What is the legal situation for writers in Cambodia
What is the legal situation for writers in Cambodia
Since Thailand started to crack down on freelance/self-employed people, restricting visas and refusing work permits, many writers and proof-readers based in LOS are talking about moving to PP or Snooky. Me included.
Unfortunately, I have little information on the legal requirements.
I have some questions;
Do I need a business visa?
Does that entitle me to work in Cambodia or do I need a work permit?
Do or can I pay tax?
Is it better to live in PP or Snooky?
Many thanks in advance for helpful pointers: I have around 40 days to make my mind up on relocating. Not really that much time.
Regards
anim8ed.
Unfortunately, I have little information on the legal requirements.
I have some questions;
Do I need a business visa?
Does that entitle me to work in Cambodia or do I need a work permit?
Do or can I pay tax?
Is it better to live in PP or Snooky?
Many thanks in advance for helpful pointers: I have around 40 days to make my mind up on relocating. Not really that much time.
Regards
anim8ed.
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Yes.anim8ed wrote:Do I need a business visa?
No, you need a work permit, and they're tough to get. You have to provide several documents related to your qualifications, bank statements, health check, etc.Does that entitle me to work in Cambodia or do I need a work permit?
Of course you can and should.Do or can I pay tax?
It comes down to what kind of place you like. A little town by the beach, or a medium-sized city with all that entails.Is it better to live in PP or Snooky?
Cambodia is really overrated as an alternative to Thailand. Even with the new situation, you have it good there.
Many thanks for this ... the real problem is for us with freelance contracts: Thailand has not woken up to the fact there are lots of folk out there who live in one place, and working via the internet in another. We are exporters for that country, bringing in capital to the country. Unfortunately, the immigration/labour laws have yet to allocate a method of granting legal status/tax payers to those countries.Tabula Rasa wrote:anim8ed wrote:No, you need a work permit, and they're tough to get. You have to provide several documents related to your qualifications, bank statements, health check, etc.Does that entitle me to work in Cambodia or do I need a work permit?
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Cambodia is really overrated as an alternative to Thailand. Even with the new situation, you have it good there.
There had been mention on a Thai forum that Cambodia was better for writers in this respect ... that the business visa was sufficient so long as your "employer" was overseas: I.e., provided you didn't work for a local company, the authorities didn't object: Because Thailand has cracked right down on this, many of the freelancers I know have either returned to home countries or re-located to Cambodia.
Since these self-employed people are unlikely to have gone from one visa restricted country to another with the same rules, does this mean the business visa is endlessly renewable? There must be some kind of visa break.
My thanks for your time.
anim8ed.
anim8ted.
Business visa is $25 bucks on arrival - no need to prove anything except who you are. This is renewable as many times as you like.
I don't know about this "work permit" idea - I've been here for a while, always working and don't have one. In fact, I'd find it hard to name three people I know who do have one.
The law says you need one but this has not been enforced to date. If the law changes, then I'm sure your friendly local travel agent will be offering to take care of the paperwork for a small processing fee - like 12 month visa extensions.
Very few people, and even fewer businesses pay tax. Working from home you can easily stay under the radar.
Oh, and IMO Cambodia is miles better than Thailand - get over here and check it out.
Tabular Rasa - is this some new joke - anti-cambodia advice perhaps? Worried the Vietnamese are going to come over here and steal your farm?
Business visa is $25 bucks on arrival - no need to prove anything except who you are. This is renewable as many times as you like.
I don't know about this "work permit" idea - I've been here for a while, always working and don't have one. In fact, I'd find it hard to name three people I know who do have one.
The law says you need one but this has not been enforced to date. If the law changes, then I'm sure your friendly local travel agent will be offering to take care of the paperwork for a small processing fee - like 12 month visa extensions.
Very few people, and even fewer businesses pay tax. Working from home you can easily stay under the radar.
Oh, and IMO Cambodia is miles better than Thailand - get over here and check it out.
Tabular Rasa - is this some new joke - anti-cambodia advice perhaps? Worried the Vietnamese are going to come over here and steal your farm?
Thank you for this, it's the information I needed.Paxse wrote:anim8ted.
Business visa is $25 bucks on arrival - no need to prove anything except who you are. This is renewable as many times as you like.
How long does the $25 on arrival business visa last? if it is for one month, do I have to do a border run to renew? Or can I renew locally.
Considering Songkran is coming up soon, this is a really good idea.Paxse wrote: Oh, and IMO Cambodia is miles better than Thailand - get over here and check it out.
If I have a business visa here, yes I can stay under the radar. But there are two problems:justyn wrote:If you are working via the internet for someone outside Thailand, why would you need to get a work permit in Thailand?
1: Thailand has a very old saying - "a pineapple has many eyes". It means someone somewhere sees. Add to this situation the vicious nature some business Thais have from sticking the knife in someone back - I have seen it too often over the past two and half years: They really get great pleasure from screwing it up for someone. Personally, I'd sleep a lot better being away from that kind of hassle.
2: The cost of getting a new Thai business visa here means I have to fly either to my home country or to Australia. I have costed Australia - about AUS$1000 for a three night trip for flight, hotels and food. Not a huge amount but in local currency, that is 7 months condo rental.
If I don't have to "waste" money doing the trip then it's better, especially if the same visa in Cambodia will be a fraction of that and endlessly renewable. It would increase my "writing holiday" window by at least a year.
I think Paxse's suggestion is the best one - head over to PP and Snooky and have a look.
All I have to do is find the best way to travel - my nearest airport is Chiang Mai ... I think there is a PP flight from there.
Thanks for the feedback.
anim8ted.
Cheers, anim8ted. Only one month - but it can be renewed in country - no need for a border run. We don't have Songkran - but we do have the chaos of Khmer New Year which is similar from what I've heard.anim8ed wrote:How long does the $25 on arrival business visa last? if it is for one month, do I have to do a border run to renew? Or can I renew locally.
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My vote is for flying if you can.
My first trip to SEA was originally to Thailand, so I flew to BKK. I went over land from Trat to PP twice. I had business in Koh Chang so it was the best way at the time. I had no problems at the borders at all (have to admit I lost about USD$10 in Koh Kong with a "money exchanger" - won't do that again - live and learn!). When I read about any "border horror" stories, they are usually about Poipet.
When I return to PP in April, I will be flying straight from the US to PP.
My first trip to SEA was originally to Thailand, so I flew to BKK. I went over land from Trat to PP twice. I had business in Koh Chang so it was the best way at the time. I had no problems at the borders at all (have to admit I lost about USD$10 in Koh Kong with a "money exchanger" - won't do that again - live and learn!). When I read about any "border horror" stories, they are usually about Poipet.
When I return to PP in April, I will be flying straight from the US to PP.
Yes, I mean the multiple non B ... the rules changed late last year, and none of the near neighbour countries issue non-B. Australia is not my home country, but apparently Oz is okay for non-B issuing.justyn wrote:By a "Thai business visa" do you mean a one-year multiple entry B visa? I thought those could be renewed without going back to the home country. Anyway, in Cambodia, no need for any border runs at all.
anim8ed
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I've gotten the Cambodia business visa on several occasions, most often at the embassy in Bkk. At the border there can occasionally be some fuss if you don't have a work permit, which few expats actually have. It's just another way to get some extra cash beyond the $25 for the touts with uniforms (border guards).
At the embassy they seem to go back-and-forth with "extra" fees, but they tend to tack them on mainly for "express" service.
At the embassy they seem to go back-and-forth with "extra" fees, but they tend to tack them on mainly for "express" service.
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