What If I Lost My Work Permit In Thailand? What Can I Do?

Most residents in the Land of Smiles know that a work permit is required for foreigners to work legally in Thailand — the main benefit of a work permit is that it enables you to receive benefits as a worker. Working without a proper permit will result in penalties for non-compliance, such as possible fines, imprisonment, deportation, and in some cases, a ban from re-entering the kingdom. However, during the course of a foreigner’s career, they might lose their work permit in Thailand, damage it, or experience a change in employment status.

What happens when you lose your work permit in Thailand? Are there any viable solutions? Read on to find out.

Renewal of Work Permit, Under Normal Circumstances

Generally, Thai work permits are valid as long as your visa allows you to remain in Thailand, usually for around one year. On that note, work permits must be renewed or extended before they expire. Before the work permit can be renewed, the employee must be sure their visa is extended (the employee and the employer are both responsible for this). The documents that need to be submitted for the renewal of the work permit are identical to the ones that were submitted with the initial application.

What Can You Do When a Work Permit Is Lost or Damaged?

You should know that working in Thailand without a permit is illegal. Thus, if you damage or lose your work permit, it is imperative that you get a new one as soon as possible. Here are the steps you should follow to acquire a new work permit in Thailand:

1. Report It as Lost

Immediately inform your employer and the local police if you discover that your work permit has been lost or damaged. You will need a police report or a copy of the report, as it may be required for issuing a replacement for your work permit.

2. Apply for a Replacement

A work permit holder must apply for a substitute or “temporary” permit within 15 days via a WP.4 form. During this time, your employer will need to prepare the relevant documents and submit an application for a replacement work permit on your behalf to the Department of Employment.

3. Obtain Temporary Documentation

You may need to obtain temporary documentation, such as a letter from the Department of Employment confirming the loss of the work permit and the application for a replacement. This documentation may be necessary for legal purposes, such as re-entry into Thailand or proving your employment status to authorities.

Documents Required for Applying for a Work Permit Substitution

As mentioned above, there are certain documents that the authorities require for issuing a substitute permit. The two instances where you need (different) documents are a lost work permit and a damaged work permit (see details below).

1. A Lost Work Permit

Form WP.4 (substitution of a work permit)
Evidence of losing the work permit, acquired from the police station
Three 3×4 cm photographs (less than six months old)
Passport or Permanent Resident Book, Alien Identification Card, and a copy of the card
Copy of work permit (If available)
Power of attorney from alien with 10 Baht revenue stamp together with a copy and ID card of attorney (in case the applicant did not submit documents by themselves)
Application fee of 100 THB and substitute license fee of 150 THB

2. A Damaged Work Permit

Form WP.4 (substitution for a work permit)
The damaged work permit and a copy of it
Three 3×4 cm. photographs (less than six months old)
Power of attorney from alien with 10 Baht revenue stamp together with a copy and ID card of attorney (In case the applicant did not submit the documents by themselves)
Application fee of 100 THB and substitute license fee of 150 THB

After the Department of Employment validates your documents and the details of the requests are in order, along with a notification of grievances, they will issue a substitute work permit.

Obtaining a substitute work permit in Thailand may not be as difficult or time-consuming as you may think. With the appropriate documents and prompt notification, you will be able to get your work permit back in a timely manner. However, for most people, the initial application for a work permit can be overwhelming and complicated for both the employer and foreign employee. Therefore, opting for a Thai work permit service is a great way to make things easier.

ManpowerGroup Thailand’s Work Permit Service

ManpowerGroup Thailand offers a full range of work permit services in Thailand, including consulting, compiling, organizing, and expediting work permit and Non-B visa applications. We can also assist in obtaining Non-O visas for spouses and children of employees, as well as handling reports to immigration, re-entry permits for overseas travel, and renewal of applications.

At first, it may seem difficult to obtain a Work Permit in Thailand. Albeit, with ManpowerGroup’s services, issues can be anticipated and solved to make the process as easy as possible.

To see more details of our work permit service, click here.

About ManpowerGroup Thailand

ManpowerGroup is the world’s leading workforce expert. We offer comprehensive services as a premier recruitment agency in Thailand, ranging from recruitment services, HR consultant services, payroll outsourcing, outplacement services, and more. With more than 20 years of experience providing services in Thailand, you can rest assured that our experts will offer solutions that help your organization transform in a fast-changing world of work.

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Call Center: 02-171-2345

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Website: www.manpowerthailand.com