What are my visa options in Thailand if I lose my job?

Visa options in Thailand Losing job in Thailand Visa extension Smart visa Student visa Business visa Thai immigration Expat life in Thailand

Sep 24, 2020

4 years ago

Harley *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi guys, I was just curious what are your options if you were to lose or quit your job in Thailand during this time? Is it possible to obtain another visa without having to leave the country or are there no other options except for returning to your home country? The reason I’m curious is because the business I work for is unstable and I just want to be prepared for the worst. Thank you guys in advance for any info or advice.

764

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

If you lose or quit your job in Thailand, there are several options to consider for obtaining a new visa without having to leave the country. You could apply for a student visa for up to 12 months, or consider transitioning to a business visa by starting your own business. Alternatives include obtaining a marriage visa if applicable, looking for a new job, or exploring volunteer/education (ED) visas. Consulting with a visa agency like 'Star Visa' may also provide additional guidance. Additionally, some users suggested the smart visa option for startups, which can be processed within Thailand if you are working on a business idea.

Poompui ************

4 years ago

Home ***********

Suggest applying for smart visa (S type for 6 months). But surely you gotta come up with some business idea and try to make it happen. this can be converted within Thailand. The process is 1.5 month (30 business days) waiting for approval after all docs submitted and make sure that your current one is still valid until the result comes.

***********************************

4 years ago

เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******

Haha. Good luck.

4 years ago

Home ***********

@Edward *******

I shared my experience based on real project. We went on startup track even before knowing that there is this type of Visa. So just FYI in case anyone here has an idea to build a tech related business. This will be a good option for you. but I am Thai by the way. So I am not seeking any Visa extension here. 😅 just FYI. Good luck to you all ka 🥰

4 years ago

Reply to

Home ***********

Poompui ************

@Home **********

4 years ago

Reply to

Poompui ************

Roland *******

Your options will also depend on where you are located. If you're in Chiang Mai, Hand-to-Hand Combat might be interesting:

****************************

4 years ago

Thomas ********************

You could get married. Get another job. There's some options with volunteer/ED visas. In some of these cases, consulting with a visa agency could be a good idea. The only one I have personal experience with is called "Star Visa". But I'm not sure if they do anything other than Thai Elite.

And, of course, as said in the other forum, you can get a 30 day extension with an embassy letter. Which could possibly be repeated (new embassy letter each time.)

4 years ago

Peter **********

You could get a 12 month student visa. Ask around. 😉

4 years ago

Eddie *******

No idea. But start your own business and then transition to it. That should be possible.

4 years ago

Reply to

Eddie *******

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

... members · 60% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.