How to Transfer a Business Visa and Work Permit without Leaving Thailand

You might have heard before that you need to leave Thailand and get a new business visa or extension of stay when changing jobs. 

Actually, you don’t necessarily need to do that. It’s possible to do it in Thailand as long as you prepare your documents correctly and manage your time well. 

In this article, we will guide you through everything you need to know in order to transfer a business visa and work permit in Thailand without having to leave the country. 

What You Need to Do

Here’s what you need to do when getting a new business visa or extension of stay and work permit when you change jobs.

• Cancel your current non-immigrant B visa or extension of stay
• Cancel your current work permit on the same day that you cancel your visa or extension of stay
• Get a new non-immigrant B visa or extension of stay
• Get a new work permit on the same day that you get your new visa or extension of stay

You generally need to complete all of the steps here within 28 days, although the exact timing can depend on the immigration office and your documents. 

Why 28 days?

When you go to the immigration office to have your current non-immigrant B visa or extension of stay cancelled, some offices may let you set the effective cancellation date up to 21 days after that. 

For example, if you cancel your visa or extension of stay on June 1, then the immigration office may allow the effective cancellation date to be June 22. 

If you are unable to get your new visa or extension of stay and work permit within that time, you can go to the immigration office and apply for a 7-day extension or permission to stay in order to leave Thailand. So that’s 28 days in total. This is subject to immigration approval and normally costs THB1,900.

Please note that you need to follow these steps precisely. If you cancel your work permit before cancelling your current visa or extension of stay, then your permission to stay based on that employment may end, and you may need to leave Thailand or apply for permission to remain immediately. 

Document Preparation

You need to have support from your current employer and your new employer in order to make your new business visa in Thailand. So be sure to be on good terms with them. 

All of the processes require similar documents. Please note that documents are subject to change all the time. It’s best to check with an immigration office in person again before starting the process. 

All documents should also be prepared BEFORE you leave your current job. Otherwise, you, your current employer, or your new employer might not have enough time to do it. 

Visa and Work Permit Cancellation

Here’s what you need to have to cancel your visa and work permit:

From you

1. A scanned and a signed copy of your passport, including your personal information page, all pages with Thailand-related stamps and visas, TM6 card if you were issued one, and a 90-day notification report.
2. A scanned and a signed copy of your work permit (if it isn’t a digital work permit).
3. Proof of visa cancellation page.
4. Proof of work permit cancellation page.
5. A resignation letter stating that you are leaving the company on the same date as your preferred effective visa cancellation date (for cancelling your visa and work permit only).

From your current employer

1. PND 1 income tax report of the latest month with original receipt.
2. A signed copy of company registration issued within 6 months.
3. A signed copy of the managing director’s passport.
4. A power of attorney with a signed copy of the managing director. The power of attorney can be assigned to you.
5. A termination letter stating the last working date. 

Getting a Visa and Work Permit

Here’s what you need to have to get a new visa and work permit

From you

1. A scanned and a signed copy of your passport, including your personal information page, all pages with Thailand-related stamps and visas, TM6 card if you were issued one, and a 90-day notification report.
2. A scanned and a signed copy of your work permit (if it isn’t a digital work permit).
3. Your latest year PND 91 report with original receipt. You can get it from the Revenue Department. Please note that it might take a few weeks to get it. 
4. A scanned headshot photo in formal dress without glasses on a white background 
5. An employment certificate from your current and previous companies.
6. An education certificate. If it’s not in English, then you need to have it translated and notarized by a law firm or an embassy.
7. Your Thai Tax ID and Social Security Number. You can ask your HR staff about it. 

From your new employer

1. PND 1 income tax report of the latest month with original receipt.
2. A signed copy of company registration issued within 6 months.
3. A signed copy of the managing director’s passport.
4. A power of attorney with a signed copy of the managing director.
5. An employment agreement.
6. A BOI approval letter or work permit approval/receipt from the Department of Employment, as applicable.

Where to Go

If your employer is a normal limited company not promoted by the BOI, then you need to go to the immigration office for your visa or extension of stay and the Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour for a work permit. 

If your employer is promoted by the BOI, then your visa and work permit are usually handled through the BOI Single Window for Visa and Work Permit and the One Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit. 

For example, if your current employer isn’t promoted by the BOI but your new employer is promoted by the BOI, then you need to go to the immigration office to cancel your visa or extension of stay, and then go to the Department of Employment to cancel your work permit. 

After that you can make a new visa and work permit with your new employer through the BOI system and the One Stop Service Center. 

What If Both of Your Current Employer and New Employer are Promoted by the BOI?

In this case, it’s possible to cancel your visa and work permit, and then get a new visa and work permit at the same place on the same date. 

What you need to do here is to let your current HR talk to your new HR directly and have them agree on when to cancel your visa and work permit, and when to make the new ones. 

Normally it takes a week or two for a company to get the BOI’s permission to accept a new expat employee.