I am currently on a Non-Imm B with BOI Work Permit. My Visa and WP expire in October 2026 BUT (based on previous agreement with my employer) I will cease working (retire) at end of June 2026. I would like to transition to a Retirement Extension upon ceasing employment.

 Is this possible? Remaining in Thailand?

My wife is currently on Non-Imm O as a Dependent, and of course we wish to make the same transition for her too.

I have the 800k in my account and it will already be there for more than 2 months, for my wife, also has the 800k but it will only be in her account a little less than 2 months at time of ceasing work. In both cases the 800k does NOT come from overseas

We live in Phetchaburi but my work permit and current extension were issued in One-Stop Centre in Bangkok

Would love to know if I can make this transition smoothly and under my own steam

https://aseannow.com/topic/1383319-nonb-work-extension-to-nono-retirement-without-leaving-thailand/

I did it and was relatively easy. But daunting as my employer did all my paperwork for 33 years. The first time on your own is a bit scary with all the paper work. But just check here for all necessary documentation needed. Try to work with your employer in helping with visa change and work permit. Their help made it much easier.

I made this transition in 2016, but my Employer did all the arrangements.

They used an agency which got me to Laos and returned the same day with an O visa. Then I visited the Immigration with the help of a Staff member from my employer and got the retirement visa.

I had 800K in the bank for over a year.

Not sure if you’re still required to leave the country now??

I have no experience with visa for a dependent.

But as was suggested, you should charm your employer to assist particularly if you have been with the company for such a long time and been loyal.

Good luck. If you are not being assisted then I am sure you can do it all by yourself providing you have the time, patience and tolerance.

I did the same thing, but not with a dependent, 5 years ago. I hired an agent to make sure there was no need to leave/return the country.

(At that time, having to leave/return seemed to be the normal requirement of the immigration people.)

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1383319-nonb-work-extension-to-nono-retirement-without-leaving-thailand/

Thanks for the link Dr Jack.... interesting read.... very similar to my needs and recent too

17 hours ago, marin said:

I did it and was relatively easy. But daunting as my employer did all my paperwork for 33 years. The first time on your own is a bit scary with all the paper work. But just check here for all necessary documentation needed. Try to work with your employer in helping with visa change and work permit. Their help made it much easier.

Awesome Marin..... Yes, I understand the 'scary' bit..... For me gets also a little complicated - I will only have been here 9 months at the time of retiring (the initial plan was a 'soft landing'). Prior to that was in Taiwan for 8 years, before that 15 years in Bangkok, and an earlier 5 year period working in Thailand in the early 1990's too. So 20+ years here, but recently 8 years away..... rules (and interpretation/implementation of rules) have changed a lot in recent years.

My WP and current Extension is in Bangkok, therefore my journey needs to start there - however, I reside now in Phetchaburi adn therefore any new Extension to stay must come from Phetchaburi Immigration..... so there is no continuity in my transition

BOI WPs are now DWPs (Digital Work Permits) so nothing physically to surrender as in Hocus Pocus case which was only 14 month ago

Still nervous! These threads offer me some hope... have been dealing with an Agent here3 in Phetchaburi, but the advise/instructions have become bizaar, complex, unnecessary (in my opinion) and clearly unable to follow.... so I need to rapidly find the right path to follow - Happy to use an Agent if needed,, but need one I can trust and believe

Thanks again Maron, and others for their valuable input and advise

21 hours ago, Lame Duck said:

We live in Phetchaburi but my work permit and current extension were issued in One-Stop Centre in Bangkok

Would love to know if I can make this transition smoothly and under my own steam

It's a long time since I did it, and there was a little hiccup because my "employer" was in Pattaya, but I live in Rayong. After the work permit was cancelled at the Chonburi employment office and my passport was handed back to me I broke several speed limits racing over to Maptaphut to get the B extension cancelled and apply for a retirement extension the same day. The IO said sorry, can not because the B was issued in Pattaya, you have to go there. I asked if there was a "fee" I could pay to get it done on the spot. He hesitated, obviously tempted, but again said no. The next morning I went to Jomtien, extension cancelled no problem. The IO said "they will make you pay 1000 baht overstay at Rayong". Back at Maptaphut the retirement extension was issued without much fuss. For some reason they calculated the overstay fine as 2000baht, and I had to sign some handwritten statement in a notebook.

So it is possible to do it on your own. Good luck.

2 hours ago, Qarsaan said:

I did the same thing, but not with a dependent, 5 years ago. I hired an agent to make sure there was no need to leave/return the country.

(At that time, having to leave/return seemed to be the normal requirement of the immigration people.)

Thanks Tazmo, Thanks Qarsaan - All good news is a big encouragement - of course times and rules change........ Happy to know all went well for You Guys, adn enjoy your retirement

37 minutes ago, Eff1n2ret said:

It's a long time since I did it, and there was a little hiccup because my "employer" was in Pattaya, but I live in Rayong. After the work permit was cancelled at the Chonburi employment office and my passport was handed back to me I broke several speed limits racing over to Maptaphut to get the B extension cancelled and apply for a retirement extension the same day. The IO said sorry, can not because the B was issued in Pattaya, you have to go there. I asked if there was a "fee" I could pay to get it done on the spot. He hesitated, obviously tempted, but again said no. The next morning I went to Jomtien, extension cancelled no problem. The IO said "they will make you pay 1000 baht overstay at Rayong". Back at Maptaphut the retirement extension was issued without much fuss. For some reason they calculated the overstay fine as 2000baht, and I had to sign some handwritten statement in a notebook.

So it is possible to do it on your own. Good luck.

Thanks Eff1

For sure it is these 'non-continuity' issues that can throw a spanner in the works. Glad you found a way forward. Certainly a small fine (even if inflated) is a small price to pay for a perfect result

On 5/8/2026 at 11:39 AM, Lame Duck said:

Thanks for the link Dr Jack.... interesting read.... very similar to my needs and recent too

Thanks @DrJack54 for sharing my post.

Hello @Lame Duck , Suggest to read carefully on how I did the sequencing before arriving at immigration to apply. Key in my mind was to ensure that I had a letter in hand from my company clearly stating that I would be on leave for the remainder of my work visa tenure and not working for that final week. I observed the IO carefully read that document from my HR department. Happy to discuss any questions you might have offline... just PM me. HP.

21 hours ago, Hocus Pocus said:

Thanks @DrJack54 for sharing my post.

Hello @Lame Duck , Suggest to read carefully on how I did the sequencing before arriving at immigration to apply. Key in my mind was to ensure that I had a letter in hand from my company clearly stating that I would be on leave for the remainder of my work visa tenure and not working for that final week. I observed the IO carefully read that document from my HR department. Happy to discuss any questions you might have offline... just PM me. HP.

Big Thanks for the additional info HP - If you don't mind I might take you up on your offer to discuss deeper - Thanks again

Dont forget to convert your SSO health coverage if you want to continue it.

17 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Dont forget to convert your SSO health coverage if you want to continue it.

Thank you, yes.... this is important

On 5/10/2026 at 3:40 PM, Ralf001 said:

Dont forget to convert your SSO health coverage if you want to continue it.

I tried to do this and failed @Lame Duck . The SSO now requires you to have Yellow Book and Pink Card to sign up. Although I had a condo and could have gone through the process to get these documents, it was just too much fuss, especially when I was busy wrapping up my employment. I assume they have put this in place to prevent fraud, so that SSO and hospitals can tie you to an address (Yellow Book) and a standard Thai government photo ID card (pink card). Of course there will be those who chime in saying this is nonsense because they got it XX years ago, However, if you are going to get it now, I suggest you have your HR department reach out to SSO and you will see the new requirements in black and white. HP.

For the medical you need a pink ID and a bank account with your pink ID to make the payments.

I did it about five years ago, the office helped.

I worked for a BOI company, and I believe that regardless of the date shown in your work permit, it expires when your job ends.

Get one of the office staff to help you.

4 hours ago, Hocus Pocus said:

I tried to do this and failed @Lame Duck . The SSO now requires you to have Yellow Book and Pink Card to sign up. Although I had a condo and could have gone through the process to get these documents, it was just too much fuss, especially when I was busy wrapping up my employment.

You have up to 6 months after finishing work to sort it.