What happens to my work permit and visa when changing schools in Thailand?

Oct 3, 2024
3 months ago
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All. Just a question about work permit and visa.

I was working in a particular school after 1 month l am changing schools. Does the work permit get changed to the other school like a transfer . Or does the process start all again. Visa and WP cancelled and have ti leave the country and come back.

Please only those with previous knowledge or experience answer. Cheers
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When changing schools in Thailand, the process of transferring your work permit (WP) and visa can be complicated. Generally, you will need to cancel your existing work permit and visa if the two schools cannot coordinate the transition. However, if both schools are willing to work together, it might be possible to transfer your work permit without needing to leave the country. It is crucial to communicate with both the old and new schools' administration to ensure that the paperwork is handled smoothly, which may allow you to obtain your new visa on the same day as the cancellation.
Princess *******
Ask your old school if they are willing to help you to just transfer the WP under your new school. If they agree, you don't have to go out of the country. If they don't and choose to cancel your WP and Visa with them, you'll have to start all over again.
Nigel *********
Are you still on the 90 day non b? If so was there any notation on the sicker ( or whatever you have) linking it to your old school?
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
l don't have a 90 day visa. There is still 11 months on my WP and visa it's not cancelled. So the new school should be able to transfer it
Declan **********
@David *******
no, it doesn't work like that. You're not on a visa you're on an extension (if you have 11 months left) and you can't transfer a visa or extension anyway... it needs to be cancelled, however if the two schools work together (it's rare they will agree to), you can get your new extension they same day you go cancel your current one after which you can go update your WP.

However if either school refuses to work with the other you will need to cancel your extension, WP and leave so the whole process can be started from scratch.

Also side note, if your current school or new school with not work with the other, make sure you do cancel your WP & Extension before leaving otherwise you will run into problems when getting your new extension and WP. When you have cancelled both you will need to leave the same day, however you can apply for a 30 day extension which will yet rejected but give you 7 days to leave instead of less than 24 hours.
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Declan *********
the 2 school staff know each other good friends. the old school visa person recommend me for the job. From all the comments it sounds l should be ok. Hoping anyway see what comes of it.
Declan **********
@David *******
not just down to the administrators doing the paperwork, they have to get the directors to sign off on it too, hopefully it all plans out for you though 😊
Bob **********
If your WP and visa were cancelled you can apply for a 30 day extension which will be denied and you’ll be given 7 days to leave then you’ll need to start over
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
not cancelled
Bob **********
@David *******
then possible to use it as it for the same type of job
John **********
If your old school and your new school can work together it's possible but otherwise no
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
my old school never cancelled my wp or visa. The new school can contact the old and sort it in time. Correct ? So l dont have to go out
John **********
@David *******
depends if they are willing to work together to achieve it in time BUT you say your old school, does that mean you have already stopped working there? If so YOU should have already cancelled your work permit. You can't cancel a visa, only an extension of stay
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
no nothing is cancelled as yet because l have another school to transfer to. The visa person at the old school knows the visa person at the new school so they should be able to work it out with a bit of luck. Will save a much around for me
John *******
I would ask the new school your questions. They will have paperwork to do also and it is not done overnight
Kool *******
Because you are not changing visa types you might not have to leave the country if you cancel the old visa, and get the new one on the same day, and it can be done. The WP is done in the country.
Declan **********
@Kool ******
in order for them to do that though, both schools will need to work with each other and that in my experinece is extremely rare.
Manuel *********
All over again
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