Prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand

Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.

Last updated on 21 September 2026

Thailand is a beautiful country that offers a vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes. Foreigners in Thailand should know which jobs they are not allowed to do before looking for work. This article gives a quick look at the prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand that are not allowed to do. It helps foreign workers understand the rules and make smart choices about their careers in Thailand.

These restrictions affect how you staff a company, as set out in our guide to business setup in Thailand.

Last reviewed: 19 September 2026. The rules on this page were read in Thai against the Notification of the Ministry of Labour on Work Prohibited to Aliens (Royal Gazette vol. 137, special part 92 ngor, 21 April 2020: clauses 1 to 6, all four schedules and the definitions) and the Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560 (sections 3, 7 and 134). Not verified here: the Engineers Act and the Architects Act licensing rules that Schedule 2 refers to, and the Department of Employment conditions for memorandum workers under clause 5.

The law that actually lists them

The prohibitions come from one instrument: the Notification of the Ministry of Labour on Work Prohibited to Aliens, signed 1 April B.E. 2563, published in the Royal Gazette on 21 April 2020 (volume 137, special part 92 ngor, page 14) and in force from 21 June 2020. It is issued under Section 7 paragraph one of the Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560, as amended by the Emergency Decree (No. 2) B.E. 2561, with the approval of the policy committee given on 11 March 2020.

Two things follow, and most English pages on this subject still get both wrong. First, the Alien Working Act B.E. 2551 was repealed by that Emergency Decree, so it is not the governing law and its exceptions are not the current exceptions. Second, the list of “39 occupations reserved for Thai nationals” that circulates everywhere comes from a Royal Decree of B.E. 2522 made under the older 1978 Act. Section 134 of the Emergency Decree preserved that Royal Decree only for so long as no notification had been issued under Section 7. One was issued in 2020, so that arrangement ended. The 2563 notification contains no express repeal of the old Royal Decree and did not need one, which is exactly why the superseded list keeps being republished as though it were current.

The notification does not give one list. It gives four schedules, and which schedule a job sits in decides whether it is closed to you outright or open on conditions.

• Schedule 1 (Clause 2): absolutely prohibited in every locality in the Kingdom. Twenty-seven entries, plus any work that another law reserves to Thai-national professionals.
• Schedule 2 (Clause 3): prohibited except where an international agreement, or an obligation binding Thailand under the law, permits it. Three entries: accountancy, civil engineering and architecture.
• Schedule 3 (Clause 4): prohibited except that a foreigner may do the skilled or semi-skilled work only where he has an employer. Eight entries.
• Schedule 4 (Clause 5): prohibited except with an employer and admission to Thailand under a memorandum of understanding between the Thai government and a foreign government. Two entries.

Clause 6 adds a separate gate: where another law requires a licence or certificate to practise a profession, a foreigner can obtain a work permit only once he already holds that licence.

1. National Security Concerns

The notification has no national-security or intelligence entry, and nothing in it closes a job to foreigners merely because it touches security.

2. Reserved Professions for Thai Nationals

Thailand has certain occupations that are reserved for Thai nationals only. These professions are protected to ensure that local citizens have equal access to employment opportunities. Prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand include:

• Lawyer with 2 exceptions related to arbitration
• Brokerage or agency work, except brokerage or agency working in international trade or investment
• Tour guide or sightseeing tour operation
• Thai massage

All four sit in Schedule 1, the absolutely prohibited list, and the notification numbers them: legal or litigation services at item 27, brokerage or agency at item 19, Thai massage at item 20, and tour guiding or tour arranging at item 22. The two exceptions for lawyers are stated in item 27 itself: acting as an arbitrator, and assisting or appearing in arbitration proceedings where the law governing the dispute is not Thai law. Item 19 likewise excepts brokerage or agency in international trade or investment business.

Foreigners without proper qualifications, licenses, or work permits are not allowed to work in certain fields in Thailand. The exceptions are written into the notification itself, entry by entry, and not into the Alien Working Act B.E. 2551, which the Emergency Decree repealed. It is essential to respect these regulations and avoid encroaching on reserved professions. Prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand can have hefty penalties if someone violates this rule.

3. Manual Labor and Unskilled Work which are the most Prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand

Thailand also places restrictions on expatriates seeking employment in manual labor and unskilled work. Thailand wants to focus on jobs for its people and welcomes foreigners to help in skilled areas for the country’s growth. Therefore, the following are also prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand:

• Mulberry paper making by hand
• Lacquerware making
• Making Thai musical instruments
• Nielloware making
• Gold ornaments, silverware or pink gold making
• Bronze ware making
• Thai dolls making
• Alms bowl making
• Silk products making by hand
• Buddha images making
• Paper or cloth umbrella making

These are Schedule 1 entries, so the prohibition is absolute and no employer or qualification cures it. The list above is not the whole of Schedule 1, and three of the omissions catch people out. Item 26 prohibits clerical or secretarial work. Item 5 prohibits hairdressing, hair treatment and beauty work, which the notification defines widely enough to cover cutting, perming, washing, colouring, styling, make-up, manicure and facial massage. Item 2 prohibits driving a vehicle for the carriage of goods or passengers by road, water or air, including trams.

Two carve-outs are worth knowing because they are written into the entries themselves. Item 2 expressly excepts piloting an international aircraft and driving a forklift fitted with lifting or moving equipment. Item 5 expressly excepts general support work such as preparing or cleaning equipment, and hair or make-up work by someone who has come from abroad to work on the set of a foreign film being shot in Thailand under a permit issued under the film and video law.

Expatriates need to seek employment opportunities that align with their skills and expertise, rather than attempting to fill positions that are typically reserved for Thai citizens. Now, it is also false that you can ONLY have a work permit if a Thai person can not do your job. You have to use common sense and imagination. It is possible to work in Thailand but not for the jobs listed below. (See the link from the Labor Department, these are prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand)

4. There are prohibited occupations with exceptions

There are prohibited occupations for foreigners with a condition. It allows foreigners are allowed to work under international agreements. There are some obligations to which Thailand is bound under the provisions of laws.

• Accounting services: prohibited except for two kinds of work: occasional internal audit work, and work under an international agreement or an obligation binding Thailand where the Federation of Accounting Professions certifies the person’s qualifications (Schedule 2, item 1).
• Civil engineering (consulting, planning, design and calculation, construction supervision, inspection and similar work): open to engineers under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement or another international agreement on cross-border engineering services, or to anyone holding a controlled-engineering licence in civil engineering under the Engineers Act (Schedule 2, item 2).
• Architecture: open to architects under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on architectural services or another international agreement on cross-border architectural services recognised by the Architect Council, or to anyone holding a controlled-architecture licence under the Architects Act (Schedule 2, item 3).

Be careful about the information found on the internet: many pages still reproduce the list of 39 occupations from the 1979 Royal Decree, which this notification replaced.

The two schedules that decide manual and unskilled work

These are the schedules that answer the question most people actually arrive with, and they are the ones English summaries leave out.

Schedule 3 is prohibited work that a foreigner may nonetheless do if he has an employer: farming, animal husbandry, forestry or fishery; bricklaying, carpentry or building construction; making mattresses or quilts; knife making; shoemaking; hat making; garment making; and pottery or earthenware. Eight entries, and the condition is the employer, not the nationality.

Schedule 4 has only two entries and they are the important ones: general labouring and shop-front selling. The notification defines labouring as work done with the hands, ordinarily simple work relying principally on physical strength, and shop-front selling as selling goods in wholesale or retail premises, including from a stall or a shop in a market or at the roadside. Both are prohibited except where the foreigner has an employer and was admitted to Thailand under a government-to-government memorandum of understanding, on conditions the Director-General of the Department of Employment prescribes.

The practical effect is precise and is usually stated wrongly. General labouring is not absolutely banned. It is reserved to workers admitted under the memoranda Thailand has with neighbouring states, which is how migrant labour is lawfully employed here. A foreigner who is in Thailand on any other basis cannot obtain a work permit for it, whatever his employer is willing to write.

Jobs in Thailand for foreigners

Thailand offers a wide range of employment opportunities for foreign workers, especially in specialized and skilled fields. By following the guidelines outlined in this overview, expatriates can navigate the job market more effectively. They can enjoy a fulfilling and successful career in the Land of Smiles. Be aware that it is not easy to find good jobs in Thailand for foreigners and you will need a work permit.

Understanding the prohibited occupations for foreigners in Thailand is crucial for expatriates seeking employment or conducting business in the country. By adhering to these restrictions, foreign workers can avoid legal complications, respect Thai culture and traditions. They also contribute positively to Thailand’s development. It is strongly recommended that expatriates consult with Thai labour authority or seek professional legal advice. ThaiLawOnline can help you to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, work permit requirements, and visa conditions.

• Prohibited jobs in 2020 according to the Ministry of Labour

For what a foreigner may lawfully be employed to do, rather than what is closed, see our guide to unskilled jobs for foreigners in Thailand.