Work Permit Renewal for 3 Nationalities Until 2027

Brief Summary: The work permit renewal for migrant workers of 3 nationalities (Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) is no longer "awaiting Cabinet approval" — The Cabinet resolved on July 14, 2569 to allow this group to stay in the Kingdom and continue working until December 11, 2570.

The one thing employers must remember is: the application for renewal must be submitted by December 11, 2569. This date is not the "work permit expiry date" as many understand, but rather the last day for submission. Those who submit on time will continue working for another full year. Those who do not submit will simply lose their existing rights.

This group comprises approximately 720,000 people nationwide. The government fee for renewal is 1,000 Baht per person (100 Baht for application submission + 900 Baht for the work permit). Applications can be submitted by the migrant worker themselves, the employer, or a company authorized to bring migrant workers into the country, either through the electronic system or at locations designated by the Department of Employment.

Information as of 8 September 2569

What needs to be done now, no more waiting

1) Pull a list of all employees whose work permits expire on December 11, 2569 · 2) Check passport expiry dates concurrently · 3) Schedule health checks and verify social security status · 4) Complete the renewal application before December 11, 2569. Do not wait until the last week.

The upcoming announcements from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour will provide details on procedures, not conditions for renewal or non-renewal. Therefore, they are not a reason to delay preparations.

Timeline: From FWMC Resolution to Actual Cabinet Resolution

This matter has progressed step by step, and all steps are now complete. Clarifying the timeline helps eliminate confusion for employers who still recall the initial news.

Step	Occurred on	Status as of 8 September 2569
The Foreign Worker Management Policy Committee (FWMC) Meeting No. 3/2569 considered the renewal matter	July 3, 2569	Completed
The Cabinet resolved to allow stay and work until Dec 11, 2570	July 14, 2569	Effective — the system has been accepting applications since 8 September 2569
Announcements from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour according to the resolution (procedural details)	As to be announced in the Royal Gazette	Check with the provincial employment office in your area

The initial news many heard was about the FWMC step, which at that time was an approval before submission to the Cabinet, leading to advice to await clarity. But as of today, that step is complete. The current advice is to proceed with the renewal process immediately.

Who is included in this round?

The Cabinet Resolution of July 14, 2569, covers migrant workers of Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam nationalities who were granted work permits until December 11, 2569, under the Cabinet Resolution of November 11, 2568. They can be divided into 2 groups.

Group 1 — With passports and visas already stamped

• Received work permits until December 11, 2569, and have visas stamped until the same date.
• The most straightforward process: submit work permit renewal, then extend the visa according to the new period.

Group 2 — Incomplete travel documents

This resolution also covers the group that did not complete their documents in time during the previous round, namely:

• Received work permits until December 11, 2569, but did not complete passport issuance by July 31, 2569.
• Already stamped with a visa, but the passport expires before December 11, 2569.

Group 2 will take significantly longer than Group 1 because travel documents must be finalized before the renewal process can begin. Therefore, this group should start first, not be left until last. Most Myanmar migrant workers in this group must begin by obtaining a CI book. See the steps for booking a queue at the center and required documents at Myanmar Migrant Worker CI Book Service

Among this group, 562,068 people have not yet received their visas (Laos 10,105 · Myanmar 551,198 · Vietnam 765). This means that queues towards the end of the year will definitely be crowded.

How long can it be extended, and when must it be submitted?

Matter	Before July 14, 2569 Resolution	After July 14, 2569 Resolution
Right to stay and work expiry date	Dec 11, 2569	Dec 11, 2570 (if renewal submitted on time)
Meaning of Dec 11, 2569	Work permit expiry date	Last day for renewal application submission
What employers must do	Await clarity from the Cabinet	Submit application + health check + social security/health insurance
Government fee	—	1,000 Baht/person (Application 100 + Work Permit 900)

Another point of concern for employers is whether, after submission, if the visa stamping queue is long, the employee will become an overstayer. The resolution stipulates that those who have submitted a renewal application may stay in the Kingdom until June 30, 2570 to complete the visa stamping process. Once the visa is stamped, they will be permitted to stay until December 11, 2570. In simple terms, there is over half a year of breathing room after submission, but the first hurdle is to submit on time.

If you have multiple employees who need to submit applications simultaneously in one round, and you don't want to miss this first hurdle, we offer migrant worker work permit renewal services where employers can send us a single list, and we will check each individual's status and proceed with the submission.

Renewal Process: What to do

1. Check each employee's group — Review the work permit, passport or travel document, and visa stamp in the book to determine if they are in Group 1 or Group 2.
2. Health check — Must pass the specified health check.
3. Social security registration — Or obtain health insurance if the employee is not in the social security system.
4. Submit work permit renewal application — Through the e-WorkPermit system at eworkpermit.doe.go.th, the only channel, between 8 September and 11 December 2569 (the system closes at 16.30 on the last day).
5. Pay the 1,000 Baht fee — 100 Baht for the application submission and 900 Baht for the work permit.
6. Proceed with visa stamping — Within the timeframe until June 30, 2570.

If the employee does not yet have a non-Thai nationality identification card (pink card) or their personal history registration is incomplete, these should be cleared concurrently. See the steps at Migrant Worker Pink Card Service

The above steps and deadlines are in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution. The operational details will be in accordance with the announcements from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour to be published in the Royal Gazette. Therefore, it is advisable to re-check with the provincial employment office in your area before submitting the application.

Read detailed step-by-step current schedule at Migrant Worker Work Permit Renewal: Submit Before Dec 11, 2569 and a summary of the full resolution with visa information at Work Permit and Visa Renewal According to Cabinet Resolution of July 14, 2569

Where do Cambodian migrant workers stand in this round?

The Cabinet Resolution of July 14, 2569, specifically mentions Lao, Myanmar, and Vietnamese nationalities and does not cover Cambodian nationality.

For Cambodian migrant workers in the relaxed group under the Cabinet Resolution of September 24, 2567, who were granted work permits until March 31, 2569, their renewal was postponed according to the Cabinet Resolution of December 2, 2568, due to the situation at the Thai-Cambodian border. As of 8 September 2569, no new Cabinet Resolution extending the period for this group has been found. Employers with Cambodian employees should check their individual status with the provincial employment office in their area or hotline 1694 before taking any action.

As for the group that has already renewed their work permits, they are a different group, and the Department of Employment has reported that they can stay and work until February 13, 2570. However, the expiry date appearing on each employee's work permit should be checked individually.

Why this round is important for businesses

• Prevent mid-term labor shortages — Construction, industry, agriculture, and services still primarily rely on this group of workers. Timely submission means production lines will not be interrupted mid-next year.
• Cheaper than starting anew — Recruiting and training new workers takes significantly more time and resources than renewing existing ones.
• Longer workforce planning by one year — With rights extended until December 11, 2570, employers can plan their 2570 budget and workforce on a more stable basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we still need to wait for the Royal Gazette announcement before submitting?

No need to wait to prepare. The Cabinet Resolution was issued on July 14, 2569. Health checks, travel document verification, and social security status checks can be done immediately. For procedural details, check with the provincial employment office in your area before submitting.

What happens if the application is not submitted by December 11, 2569?

The Cabinet Resolution itself does not specifically state the consequences or penalties for not submitting. What can be confirmed is that the relaxation until December 11, 2570, is tied to the condition that the application must be submitted by December 11, 2569. Therefore, it is not advisable to risk missing the deadline. If there are cases where the deadline has been missed, inquire with the provincial employment office in your area on a case-by-case basis.

Can the employer be changed during this renewal round?

The Cabinet Resolution that relaxed conditions for this group does not specifically address employer changes. Therefore, changing employers must be done according to the Department of Employment's criteria. It is advisable to inquire with the provincial employment office in your area on a case-by-case basis. If the process needs to be initiated, see the steps for notification of exit and entry at Migrant Worker Employer Change Service

Can I submit it myself, or do I need to go through an importing company?

Applications can be submitted by the migrant worker themselves, the employer themselves, or by authorizing a company that brings migrant workers into the country to act on their behalf. It is not mandatory to go through an agent.

On-site Experience: Common Pitfalls for Employers in this Round

• Only checking the work permit, forgetting to check the passport — Most cases of late submission are due to passport expiry, not the work permit.
• Still thinking "wait for Cabinet approval first" — This is a misunderstanding from the FWMC news mid-year, which has now passed.
• Waiting until close to the deadline to act — This group comprises around 720,000 people nationwide. Health check queues and document center queues in November will definitely be full.
• Incomplete health check or social security registration — In the November 11, 2568 resolution round, 354,255 people were left behind due to not submitting health documents, leading to the March 10, 2569 resolution to extend the deadline. Do not let this happen again.

Exworker (Company for Bringing Migrant Workers to Work in the Country · License No. NJ.0122/2561) provides comprehensive migrant worker document services, with an expiry date notification system and 24-hour online work status tracking.

Employers with multiple employees of the 3 nationalities who do not wish to manage document queues themselves can send us their list, and we can check individual statuses and submit renewals for them.

References and Verification Date

• Summary of Cabinet Meeting News on July 14, 2569, regarding work permit renewal for migrant workers of Lao, Myanmar, and Vietnamese nationalities, according to the Cabinet Resolution of November 11, 2568.
• Summary of Cabinet Meeting News on March 10, 2569, regarding measures to resolve obstacles in submitting work permit applications according to the Cabinet Resolution of November 11, 2568.
• Department of Employment Press Release dated August 13, 2569 — Renewal application submission timeframe.
• Royal Ordinance on the Management of Migrant Worker Employment B.E. 2560 and its amendments.

Last fact-checked date: 8 September 2569 — Migrant worker relaxation measures are time-limited and frequently amended. Please check the current status with the provincial employment office in your area, the Department of Employment hotline 1694 or 1506, every time before proceeding.