Lao, Cambodian, and Myanmar workers in Thailand can hold 5 types of travel documents: Lao passports, red Cambodian passports, Myanmar passports (PJ), Myanmar CI, and black Cambodian TD.
The first three are passports, whereas CI and TD are not passports, even though many people refer to them collectively as "passports." This distinction has real consequences because CI is valid only in Thailand, and PJ—which many assume allows global travel—is reportedly restricted primarily to Thailand.
The Exworker team compiled this information from actual document covers handled by our team, Department of Employment announcements, and Cabinet resolutions, last verified on November 14, 2026.
Employee's booklet expiring soon or needs replacement? Exworker coordinates passport renewals for Lao, Cambodian, and Myanmar workers, as well as CI issuance for Myanmar workers.
View Migrant Worker Passport Services · View CI Issuance Services
How Many Types of Migrant Worker Travel Documents Are There?
You can tell almost all of them apart just by looking at the cover, as each type has a unique color and title printed on the front.
Passport
Lao Passport
- Cover: Dark blue, printed with PASSEPORT / PASSPORT
- Issuer: Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR
- Validity: 10 years
Passport
Cambodian Passport (Red Booklet)
- Cover: Dark red, printed with KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA and PASSPORT
- Issuer: Ministry of Interior of Cambodia
- Validity: 10 years
Passport
Myanmar Passport (PJ)
- Cover: Maroon, printed with REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR and PASSPORT
- Type: Passport for individuals going abroad to work; the specific type cannot be identified from the cover
- Validity: 5 years
Not a Passport
Myanmar CI
- Cover: Bright green, printed with CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY (Valid only in the Kingdom of Thailand)
- What it is: A certificate of identity issued by Myanmar authorities to workers in Thailand
- Validity: 4 years (new green version)
Not a Passport
Cambodian TD (Black Booklet)
- Cover: Black, printed with TRAVEL DOCUMENT FOR CAMBODIAN WORKER OVERSEAS
- What it is: A travel document for Cambodian workers working abroad; separate from the red booklet
- Validity: 5 years
Comparison Table: Passports, CI, and TD
| Document | Type | Travel to Other Countries | Visa and Work Permit Applications in Thailand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lao Passport | Passport | Yes, as standard for passports | Yes |
| Cambodian Passport (Red Booklet) | Passport | Yes, as standard for passports | Yes |
| Myanmar Passport (PJ) | Passport for employment | Reportedly restricted primarily to Thailand | Yes |
| Myanmar CI | Certificate of Identity | No; cover states valid only in the Kingdom of Thailand | Used for Cabinet resolution worker groups per Department of Employment announcements |
| Cambodian TD (Black Booklet) | Travel Document | No confirmed sources yet | Used for the Oct 3, 2023 Cabinet resolution worker group coordinated by the Department of Employment |
Regarding booklet validity, each country sets its own terms, which may vary by issuance batch. Based on booklets actually processed by our team: New green CI is 4 years · Myanmar Passport (PJ) is 5 years · Black Cambodian TD is 5 years · Red Cambodian Passport is 10 years · Lao Passport is 10 years. For the actual validity of each booklet, check the expiration date on the data page of the physical booklet and begin renewal well in advance.
Which Documents Does Thailand Accept?
Section 12(1) of the Immigration Act 1979 uses the term "valid passport or document used in lieu of a passport." Cabinet resolutions on the management of foreign workers—such as the July 14, 2026 resolution—use the same phrasing, though neither the law nor the resolutions explicitly name CI or TD.
What is clearly backed by official documentation is the Department of Employment announcement dated October 12, 2026, opening CI centers for Myanmar workers under Cabinet resolutions to fulfill the "passport or document used in lieu" requirement before visa stamping. As for the Cambodian TD, the Trat Provincial Employment Office announced on May 7, 2024 that the Department of Employment coordinated with Cambodian authorities to issue TDs for nationality verification of Cambodian workers under the October 3, 2023 Cabinet resolution, submitted via cam.doe.go.th with a 1,400-baht fee.
If you are unsure whether the document your employee holds applies to their specific group, check on a case-by-case basis with the Provincial Employment Office or the Department of Employment hotline at 1694.
What Is Myanmar CI and Where Is It Issued?
CI stands for Certificate of Identity, issued by Myanmar authorities, while Thailand facilitates the establishment of issuance centers within Thailand. The green cover itself states that it is valid only in the Kingdom of Thailand.
CI centers for this round are open from October 14, 2026 – January 14, 2027 in Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, plus a mobile unit in Chonburi. Select a center, book an appointment, and pay the Myanmar government fee of 2,660 baht at any 7-Eleven counter.
Department of Employment Announcement on Publicizing the Opening of Certificate of Identity (CI) Issuance Centers and Mobile Units of Myanmar Authorities, dated October 12, 2026The 2,660-baht fee applies only to this round. View each center's address at Where Are Myanmar CI Centers Located? and check the remittance and tax rules announced at the centers at 25% Remittance and Tax Conditions at CI Centers.
Can Myanmar PJ Be Used to Travel to Other Countries?
PJ is a category of Myanmar passport for individuals going abroad to work, distinct from PV, which is for general travel. Multiple Myanmar media outlets consistently report that Myanmar authorities stamp restrictions on PJ booklets limiting their use primarily to living and working in Thailand, and since 2024, unexpired PJ passports can no longer be converted to PV.
Converting CI to PJ does not mean the worker can go work in another country. If an employee intends to travel to a third country, verify the conditions with Myanmar authorities before deciding to switch booklets.
Read more about converting CI to PJ at Converting CI to PJ for Migrant Workers, and see an overview of CI booklets at Obtaining a Myanmar CI Booklet.
How Does the Black Cambodian TD Differ from the Red Passport?
TD (Travel Document) is a travel document for Cambodian workers working abroad with a black cover. Cambodian media report that Cambodia's Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training oversees its renewal, whereas the red passport is an ordinary passport issued by Cambodia's Ministry of Interior.
These two booklets are separate items and cannot be used interchangeably. If an employee holds a TD and wants to apply for a red booklet, or holds a red booklet and is asked to get a TD, confirm clearly beforehand which type is required for the employee's specific group.
Do not confuse this with the T.D. issued by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to certain groups of aliens—they share the same abbreviation but are completely different documents. View an overview of Cambodian workers in Thailand at Statistics on Cambodian Workers in Thailand 2026.
Can a Lao Passport Be Renewed in Thailand?
Lao passports are issued by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR. The channel Exworker uses is renewing existing booklets through agencies on the Lao side, so employees do not need to travel back to Laos themselves; however, we do not process applications for brand-new Lao passports.
If you need to contact the Lao Embassy directly, its address and phone number are listed at Where Is the Lao Embassy in Thailand?, while details on renewing through us are available at Migrant Worker Passport Services.
Which Worker Groups Hold Which Documents?
| Worker Group | Documents Held |
|---|---|
| MOU Imported Workers | Passport + Visa + Work Permit |
| Cabinet Resolution Group (Registered in Thailand) | Passport or document used in lieu + Visa + Work Permit, followed by Pink Card registration as the final step |
| Myanmar Workers under Nov 11, 2025 and Jul 14, 2026 Resolutions | Eligible to apply for CI at centers in Thailand during October 14, 2026 – January 14, 2027 |
| Border Pass Workers under Section 64 (Seasonal Commuters) | Border Pass (not one of the 5 types covered in this article) |
Read more about the differences between the first two groups at How MOU Workers Differ from Cabinet Resolution Workers.
Expired or Replaced Booklet: What Must Employers Do?
Receiving a new booklet is not the final step, because the visa stamped in the old booklet must still be transferred. There are 3 tasks required on the Thai side—2 at Immigration and 1 at the Department of Employment:
- Transfer the visa stamp to the new booklet at the Immigration office where the latest extension of stay was submitted.
- Check with the Department of Employment on whether booklet details in the Work Permit must be updated via hotline 1694 (we cannot yet confirm the exact form used).
- Complete the next 90-day report in person at Immigration. Online reporting is not allowed for this cycle, though a representative may submit it on the worker's behalf; subsequent reports can return to online filing.
Detailed stamp transfer steps are available at New Passport Issuance and Visa Stamp Transfer for Migrant Workers. As for whether new CI booklets or CI-to-PJ conversions follow the exact same steps in every detail, we do not yet have official documentation confirming this—please consult your local Immigration office before submitting.
For the July 14, 2026 resolution group whose booklets expire before December 11, 2026, renewal applications must be submitted by December 11, 2026, followed by new visa stamping within 90 days of receiving the booklet and no later than June 30, 2027.
Unsure which booklet your employee holds or what to renew first? Snap a photo of the front cover and send it to Nong Ex for a free check—no registration required.
Common Misconceptions
- Many people think CI is a temporary passport. In reality, CI is a certificate of identity, not a passport, and its cover states it is valid only in Thailand.
- Many people think the black TD is a Cambodian passport. In reality, TD is a travel document for workers and is completely separate from the red passport booklet.
- Many people think PJ can be used to travel worldwide. In reality, PJ is reportedly restricted primarily to use in Thailand.
- Many people think getting a new booklet finishes the process. In reality, you must transfer the visa stamp, complete the next 90-day report in person at Immigration, and check with the Department of Employment regarding the Work Permit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does CI differ from a Myanmar passport?
CI is a certificate of identity valid only in Thailand, whereas a Myanmar passport (PJ) is a passport category for individuals going abroad to work—though PJ is also reportedly restricted primarily to Thailand.
What is a Cambodian TD?
It is a black-covered travel document for Cambodian workers working abroad. It is not a passport and cannot be used in place of the red passport.
How many years are migrant worker passports valid for?
New green CI is 4 years · Myanmar Passport (PJ) is 5 years · Black Cambodian TD is 5 years · Red Cambodian Passport is 10 years · Lao Passport is 10 years. Check the actual expiration date on the booklet's data page.
How much is the CI fee for this round?
2,660 baht, payable at 7-Eleven counters per the Department of Employment announcement dated October 12, 2026, applicable to the October 14, 2026 – January 14, 2027 round.
Who must be notified after getting a new booklet?
Transfer the visa stamp at Immigration and complete the next 90-day report in person at Immigration, and check with the Department of Employment at 1694 on whether booklet details in the Work Permit need to be updated.
References
- Department of Employment Announcement on Publicizing the Opening of Certificate of Identity (CI) Issuance Centers and Mobile Units of Myanmar Authorities, dated October 12, 2026
- Cabinet Resolution of July 14, 2026 on the Management of Foreign Workers' Employment
- Immigration Act 1979, Section 12(1)
- Immigration Bureau — Passport Replacement and Stamp Transfer · 90-Day Notification
- RFA (Jun 7, 2024) · Myanmar Labour News (Jun 13, 2024) · CNI News (Oct 10, 2025) — PJ categories and restrictions
- Phnom Penh Post via Open Development Cambodia (May 10, 2022) — TD and OCWC cards for Cambodian workers
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Travel Document for Aliens (T.D.) mfa.go.th
- Trat Provincial Employment Office — Announcement on Travel Document (TD) Applications for Cambodian Workers (May 7, 2024)
Information verified as of November 14, 2026 · Cover descriptions are based on actual booklets handled by our team; newer issuance batches may vary.
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