15 route snapshots · five destinations · residence and work separated
Family Visa and Spouse Work-Rights Matrix
A spouse may be allowed to live in a country without being allowed to work there. This matrix keeps the principal route, family residence, children's status, spouse work and dependency risk in separate columns so a reassuring family-visa label does not hide the important question.
The finding that matters most
A family residence route does not answer the spouse's work question
Across the five destinations, the safest starting assumption is that the second adult's local job, remote work, freelance work or business activity needs its own route-specific check. Malaysia's DE Rantau programme is especially explicit: a dependant spouse cannot work on that status.
Thailand
3 route snapshotsA spouse may be able to join several principal routes; local work remains a separate permission question.
Malaysia
4 route snapshotsDE Rantau expressly bars work by a dependant spouse; MM2H and employment routes have different rules.
Vietnam
2 route snapshotsLinked family residence can be available, but it is not automatic work authorisation.
Indonesia
3 route snapshotsE31 family residence and E30A student status do not create unrestricted work rights for a parent.
The Philippines
3 route snapshotsSRRV, marriage and employment routes differ; immigration and labour permission must be checked together.
The graphic deliberately avoids a single yes/no label. Work rights depend on the exact visa code, activity, sponsor and current official rules.
Current comparison
Filter the 15 route snapshots by destination
This is a research matrix, not an eligibility checker. Open the official source and confirm the exact nationality, relationship, visa code, activity and application location before relying on a row.
15 routes shown
| Country and route | Principal use | Spouse residence | Children | Spouse work | What can change the plan | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇭 ThailandDestination Thailand Visa (DTV) | Qualifying remote work or specified activities | Eligible spouse can apply as a dependant | Eligible dependent children can apply; a child studying as the main purpose may need Non-ED | No automatic Thai employment right; match the spouse's real activity to its own permission | Track each 180-day admission, extensions and the principal's continuing basis | Thailand e-Visa - DTVChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇹🇭 ThailandLong-Term Resident (LTR) | One of four high-threshold principal categories | Legal spouse may apply separately | Qualifying children under 20 may apply separately | Not automatic; confirm work authorisation for the spouse's exact role | Income, employment, investment and health-cover conditions can continue after approval | Thailand BOI - LTR programmeChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇹🇭 ThailandEmployer-sponsored Non-B / work route | Employment for a Thai entity | Linked non-immigrant family status may be available | Linked family or education status, depending on circumstances | Separate employer-led status and work authorisation normally required | Employment ending can affect the principal and linked family status quickly | Thailand Department of Employment - foreign workersChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇲🇾 MalaysiaDE Rantau Nomad Pass | Eligible digital professional or freelancer | Qualifying dependant spouse can join | Qualifying dependant children can join | No - MDEC states the dependant spouse cannot work on that status | Published maximum is 12 months plus one renewal, up to 24 months total | MDEC - DE Rantau FAQChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇲🇾 MalaysiaMM2H Silver / Gold / SEZ-SFZ | Capital-backed social-visit programme | Eligible spouse is included within the dependant rules | Qualifying children and certain other dependants can join | Not under these MM2H categories; another appropriate pass is needed | Fixed deposit, property, stay and renewal conditions apply; the programme is not permanent residence | Malaysia MOTAC - MM2H FAQChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇲🇾 MalaysiaMM2H Platinum | Higher-capital MM2H category with published career and business permission for the participant | Eligible spouse is included within the dependant rules | Qualifying children and certain other dependants can join | Dependant work is not automatic; confirm and obtain the appropriate permission | High fixed-deposit, property, participation and minimum-stay obligations remain | Malaysia MOTAC - MM2H programmeChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇲🇾 MalaysiaEmployment Pass | Employer-sponsored professional role | Dependant Pass may be available where the principal category qualifies | Eligible children can use linked dependant arrangements | Own Employment Pass or other appropriate work permission required | The sponsoring employer and role anchor the family's status | Malaysia ESD - Employment PassChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇻🇳 VietnamEmployer-sponsored work permit and residence | Qualifying employment with a Vietnamese sponsor | Linked family visa or residence may be available where the principal status qualifies | Eligible children may use linked family status | Family residence is not work permission; resolve the spouse's employer, permit or exemption separately | A sponsor or job change can affect work and residence documents for the household | Vietnam immigration lawChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇻🇳 VietnamQualifying investment or family sponsorship | Genuine investment or eligible Vietnamese-family relationship | Depends on the principal code, sponsor and relationship | Depends on the principal code, age and relationship evidence | Separate work-permit or exemption analysis is required | Capital, company, sponsor or relationship changes can remove the basis | Vietnam Immigration DepartmentChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇮🇩 IndonesiaE33G remote worker | Work performed for an overseas company | Use the current qualifying linked family category where available | Use the current qualifying linked family or student category | No automatic Indonesian employment right; the spouse needs a suitable basis for their own activity | Overseas-employer evidence and the exact permitted activity must remain accurate | Indonesia e-Visa - current visa indexChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇮🇩 IndonesiaE31 family categories | Spouse or child joining a qualifying stay-permit holder | E31B covers a qualifying spouse relationship | E31E covers a qualifying child relationship | Family residence should not be treated as unrestricted local work | The status remains linked to the principal permit and documented relationship | Indonesian Immigration - visa classificationChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇮🇩 IndonesiaE30A school student | Primary or secondary education for the child | Parents need their own lawful status | The studying child uses the education category | The child's status gives neither parent work permission | School sponsorship, enrolment and the child's continuing study support the route | Indonesian Immigration - education visasChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇵🇭 The PhilippinesSRRV Classic | Qualifying principal aged 40 or above | Spouse can be included under the published dependant rules | Unmarried children under 21 can be included; extra-dependant deposits may apply | Do not assume; confirm immigration and labour permission for the exact activity | Deposit, age, pension and programme compliance remain material | Philippine Retirement Authority - SRRVChecked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇵🇭 The Philippines13(a) marriage visa | Qualifying foreign spouse of a Filipino citizen | The foreign spouse is the principal applicant | Children require their own correct status | Confirm any Alien Employment Permit or exemption with BI and DOLE before work | Marriage validity, reciprocity and continuing immigration requirements matter | Philippine Bureau of Immigration - 13(a)Checked 11 September 2026 |
| 🇵🇭 The Philippines9(g) employment route | Employer-sponsored local employment | Qualifying dependants may use linked status | Qualifying dependants may use linked status | A separate job and its immigration/labour permissions are required | Employer and employment ending can affect the principal and linked family | Philippine Bureau of Immigration - pre-arranged employmentChecked 11 September 2026 |
Use this as a question map, not legal advice. Immigration and labour rules can change without waiting for the next scheduled edition, and official pages may apply differently by nationality, sponsor, role or place of application.
Transparent methodology
How every route is checked
The matrix records a cautious starting point. Ambiguity remains visible and is never converted into a friendly-looking green tick.
Start with a named route
Generic phrases such as family visa or digital nomad visa are replaced with the official code or programme name.
Describe the principal's real activity
Local employment, overseas remote work, investment, retirement, study and family sponsorship are kept separate.
Check spouse residence
The matrix records whether an eligible spouse may join, without treating marriage as automatic approval.
Check children separately
Age, relationship, school purpose and linked-status rules can differ from the spouse position.
Ask the work question again
A spouse's residence answer is never copied into the work column. Local work is checked against its own authority and route.
Record what can break the chain
Employment ending, age limits, sponsor changes, capital conditions and expiry are included because a family's statuses can be linked.
Dated source register
The responsible authority behind each row
Several routes share an authority page, but the register keeps the route name beside the source so a future change can be traced to the affected rows.
Employer-sponsored Non-B / work route
Thailand · checked 11 September 2026
Thailand Department of Employment - foreign workersEmployer-sponsored work permit and residence
Vietnam · checked 11 September 2026
Vietnam immigration lawQualifying investment or family sponsorship
Vietnam · checked 11 September 2026
Vietnam Immigration DepartmentE31 family categories
Indonesia · checked 11 September 2026
Indonesian Immigration - visa classification13(a) marriage visa
The Philippines · checked 11 September 2026
Philippine Bureau of Immigration - 13(a)9(g) employment route
The Philippines · checked 11 September 2026
Philippine Bureau of Immigration - pre-arranged employmentWhat is outside the matrix
Personal eligibility still needs a current case-by-case check
- Nationality-specific entry rules, consular-post evidence and the applicant's immigration history.
- Professional licensing, employer eligibility, payroll, social security and personal or corporate tax.
- Unmarried-partner recognition, custody, adoption and relationship-document formalities.
- Exact processing time, approval probability, adviser quality or whether a school will accept a child's status.
- Permanent residence or citizenship prospects unless an official programme expressly addresses them.
A maintained resource
When this dataset will be checked again
We recheck the full matrix every quarter and review a row sooner when the responsible immigration, labour or programme authority announces a material change. Users should still verify the live rule before applying or working.
- Current edition
- 2026 Q3
- Next scheduled review
- 15 December 2026
- Corrections
- Send us a source or correction