On 22 October 2024, the Department of Employment (“DOE”) held a public hearing on the draft on criteria and procedures for requesting and issuing a replacement for a work permit (“Draft”). The Draft primarily enables the foreigners to apply for the replacement for the work permit upon the criteria and procedures for requesting. The rationale behind this is to ensure that the issuance of the replacement for the work permits for foreigners is conducted in a convenient, efficient, and timely manner without the burden of travel expenses. Thus, the individuals who are or may be affected are foreigners intending to work in Thailand, foreigners working in Thailand, and their employers or business operators.
According to the Draft, the application and supporting documents to request for the replacement for the work permit shall be applied via e-filing. In case where e-filing of the application and supporting documents is not applicable, the Draft allows the work permit holder to submit the application and its supporting documents to the employment office where the work place of the employee is located.
The Draft indicates that the work permit holders, with the original permit is lost, destroyed, or significantly damaged, may apply for a replacement by submitting an application with supporting documents to the registrar within 15 days from the date of the loss, destruction, or damage. In addition, the registrar shall render the decision whether to issue or to refuse to issue the replacement for the work permit within 15 days from the date of the receipt of the application and supporting documents to the work permit holder.
The work permit substitute application form indicates the checklist for work permit substitute application as follows:
- Identity documents such as the copy of passport of the foreigner;
- Document or proofs which indicate the significant damaged, ruined or lost work permit such as photo of the significant damaged, or police report or testimony memorandum in the case of lost work permit; and
- Two 3×4 cm. photographs taken within the last six months with the applicant facing the camera directly, wearing neither a hat nor dark-tinted eyeglasses.