Change CI to PJ for migrant workers: steps & documents

Changing CI to PJ means that a Myanmar migrant worker holding a Certificate of Identity (CI) applies for a passport (referred to as PJ in the industry) with Myanmar authorities in Thailand, and then transfers their residency and work status in Thailand from the old document to the new one. They do not need to return to their home country, but the migrant worker must appear in person.

This process does not end with "getting a new document," because the new document has no stamps. Two more tasks must follow: transferring the visa and permission to stay stamps from the old document to the new document at the Immigration Office, and notifying the Department of Employment of the change in travel document so that the work permit references the correct document number. If a new document is made and left as is, the information in the government system will not match the document the migrant worker actually holds, which is the root cause of problems during the next renewal.

This article summarizes the entire process for employers and HR departments, from the differences between CI and PJ, who should change, documents to prepare, to recurring problems encountered by the Exworker team in actual operations.

How are CI and PJ different?

Both can be used as identification documents for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand and can be used to apply for or renew a work permit. The difference lies in the scope of use and document validity.

Topic	CI (Certificate of Identity)	PJ (Passport)
Issuer	Myanmar authorities, issued in Thailand through service centers	Myanmar authorities, submitted at Myanmar agencies/embassy in Thailand
Used for work in Thailand	Yes	Yes
Used for international travel	Limited, usable for specified purposes	Yes, as per normal passport use
Document validity	Shorter, requires more frequent renewal	Longer, reduces document processing cycles
Suitable for whom	Migrant workers needing documents for timely renewal	Migrant workers staying long-term or planning to return home

In short, CI allows "continued work," while PJ allows "continued work and travel." Many employers choose to have migrant workers who have been with the company for a long time switch to PJ because document processing cycles are further apart, reducing the need to frequently schedule migrant workers off the production line.

Who should change from CI to PJ?

• Migrant workers who previously held a PJ, then switched to CI, and now wish to revert to PJ.
• Migrant workers who plan to travel back to Myanmar and then return to work.
• Migrant workers intending to work long-term with the same employer and who do not want frequent document renewals.
• Employees whose identification documents are nearing expiration, and employers wish to establish a longer new document cycle at once.

Those who are not in a hurry are migrant workers whose CI document still has a reasonable validity period and who have no travel plans. In this case, prioritize the work permit renewal cycle first, then plan the document change to coincide perfectly, which will save more of the migrant worker's days off.

If the CI document is nearing expiration and you are unsure whether to renew the existing CI or change to PJ, read more from the employer's perspective at CI Expiration: What Employers Need to Do and check service center updates at Myanmar CI Center Updates.

What are the steps to change CI to PJ?

Overall, there are 3 continuous blocks of work that must be done without interruption.

Block 1: Applying for a PJ document with Myanmar authorities in Thailand

Submit the passport application along with Myanmar-side documents. The migrant worker must appear in person for photography and data collection. Appointments are required, and the number of daily queues is limited. Be prepared for varying waiting times for the document, which depend on the workload of the receiving agency. Always ask the officer for the collection date on the day of submission and note it down to compare with the expiration date of the old document.

Block 2: Transferring stamps from the old document to the new document at the Immigration Office

Once the PJ document is obtained, bring the new document along with the old one to transfer the visa and permission to stay stamps to the new document at the responsible Immigration Office. Use the application form specified by the Immigration Office.

Important note: Most migrant workers in the MOU group and those under Cabinet resolutions do not hold business visa stamps (Non-Immigrant B), but rather different types of stamps according to their authorized group. Before going, check the stamp page in the old document to confirm its actual type, then reconfirm with the Immigration Office or Provincial Employment Office (PEO) in the area, as supporting documents vary by stamp type.

Block 3: Notifying the Department of Employment of the travel document change

The work permit is linked to the identification document number. When changing from CI to PJ, information must be updated so that the registration matches the document actually held. The notification has its own timeframe and requires supporting documents from the employer. Check the timeframe and document list with the PEO in the area before submission, as details may vary by area and according to the current Cabinet resolution cycle.

It is clear that changing one document requires updating information with multiple agencies, each with its own queues and timeframes. If you are not convenient to handle the process for migrant workers yourself, see Exworker's CI document processing and CI to PJ change services, which cover everything from pre-submission document checks, queue booking, accompanying migrant workers to the center, to transferring visa stamps to the new document.

Documents to prepare

The list below is the most frequently used set in practice. Consider it a starting point for collection, and always confirm the final list with the receiving agency before traveling.

Migrant worker's side

• Original old PJ document with copies of personal data page and pages with stamps (if PJ was held previously; generally, the old document should not have expired beyond the period specified by Myanmar authorities, commonly not exceeding 5 years. If older, additional documents may be required).
• Original current CI document that is still valid, with copies of data page and stamp pages.
• Original Myanmar ID card with front and back copies.
• Original Myanmar household registration book with copies of all pages containing information.
• Original work permit or non-Thai nationality identification card with copies.
• Front-facing photograph, no hat or glasses, taken within 6 months. Size and quantity as specified by the agency.
• Other documents if available, such as marriage certificate, child's birth certificate, or name/surname change documents.

Employer's side (used for visa stamp transfer and notification to the Department of Employment)

• Copy of employer's ID card and household registration (for individual employers).
• Certificate of corporate registration and copy of authorized director's ID card (for companies or partnerships).
• Power of attorney (if another person acts on behalf).

Transferring visa stamps from old to new document: Why it must not be skipped

The newly obtained PJ document is blank, with no indication of when the migrant worker is permitted to stay in Thailand. All residency rights are still in the old document. If the stamps are not transferred to the new document, problems will arise when:

• Documents are checked at checkpoints or during local inspections, because the document held has no permission stamp.
• Submitting for work permit renewal in the next cycle, and the document number in the system does not match the actual document.
• Traveling out of the country and returning, which requires a valid stamp in the document held.

For details on transferring stamps when changing to a new document, read more at Changing to a New Passport: How to Transfer Migrant Worker Visas.

Common problems encountered in actual operations

From the work Exworker's team handles for employers, recurring time-consuming cases are often a few common issues.

• Inconsistent spelling of names across documents. Names in the Myanmar ID card, household registration, CI document, and work permit are spelled differently, preventing data linkage with the Thai system when notifying document changes. Photos of all documents should be compared before submission.
• Starting too late. Beginning the process when the old document has only a few weeks left. When queues are long or documents are rejected, there's no time left to fix it. Should start several months before expiration.
• Old PJ document expired too long ago. This requires preparing additional identity verification documents. Check this point before accompanying the migrant worker to submit.
• Getting a new document and stopping there. Not transferring stamps and not notifying the Department of Employment. Only realizing the issue when submitting for renewal and the system rejects it.
• Taking migrant workers in vain due to full queues. Wasting both travel costs and workdays. If taking multiple people, queues should be booked and documents checked in advance.
• Forgetting to keep copies. Of both old and new documents, appointment slips, and receipts. All should be photographed and kept, as they are always used for reference in subsequent steps.

How is this related to the current work permit renewal cycle?

The Cabinet Resolution dated July 14, 2569, grants leniency for foreign nationals from Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam who are permitted to work until December 11, 2569, to stay and work until December 11, 2570, provided they submit their application by December 11, 2569.

The point directly related to the document issue is that this resolution also covers groups who could not obtain a passport by July 31, 2569, or who obtained a passport but it expires before December 11, 2569. Simply put, the document issue and work permit renewal are tasks that must be planned together, not separately.

If your employees fall into this group, consider the renewal submission cycle alongside the document change plan. Details of the submission cycle can be read at Work Permit Renewal: Submit Before Dec 11, 2569 or have our team handle the entire process through Migrant Worker Work Permit Renewal Services.

Source: Summary of Cabinet Meeting News, July 14, 2569 (Regarding the renewal of work permits for foreign nationals from Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, according to Cabinet Resolution November 11, 2568).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to return to Myanmar to change from CI to PJ?

No, you don't. The process can be done with Myanmar authorities in Thailand, but the migrant worker must appear in person, and after obtaining the new document, the stamps must also be transferred.

Can I continue working while waiting for the new PJ document?

Focus primarily on the valid right to stay and work permit that has not expired, not on the fact that you are waiting for a new document. Therefore, do not let the old document expire while waiting. You should start in advance and keep appointment slips as evidence every time.

Can migrant workers who have never held a PJ document before do this immediately?

Confirm with the receiving agency first, as the Myanmar identity verification documents required will differ from cases where an old document was previously held. You can send photos of existing documents to our team for prior review.

How many days off are required?

Appearing in person does not take long, but you must allow time for travel and waiting in queues, as well as returning to collect the document as per the appointment slip. Work shifts should be planned in advance, especially if taking multiple people.

Which is better, CI or PJ?

Neither is definitively better. It depends on whether the migrant worker needs to travel and whether the employer prefers frequent or infrequent document processing cycles. If staying long-term and planning to travel, PJ is more suitable. If documents are needed to meet an upcoming renewal cycle, CI is usually faster.

Summary and Next Steps

Changing CI to PJ is not difficult, but it's easy to make mistakes because it's a three-part process: getting a new document, transferring stamps, and notifying the Department of Employment of the document change. Missing any one step will lead to problems during the next renewal cycle. What should be done starting today is to check which employees hold CI documents, when they expire, and if they coincide with the work permit renewal cycle.

If you would like a team to help check documents before submission, book queues, accompany migrant workers for processing, and complete the visa stamp transfer, see details and document lists on the CI document processing and CI to PJ change services page, or send photos of existing documents via LINE @exworker for our team to review first.

References and Updates

• Summary of Cabinet Meeting News, July 14, 2569 — Renewal of work permits for foreign nationals from Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (Submission deadline by December 11, 2569, stay and work permitted until December 11, 2570).
• Experience from actual work handled by Exworker Co., Ltd., a company bringing foreign nationals to work in the country, for employers.
• Procedures and document lists may vary by area and according to the current Cabinet resolution cycle. Always confirm with the Provincial Employment Office (PEO) and the Immigration Office in the area before proceeding.

Last updated: August 20, 2569