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Answered2 years ago

Do I need to provide my work permit and passport for cancellation before leaving Thailand?

Cameron *******
asked Mar 6, 2025
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I need some advice my old job is cancelling my visa and work permit tomorrow and I've booked a flight and hotel for that night.

My question is my old hr lady is saying she doesn't need my work permit or passport to cancel them both. Is this correct? I would hate to have her misunderstanding cost me.
Answer summary
The cancellation of a work permit and visa in Thailand typically requires both the work permit and passport. The labor ministry must cancel the work permit, and then the immigration office can cancel the visa using the cancellation paperwork. It's essential to ensure the cancellation is documented properly to avoid future issues, such as blacklisting. If you're on an extension of stay, remember to get an official stamp in your passport confirming the cancellation.
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John **********
John **********
There's no way I'd be giving my passport to anyone if I needed it to leave the country in 24 hours. Both the work permit and passport are yours. Go cancel the work permit and take the cancellation paperwork to immigration to cancel your extension of stay
Steve *********
Steve *********
A couple of points that might be of use.

1. It’s worth getting a copy of the work permit cancellation document issued by Department of Labor. It will be helpful if you get another job in Thailand in the future.

2. If you need more time to sort out your affairs you can get a 7 day extension of stay at immigration for a fee of 1900 Baht when you cancel your stay extension.
Gigi *********
Gigi *********
Whatever you do make sure you get the old visa cancelled with a stamp in your passport.

This means, cancel the work permit first, get the little receipt they give you and take it to the immigration office that did the original visa for you.

I had massive issues with this that nearly got me 'technically' blacklisted just because the work permit had been cancelled, the visa had expired but I hadn't got a tiny little stamp at immigration to cancel the visa (even though it had expired and a new VOA stamp had been given from a border run).

Work permit visa was issued in Phuket, and Pattaya could have helped but chose not to (because they don't have to and are not supposed to)... It was an absolute nightmare and ended up being expensive to fix too.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Gigi ********
Just to clarify, it is extensions that are cancelled NOT visas.
Gigi *********
Gigi *********
@Lloyd *******
a visa based on work needs to be cancelled...regardless of whether it's expired... Trust me... my wallet found out 😂
Gigi *********
Gigi *********
@Lloyd *******
got it. Thanks
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Gigi ********
Almost, first, you got a visa exempt entry for 30 days (not a VOA), then you applied in country for an initial Non-B visa, then you applied for a yearly extension of stay, and it is that extension that was cancelled.
Gigi *********
Gigi *********
@Lloyd *******
so, are you saying the work related visa (1 year) is an extension of the 30 VOA... And therefore it's the extension that's being cancelled?
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Gigi ********
Sorry, but you are wrong. What you are calling a visa, is actually an extension. Extensions are cancelled, visas are not. This is why mods check posts, so that incorrect information is not passed on.
Wannikea *********
Wannikea *********
The work permit is taken to the labor ministry to be cancelled. The extension needs to be cancelled at immigration with the cancellation paperwork from the labour ministry and passport. You need to look in your passport and see if you are on an initial 90 day visa, or an extension of stay. That will determine if you need to go to immigration. If you're on the original 90 day visa you can just leave the country, but if you are on an extension, the extension must be cancelled.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
Sorry, but your HR would need both your original work permit and passport to cancel the work permit and extension.
Cameron *******
Cameron *******
OP
@Lloyd *******
that's what I thought I'll have to send them today thanks for the quick response.
Chelsea ********
Chelsea ********
They need the work permit but not your passport
Longy ****
Longy ****
@Lloyd *******
no i mean don't hold your fucking breath

and stop putting words in others mouths while you're at it.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Longy ***
You mean you can't find me a single law, why not just say that.
Longy ****
Longy ****
@Lloyd *******
don't hold your breath jerk
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Longy ***
Cheers for a shit AI answer, I say again, show me a law.
Longy ****
Longy ****
@Lloyd *******
No company has the right to hold your passport. Your passport is your personal property, and in most countries, including Australia, it is illegal for an employer or company to keep it.

If a company is trying to take or hold your passport:

1. Refuse to hand it over – You are not legally required to give them your passport.

2. Ask for it back – If they already have it, request its immediate return.

3. Remind them of the law – Holding someone’s passport can be a form of forced labor or coercion, which is illegal.

4. Seek help – Contact local authorities, such as:

Fair Work Ombudsman (if you're in Australia)

Your country's embassy (if you're a foreign worker)

The police (if they refuse to return it)

Let me know if you need help finding specific resources based on your location.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Longy ***
Show me a single law from any country that says that! Stop writing crap!
Longy ****
Longy ****
@Lloyd *******
by law, you are not allowed to hand over your passport, by the law of your country
Chelsea ********
Chelsea ********
@Lloyd *******
fair

But I think that the workplace assuming you'd do it is also less likely because isn't there a few days window? Wouldn't everyone just want to give themselves that time?

Curious to know
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Chelsea *******
99% of YOUR employer's maybe, but that is most certainly not the norm. Also, I have never had an employer ask to keep MY work permit, so again, you are just talking about your experience.
Chelsea ********
Chelsea ********
@Lloyd *******
yes but 99% of the time the employer does it. They can even do it without the original WP - and the minute it's done our stay is up. Generally schools don't leave it in your hands...

And when I've switched schools, the same thing: I've never gone to do it all of my past schools do it directly themselves.

*They also have to then provide you with the slip that the WP was cancelled which can be difficult if you ended on bad terms. The amount of power schools have is really crazy.

(Ps. I know the WP is "ours" but it's specific to 1 employer and never usable again so.... Technically it belongs to that place of employment... If you know what I mean)
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Chelsea *******
You are pretty well spot on, BUT the work permit belongs to the employee, NOT the employer, and it is the employees responsibility to ensure it is cancelled
Chelsea ********
Chelsea ********
@Lloyd *******
cancelling a work permit does not require the passport and does not require the employee to do anything - the employer cancels the work permit (and usually requests the original WP back, which is fair because the WP technically belongs to the specific employer) **if for some reason your employer doesn't cancel your WP you can go do it yourself

But in my experience every employer has done this themselves

Cancelling the visa extension (or notifying immigration of the extension ending) is different and DOES require you *with your passport* as well as a letter or document from the school stating the end date. It should be done the same day as your work permit is cancelled. From there, the immigration stamps that your extension has ended and you must leave by the end of that day *or* you can receive an "extension request denied stamp" for 1900 baht and get 7 more days with that.

** Note that going to immigration and informing them of the end of your extension only applies if you're not working at a new place right away

If leaving Thailand or being unemployed for a while before working again, it's followed as I said.

I've done it multiple times in multiple provinces and know exactly how it works.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
@Chelsea *******
Pray explain how they would cancel an extension without the passport?

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