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

@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?

@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.

@Lloyd *******

got it. Thanks

@Lloyd *******

by law, you are not allowed to hand over your passport, by the law of your country

@Longy ***

Show me a single law from any country that says that! Stop writing crap!

@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.

@Longy ***

Cheers for a shit AI answer, I say again, show me a law.

@Lloyd *******

don't hold your breath jerk

@Longy ***

You mean you can't find me a single law, why not just say that.

@Lloyd *******

no i mean don't hold your fucking breath

and stop putting words in others mouths while you're at it.

@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.

@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

@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)

@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.

@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