Work permits, insurance and contracts: is your trainer legit?
Foreign trainers generally need a Thai work permit to coach clients in Thailand, and if one is caught working without it, your prepaid package can disappear with them. Ask about permits and insurance, and get prices, expiry and refund terms in writing.
By Personal Trainer Bangkok editorial team. Published , updated .
Work permits for foreign trainers
Foreign nationals generally need a Thai work permit to work in Thailand, and that includes freelance personal training for clients here. Tourist status doesn't allow it. Remote-work visas are designed for working for employers or clients outside Thailand, not for coaching people in Bangkok.
Why it matters to you as a client:
- A trainer working without a permit risks fines and deportation. If that happens, your prepaid package goes with them.
- Studios that employ foreign trainers properly usually handle permits for their staff. Ask the studio.
- It's reasonable to ask an independent foreign trainer whether they hold a work permit for this work. A professional won't be offended.
The Thai Department of Employment (doe.go.th) is the authority for work permits.
Insurance
- Ask whether the trainer or studio has professional liability insurance, and what it covers.
- Check that your own health or travel insurance covers injuries during exercise. Some policies exclude combat sports such as Muay Thai sparring.
Contracts, receipts and refunds
- Get the price, number of sessions, expiry date, cancellation window and refund terms in writing: a receipt, contract or LINE message.
- Pay by a traceable method (bank transfer, card) and keep the confirmation.
- Be cautious about prepaying very large packages to a single freelancer.
- If a business won't honour what it sold you, Thailand's Office of the Consumer Protection Board (ocpb.go.th, hotline 1166) handles consumer complaints.
A fair cancellation policy looks like this
A 24-hour notice window is common for studio sessions. Mobile trainers sometimes ask for more because they lose travel time. What matters is that it's written down, applies both ways (what happens if the trainer cancels?), and says whether you can pause the package for illness or travel. For example, FITFAC charges ฿500 per 30 days to pause a course; see its profile.