What should I know about transferring a work visa between provinces in Thailand?

Work Visa Transfer Thailand Immigration Visa Regulations Work Permit Extension of Stay Moving Jobs in Thailand International Schools Thailand

Jun 8, 2022

2 years ago

Timothy ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Transferring a work visa? I work for a big international school in Bangkok, and have decided to take a job at another big international school in Chiang Mai. My employer is happy to assist in transferring my visa. Are there any issues with transferring a work visa between provinces etc. that I should be aware of? Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Transferring a work visa between provinces in Thailand is not straightforward. You cannot simply transfer an Extension of Stay obtained with support from your current employer to a new employer in a different province. You must cancel your current Extension of Stay and work permit on your last working day with your current employer. After that, you can apply for a new work permit and Extension of Stay with your new employer in Chiang Mai, facilitating this process through cooperation with both employers and their respective Immigration Offices.

Ryan ********

In principle, you can transfer your work permit between employers. There is a section for doing so in the work permit.

I believe you add another employer to it, and then remove the old employer.

2 years ago

Ellie *******

@Ryan *******

, it wouldn't work for OP. You can ask the primary employer to add a secondary workplace/employer. In that case, you still have to keep a working contract with your primary employer to meet an extension and the extension has to be staying with the primary employer. After that, for every single thing you want to do with your work permit, you need to ask your primary employer to support you.

If you want to "change" your employer, you need to cancel your current work permit and apply for a new one.

@Timothy *******

, be careful to manage your work permit.

2 years ago

Timothy ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ellie ******

if I cancel my current work permit does that mean that I need to leave Thailand until I have another one?

2 years ago

Robert *******

@Tim****

, you cancel the work permit on the last day of working, same as your current Extension of Stay. IF you and your new employer manage to apply for a NEW extension of stay before the last date there is no need to leave the country.

2 years ago

Ellie *******

@Timothy *******

, That is the part of things you need to talk about with your employers. You need the work permit under your new employer to apply for a new extension to work for the new school.

2 years ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

Timothy ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ryan *******

thanks, that’s hopeful

2 years ago

Reply to

Timothy ********

Ellie *******

It depends on old and new employers & Immigration offices if you can do it all in Thailand. Talk with BOTH employers well in advance and have them check with each I/O and other related authorities.

2 years ago

Timothy ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ellie ******

thanks, they both know two months in advance so hopefully it’s doable.

2 years ago

Reply to

Timothy ********

Robert *******

You can NOT transfer an Extension of Stay which you got with help and documentation from a specific employer to another employer in another district in Thailand.

You go in advance to the Immigration Office where you got this Extension of Stay and cancel this on your last day of working or the date you agreed on with your current employer. You also cancel your work permit on the same day.

Than you travel to Chiang Mai and apply with your new employer for a new Work Permit and for a NEW Extension of Stay at the local Immigration Office. It needs cooperation of both employers and both Immigration Offices but it can be done.

2 years ago

Timothy ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ******

thanks, this seems like a big hassle 😕

2 years ago

Reply to

Timothy ********

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