Answered6 years ago

Can I switch from a retirement extension to an employment extension without leaving Thailand?

Retirement Visa Employment Visa Work Permit Thailand Immigration Visa Extension Expat Advice

Kerrie *******

asked Sep 13, 2020

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Hi advice team.

Sorry if this question has already been asked but would appreciate your input.

Background :

• After working in Thailand for the last  9 yrs I stopped working and changed to an extension of stay based on retirement in April 2020.

Question :

• If I decide to come out of retirement and start working again can I switch back to an extension of stay based on employment and obtain a new work permit without having to leave Thailand ?

Thank you for any advice.

Answer summary

The user inquires about switching their visa status from a retirement extension to an employment extension after 9 years of working in Thailand. The advice suggests that while it is theoretically possible to change the visa status without leaving Thailand, it largely depends on the new employer's documentation, the Ministry of Labor's requirements for the work permit, and the immigration office's regulations. Users also seek clarification on whether to obtain a work permit before visiting immigration and whether to approach the immigration office near their new job or their current residence.

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Kerrie *******

Thank you Tod for your response.

1. Should I try to obtain the WP before going to the immigration office ?

2. The work will not be in the province that I currently reside in.

3. I assume that the immigration office you refer to means the office close to the place of work or can I approach my local/current office ?

6 years ago

Bill ************

I have done this 3 times in the last 15 years. I have had to do a border run each time ti cancel the Retirement and come back in as a Tourist. This was then chaged to a B and a WP and teacher licience followed that.

6 years ago

Kerrie *******

@Bill ***********

Hi Bill.

Thank you for sharing your own experience on this topic.

Unfortunately under the current situation I think leaving and returning is not an option.

6 years ago

Tod *********

that is between you, your employer and the immigration office and ministry of labor. You need or your employer needs to contact them and see how it would work.. Those are the people you need to be asking those questions of.. Sorry :/

6 years ago

Kerrie *******

@Tod ********

Thanks again.

So I guess the next step would be to get the employer to contact the ministry of labor and immigration ?

1. Would it be best to contact ministry of labor first as there is no point in contacting immigration if the WP application is refused ?

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Kerrie ******

sorry not even gonna waste the time to answer that, this isn't "normal circumstances" and I doubt it's ever gonna go back to being anything remotely close to it for many years,

We are done, take care, good luck

6 years ago

Kerrie *******

@Tod ********

Hi Tod.

Please clarify.

• Under normal ( non-Covid ) conditions and being on a retirement extension for 5 months, would I have had to leave Thailand to obtain a new non-B from my home country before returning to Thailand to apply for the new WP ?

TIA.

6 years ago

Kerrie *******

@Tod ********

Thanks for the advice and clarifying the sequence.

As always, much appreciated.

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Kerrie ******

I'd start with the MOL and ask them if you can even apply for a work permit while on the extension you're on with an intention of switching extensions once you got the application for the work permit in.

6 years ago

Tod *********

In theory yes, you can change the reason for your extension from retirement back to employment. In reality it's gonna totally depend on the documents your new employer can provide, the Ministry of Labor (for the work permit) AND the immigration office you're going to be dealing with trying to do it.

6 years ago