Thailand’s manufacturing industry took off around the turn of the century when foreign companies began heavily investing in new factories due to the cheap labor.

Finance in South East Asia previously saw foreign investment firms and large banks located mainly in Singapore and Hong Kong, but over the last 10 years the investment industry in Bangkok has grown substantially as well.

Thailand’s hospitality industry was seeing continued growth up until the Covid pandemic, with a large increase of Chinese and Indian tourism expected within the next decade from the burgeoning middle classes in these 2 countries.

In regards to I.T industry roles for foreigners most are specialty based and can vary substantially. Telecommunications companies may require specific skills, while systems, platform development and integration require techs with good experience.

Even though most people interested in moving to Thailand for work do so in a fleeting manner after a holiday here, there are also people who understand that sometimes long term strategic planning for a move to another country can provide the most secure option.

This area might be the most important subject for people who are planning on looking for work in good paying jobs in Thailand, as the vast majority of mistakes in actions people make looking for work in Thailand will be included here. And, unfortunately, they are also the most common techniques people use in job seeking here as well.

Everyone taking part in this course has a different background, lifestyle and economic situation. You also have different needs, wants and aspirations for your future. Maybe in moving to Thailand you're looking for a spiritual or mental change. Or maybe you just appreciate hot weather.

But there are plenty of things you should consider before moving here beyond the allure of beaches and tropical weather that Thailand has on offer. And working here requires a level of discipline that you may not have considered when holidaying or dreaming about moving to South East Asia.

For a lot of people planning on moving to Thailand the focus of attention resides on their perception of what living here would be like for the first few months. I've met foreigners who rarely put any thought or consideration into what it will mean to be a foreigner living in Thailand after 5, 10 or even 20 years. And society here can't be understood from a holiday or watching a YouTube video about the country.

If your only experiences in Thailand are at major tourist locations then you could be of the belief that most people in Thailand speak English quite well. But, overall, Thailand’s English skills compared to the rest of Asia are quite low. Employees in tourist areas learn to deal with the multitude of accents they hear over time and Bangkok is an affluent multicultural city.

But outside of these areas English can be quite poor and thick accents can make it hard for Thais to comprehend what is being said.

Budget information for Thailand is often diverse and even though living in Thailand is regarded as cheap, it can be equally as expensive as living in cities like London, Los Angeles or Hong Kong if you have the means. So budgeting for Thailand will vary solely based on your own needs and wants.

Having spent nearly 10 years in Thailand managing teams of all Thai staff has given me plenty of experience in business culture here.

Thailand lists high as one of the globes favored destinations for people looking to work as a digital nomad. The cost of living, combined with the weather, environment and people makes it a great base for foreigners looking at minimizing costs, while not restricting their lifestyle or finances. The only concern digital nomads face when trying to move to Thailand are the legal issues involved in working within the country.

In the course I've already discussed a lot of positives about living in Thailand in relation to the cost of living and lifestyle. So for the information here I will be specific in regards to the benefits of Thailand that mainly relate to digital nomads.

There are locations scattered all over Thailand worth considering as a base for Digital Nomads.

As recently as May 2021 the Thai government received a proposal to approve a visa specifically for Digital Nomads in Thailand. This visa is set to provide a 4 year stay in the country and is expected to be priced at 375 U.S dollars.

In regards to the legal visas the main issues digital nomads face is either the cost or requirements involved with the visas.

In regards to visas which don't provide legal options to work, there are 5 types of visas available to most foreigners, but realistically only 1 is versatile for the needs of most digital nomads - A regular tourist visa.

Before even relocating here or applying for a job there is a list of documents that you need to prepare in order to make the process of getting a job smoother.

Thai bureaucracy can be incredibly frustrating. It is common here to go to a government department with all the information you were told to provide, only to then find out you need to come back another day with additional documents no one told you about.

In order to make the most of your move to Thailand you need to consider some elements that will lend to making staying here long term easier. Because as the cost of living or weather may work in your favour, there are still plenty of things you can do in Thailand that will make living here more difficult than it should be.

When you get a job here your experiences will likely vary from mine, but there is still a lot learnt about what working a 9 to 5 job in Thailand can be like from someone who does it every day.

Pplease review the latest information available in regards to the Covid situation in Thailand and how it may affect your stay in the documentation and references subject at the end of the course.