@Ellie ******

. Thank you for the reply. I am comfortable meeting all the requirements for the retirement visa. Unfortunately the application will be at a different office to the cancellation so I can't take the 1st option.

My company is insisting that I do not have to cancel the extension and are refusing to provide any paperwork. My work permit has already been sent for cancellation. What can I do? Can I cancel the extension myself without any paperwork? Can I just leave Thailand and return on a tourist visa?

@Pauly ****

I've renewed my Australian passport 3 or 4 times here. I don't recall it being a very long process - maybe 2 weeks. It will take 2 visits to the Australian Embassy. Once to apply and once to collect. They don't post the new passport as they need to invalidate your old one.

Note this is pre-covid so everything has probably changed now.