I just assumed that once the work permit expired that was it - you are free to apply for a new one with a new employer. But now I'm informed you have to cancel the old one first or fill in some sort of document. Is this true? It seems very odd if it is. My old job was in Bangkok but my new job is in the provinces. Should I go to the Bangkok Labour Office before leaving?

It seems to me that if your employment ended at the day the work permit expires there is no need to cancel anything, as it is automatically cancelled.

But a letter from your former employer confirming that the contract indeed has ended per that day would not hurt. Then the labour office can be sure that you don't have another employer and getting another work permit is no problem.

It is NOT automatic. It is EXTREMELY important you confirm that work permit is properly cancelled. This can cause very big problems if you try to get one again in the future. This was made very clear to me when I cancelled my last work permit, and again when I applied for another.

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Edited June 30, 201214 yr by NomadJoe

Attached is the form to cancel a Work Permit, this can be done by either the holder, or their appointed representative, or the named employer in the WP.

This notice can be filed at the issuing Labour Dept Office retrospectively.