Is remote work from Thailand legal without a Thai employer?

Thai law does not allow paid work inside Thailand on a tourist visa — that includes remote work for an overseas employer. Any paid activity performed while physically in Thailand normally requires a work permit and an appropriate long‑term visa. The government now offers the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) / “digital nomad” route that permits foreign remote workers to live and work in Thailand while earning income from abroad; other options include employer‑sponsored Non‑Immigrant B or SMART visas when a Thai entity is involved. If you plan to work remotely from Thailand, get a visa that explicitly allows remote work (for example the DTV) or obtain a work permit; otherwise you risk fines, deportation or blacklisting. Check the latest rules and application details with Thai Immigration and the Thai embassy/consulate for your country before you travel: see official Thai Immigration and embassy guidance and updated DTV requirements from Thai government sources.