Thailand

The business culture in Thailand is relatively formal and can be difficult to navigate at first. However, the Thais themselves are aware of this, and if only they can see that you have familiarized yourself with the culture and are trying to live it, it will be much appreciated. . The same is true if you learn to speak a little Thai – it’s an expression of respect, and even with quite a few courtesy phrases you can make a good impression. If you are going to live and work in Thailand for a long time, it is a great advantage to learn Thai, as a large part of the population does not speak English.

When you are looking for a job in Thailand for Danes, you may also be lucky enough to get a job with a Danish company with a department in Thailand. This can be, for example, meeting booking, telephone sales or marketing.

To work in Thailand, you need a work permit. Your employer can usually help you get a handle on this part – but familiarize yourself with the rules and start well in advance, as the process can be quite extensive.

The cost of living in Thailand is significantly lower than in Denmark, and you can often eat your fill at a local restaurant for around DKK 40. The rent is also cheap.

How to find housing and work in Thailand

It is always an advantage to do as much of the work as possible from home. You can search for housing on various online housing portals – if you need to work for a Danish company in Thailand, they can usually also help you find a place to live.

When you are looking for work, whether you want to work for a Thai company or a Danish company in Thailand, we recommend that you ally yourself with a recruitment agency specializing in international employment. Here you can read more about the experiences our graduates have with finding jobs through Job Squad.

Taxes in Thailand

It’s important that you know how works taxes in Thailand for expats if you’re planning to work in thailand for a while. The first thing you need to know is that you become a resident of Thailand after spending more than 180 days there, before that you will have to pay only for the income earned in Thailand, but once you’re a resident you must pay for your worldwide income. The tax rate is progressive and goes from 0% to 35% depending on your income. Regarding the social security system, the employee contributes 5% of the first 15.000 baht of income while the employer contributes another 5%.

Where to learn Thai?

If you’re planning to stay longer in Thailand and make a living in this country, we recommend you to learn the language, however, this can be difficult without the right tools and there’s many courses that is better if you avoid, Here you have a selection of thai courses to start learning!

Why should you live and find a job in Thailand?

A work stay in Thailand is for you who dream of living and working in a tropical climate in a country that offers completely different and amazing experiences. Combine your work with fantastic excursions, diving and exploration of huge cities – Thailand has it all, and then the cost of living is even low.