The timeframe can vary, as immigration rules in Thailand are often subject to interpretation and change. Itβs best to check directly with immigration or the BOI to confirm the specific requirements in your case.
When your employment contract in Thailand ends, your BOI work permit and extension of stay may become invalid before their official expiration date if you no longer have a sponsoring employer. While they are technically valid until June 2026, in practice, you could be in an irregular situation if you leave the country without canceling them.
Key Points:
1. BOI Work Permit:
If your employment ends, the company is generally expected to cancel your BOI work permit within 15 days of your last working day.
If it is not canceled and authorities detect it, there could be issues if you return to Thailand in the future.
2. Extension of Stay Based on BOI:
If your work permit is canceled, the extension of stay also becomes invalid automatically.
You are usually required to leave the country within a short period (typically 7 or 15 days).
What Should You Do?
Even though your HR says there is no need to cancel it, the safest approach is to check with the BOI or immigration to avoid potential issues later. If you leave the country without canceling anything, there may not be immediate problems, but if you wish to return to Thailand in the future, you could face complications with immigration.
If you have any doubts, the best course of action is to process the official cancellation before leaving.
The point: The deadline is usually 7 days after the cancellation of the BOI work permit, but in some cases, immigration may grant up to 15 days. It is advisable to check with the immigration office to confirm the exact timeframe in your case.