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Can my partner switch from a non-immigrant B visa to a tourist visa in Thailand after employment ends?

Non-Immigrant Visa Tourist Visa Visa Exemption Work Permit Cancellation Immigration Procedures Living in Thailand Expats in Thailand

Mar 10, 2026

2 months ago

GrayRamb********

ORIGINAL POSTER

My Partner is currently in Thailand on a non-immigrant B Visa and work permit. Employment will end  soon and she wants to spend some time in Thailand to finally relax before deciding what to do next. 

Is it possible to end the non-B Visa, leave Thailand to go home, apply almost immediately for a 60+30 day tourist visa and come back? 

I was told this doesn't count as a visa run due to the prior full time employed in Thailand. Could alternatively do visa exempt of 60 days but we don't want to take risk.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires if their partner, currently on a non-immigrant B visa and work permit, can leave Thailand and return on a tourist visa after employment ends. The consensus among commenters is that it is indeed possible to switch to a tourist visa, but the partner must first cancel their work permit and ensure their visa is properly ended. Several commenters suggest traveling to a nearby country before returning on a visa exempt status as an option, emphasizing the need for proper documentation and procedures to avoid problems with immigration in the future.

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Jeremy ******

I worked in Thailand for many years until recently with a repeatedly renewed non-imm B visa, and was concerned about leaving work/Thailand properly so as to preserve the possibility of future visits. I informed my workplace of my intended resignation 30 days in advance, and my workplace did all the exit formalities/cancellations for me to leave work without my needing to go to any immigration office. I secretly wondered if my workplace had actually handled it properly, since I hadn't needed to do, or verify, anything in the process. I then left Thailand and spent some months traveling in India without returning to my native US, and came back from India to Bangkok as a tourist, hoping that coming again like this after my previous non-imm B would be all right. As it turned out, I received a visa-exempt entry for 60 days with no trouble, although I only actually stayed for three weeks before leaving again.

2 months ago

Jeremy ******

Yes, obviously, I gave my passport and work permit to my workplace administrative clerk, as in any such situation. That’s the least anyone would expect to do. But my workplace did all the formalities with my documents. No need for me to go to any Thai government office, it turned out.

2 months ago

John **********

@Jeremy *****

unless you gave them your passport they can't have cancelled your extension of stay. If you ever try to apply for a long term visa/extension it will likely come up and you'll be fined for overstay

2 months ago

GrayRamb********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jeremy *****

thank you. That's good to hear. We know it depends on each immigration officer but encouraging that you had no issues.

2 months ago

Reply to

GrayRamb********

Dave *******

Should be okay but check with immigration and ensure the work permit and visa are cancelled. Follow what @john stanners is suggesting

It sounds sounds like would be applying for visa exempt not a tourist visa

2 months ago

Parichat ***********

Make sure your partner has already cancelled the work permit and Non-B visa.

2 months ago

Jonathan **********

Why go home. If she hasn’t been doing any prior boarder bounces in the last year she should be ok to do one when her visa ends. Make sure she closes out the Non-B and work permit. Just because she is leaving and letting them expire doesn’t mean she is fine with the process. I made that mistake once and it was a big hassle getting my expired visa closed.

2 months ago

GrayRamb********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Jonathan Seraphim thanks. Her company will help cancelling work permit etc. Good to know we could also go to a neighbouring coubtry, will see what works best for her.

2 months ago

Jonathan **********

GrayRambutan8107 yes, but she has to be present when they close the visa in her passport. It’s a small hassle…

2 months ago

Reply to

Jonathan **********

John **********

I'm guessing she's actually on an extension of stay and not a visa, get her to check her passport. Assuming she is on an extension she needs to cancel her work permit and then take the documentation from that to immigration to cancel her extension of stay. She can do this a week or two in advance with a letter from her employer else she has to leave the day she cancels. She doesn't need to travel back home, she can just travel to a nearby country and either return visa exempt if entitled or apply for a tourist visa at the Thai consulate of whichever country she travels to

2 months ago

GrayRamb********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

thank you. Yes, I should have written extension of stay. Her company will help to cancel work permit and extension in time. Will make sure this happens so we don't have any issues.

2 months ago

John **********

GrayRambutan8107 the extension is in her passport so she'll probably need to do that bit herself unless she's happy to hand over to her work

2 months ago

Reply to

John **********

Colin **********

Yes this is Ok, if she leaves and comes in on a visa exemption for an holiday as a tourist.

If the immigration officer thinks she just trying to extend her time here they could refuse her.

2 months ago

Reply to

Colin **********

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How can I switch from a non-B visa to a tourist visa after my work permit expires in Thailand?

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