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Answered7 months ago

What should I expect when leaving Thailand after working without a permit and what are my chances of re-entering as a tourist?

Thaila******
asked Mar 29, 2026
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Hi all! I'd be grateful for some urgent advice 🙌

I'll try to keep this as clear as possible:

November 2025: accepted a job as a teacher at a school in Thailand with a start date of January 2026.

December 2025: applied for and received a Thai Non-B 90 day visa by the Embassy in London.

January 2026:

- entered Thailand on Jan 1st and had the non-B visa stamped in my passport (valid for 90 days).

- started the job on January 5th. Was told by my employer that they were in the process of applying for my work permit.

- by my second week working there I had realised the job was completely not as described, management were verbally abusing me, and still no work permit (they then told me that they would wait until my probation was finished to apply for the work permit. Probation was 2 months. I knew this was illegal).

- I quit at the end of my third week there due to the lack of work permit, the not as described job, and the horrendous abuse. My resignation (with immediate effect) was followed by a week of abusive emails from management and them refusing to pay me for the time I had worked.

February 2026:

- they eventually paid me and the abuse/all contact stopped.

- I called immigration 5 times and was told each time that I was allowed to stay in Thailand until my 90 day non-B visa expired. They said it didn't matter that I wasn't working - I was still allowed to stay until the visa date in my passport.

March 2026:

I'm now a few days away from the Non-B visa expiring. I have a flight out of Thailand tomorrow. I'm very worried about the following:

1. I worked for 3 weeks without a work permit. Will I get in trouble for this tomorrow when I'm at the airport?

OR

2. My former employer did secretly have a work permit for me (without my knowledge) and I've therefore over stayed by around 60 days because I didn't leave when they cancelled it when I quit. Surely they couldn't have obtained a permit for me though without me knowing?!

Also, I plan to re-enter Thailand as a tourist 4 days after my non-B expires. I will stay for 2 weeks and then leave for good. Will I have difficulties trying to enter Thailand so soon after non-B expiring?

🙃

Would massively appreciate any help! Thank you
Answer summary
A user describes their experience working as a teacher in Thailand on a Non-B visa without a work permit. After three weeks of employment, they quit due to abusive management and lack of a work permit. They express concerns about potentially facing consequences for working illegally and inquire about re-entering Thailand shortly after their visa expires. Community responses clarify that the user was allowed to stay in Thailand until the visa expiration despite not having a work permit. They successfully navigated immigration without issues when leaving Thailand.
41 repliesnewest first
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Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Got through immigration just now with no issues✌️✈️
Kitty *******
Kitty *******
Your non-b and work permit are 2 separate things, so you are permitted to stay in the country according to your visa (90 days) and when you leave the country, it shouldn't even raise an eyebrow. The work permit allows for the visa to continue beyond the 90 days (with immigration visits or leave / return). Regarding the useful comments above, 🤨it is clear that the reason that you chose to leave was because they did not, in fact, honour the work permit. No, since it costs 60k THB just to process the visa, they wouldn't be sitting on it. They would just be delaying it to save the cost. Your 'illegal' working was in fact, in good faith. I'm sorry you went through that situation. I hear of it happening relatively frequently. But equally, have many teacher friends who have all above-board experiences. It's unfortunate that you were unlucky.
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Kitty Noble thanks for such a clear and kind response 🙌 Yes, I think this is happening a lot unfortunately 🥺
Jordan *******
Jordan *******
You took a job and couldn’t handle it. You quit. Many westerners do this shit. Makes it difficult for all the teachers who actually care about their work and students
Kitty *******
Kitty *******
Jordan Davis They couldn't 'not handle it', they immediately broke the contract which they made, which was to provide a work permit. They resigned due to the fact they were being forced to work illegally and treated like crap. Give them a break.
Jordan *******
Jordan *******
Kitty Noble it’s quite normal for a work permit to take time to get. They quit after a very short period of time. If the work permit is being processed than it’s not illegal
Jordan *******
Jordan *******
Thailand2988 normal. Sounds like you just wanted an easy out.
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Jordan Davis it wasn't being processed. They told me they wouldn't sort it until probation was over (2 months).
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Jordan Davis so helpful, thanks. Next time I'll just continue working illegally then 😅✌️
Wayne *******
Wayne *******
This happened to me in 2021 during covid

I was told my work permit was coming everytime I asked as I was worried I was working illegally. The agency and the school were both BSing. They also wanted us to work holidays which were not in our contracts and when we legally proved this, that was basically it for us as embarrassing a Thai is unacceptable to them

What I didnt realise was that the school only wanted me for 6 months to fill a space and after the fact was when I realised what had happened.

If you have evidence of your concerns such as emails or social media, keep them to show your proof although I doubt much will come of it.

Personal advice - work for yourself, charge what you want, work when you want. Being in someone's pocket isnt a great idea
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Wayne North sorry you had to experience this 🫠 there are a lot of dodgy schools around!
O ********
O ********
Non B becomes void when the job ends "7 day grace period" if you are lucky. Since people have been allowed to be anonymous or use nicknames there is endless amounts of these BS posts. Your just a scammer...
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Also, maybe I'm naive, but what on earth would a scammer have to gain from this? 🫠
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
O Really 😅 not a scammer at all. Non-B does not become void IF you're on the original 90 days visa, not extension of stay. I'm on the original 90 day visa and am 100% legally allowed to stay the full 90 days even though the job ended on day 21. That is not what I'm asking/worrying about so your comment is both incorrect and unnecessary. ✌️
O ********
O ********
There is absolutely no way you can prove you are not a scammer,if you can prove me wrong??
Ian *******
Ian *******
O Really there is no way you can proveshe is a scammer.
James **********
James **********
I would not worry about it, just leave like nothing ever happened.
FarangJ********
FarangJ********
Just show them you have cash at Immigration.
FarangJ********
FarangJ********
Number 2 is probably false in so far as the work permit is concerned.
FarangJ********
FarangJ********
No to number 1.
Emerald********
Emerald********
So you worked illegally and were paid for it .

You quit and stayed illegal on a visa for a job you quit months ago.

Don’t leave anything valuable behind just in case . You may be denied entry nobody here can say for sure . Only the entry officers.

You have had 2 months to figure this out and talk to immigration. Now It’s the last day.
Kitty *******
Kitty *******
Do you need a hug?
Emerald********
Emerald********
Kitty Noble not From your haggard scary face
Graham ******
Graham ******
EmeraldWolf7059 It is not illigal to stay on a 90 day Non-B entry stamp if not working, the 90 days is honoured
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
EmeraldWolf7059 I spoke to immigration on 5 separate occassions 2 months ago when I quit my role due to my former employer's unwillingness to get me a work permit. Immigration confirmed I was allowed to remain in Thailand until the date in my passport even though I wasn't working, so I have not stayed here illegally as you have claimed 🙌
Emerald********
Emerald********
Thailand2988 great 👍🏼
Charles ********
Charles ********
EmeraldWolf7059 ditch the rainbow panties…arsehole!
O ********
O ********
Charles Hallam 🤡
Charles ********
Charles ********
O Really ❄️
Emerald********
Emerald********
Charles Hallam This guy some real

Hater and never helps anyone . Clean your panties little boy or is uncle doing that
Gregg *******
Gregg *******
So you have to leave by March 31st when your 90 days expire. You never worked on record because you never got paid. Chilli out for the last couple of days, m8. Stop over thinking it.
Emerald********
Emerald********
Gregg Davis did you read ? She was paid and working illegally
Gregg *******
Gregg *******
EmeraldWolf7059 sorry, I thought I read that they held back her wages. I went back and read that they eventually paid her. My bad. Still wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure her story will carry her.
Alpinel ********************
Alpinel ********************
You just wait and you will found out what you can and what you can't
Melissa *************
Melissa *************
And the most useless comment award goes to…
Alpinel ********************
Alpinel ********************
Melissa Coral-Giles 😊😇🙂‍↕️😌😌
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
That’s…impressively unhelpful.
Thaila******
Thaila******
OP
Thanks so much, Stuart and John.

Regarding the reentry - I have proof of funds, proof of accommodation booked, and an onward flight 🙌
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
Please note that the date your original Non B was valid to is irrelevant. That was used and finished as soon as you entered. What counts is the stamp in your passport that shows when you are allowed to stay until.
John **********
John **********
Immigration were correct and it doesn't matter whether you had work permit or not, if you are on the original 90 day visa you can stay until the date on the entry stamp in your passport. Having had the Non-B shouldn't affect whether you have an issue entering or not
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
There shouldn’t be any issue leaving as you entered on a valid Non B and you are allowed to stay until the date stamped on to your passport regardless of whether you had a work permit or not.

Can’t say about trying to re-enter. You may not have any issues but you might be quizzed as to why. Show proof of funds (20,000 baht) booked accommodation and an onward ticket.

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