Which kind of visa do I need as an expat online entrepreneur in Thailand?

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Yes, legally speaking, you need a visa:

Foreigners entering Thailand are not permitted to work, regardless of their type of visa, unless they are granted a work permit. Those who intend to work in Thailand must hold the correct type of visa to be eligible to apply for a work permit.

And as you've figured out, you can't get one as a self-sponsored online entrepreneur, at least short of setting up a Thai shell company with a local as director. Your options are thus:

  1. Go there anyway on a tourist visa, work away happily, do a few visa runs if you have to. If you're conducting all your business online and aren't doing child p**n or something, and are happy with doing this for only a few months and not the rest of your life, the odds of getting caught are virtually zero.
  2. Go to a neighbouring country like Cambodia which has an even more lax visa regime. Although I'm not sure I'd bet my business on the quality of Internet access available there, especially at its beach destinations...

And obligatory disclaimer: this is not legal advice, so don't blame me or Travel.SE if you end up eating c**kroach gruel at Bang Kwang Prison!

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