Both my wife and I have work permits that expire Feb.1, 2013. We are currently out of the country and had planned on returning to Thailand before then. However, plans have changed and we are looking at returning after Feb.1. Our work permits are currently in Thailand (with the foundation that we volunteer with) and I believe the Thai administrator in the foundation office also has power of attorney on our behalf for work permit-related documents.

Is it possible for our Thai admin to renew our work permits on our behalf even though we (and our passports) are outside of Thailand? (FYI our visa extension of stay is good till June 2013).

What are our options?

Yes, in fact it is normally the case that employers apply for the WP/WP Renewal on behalf of employees.

Your employer can successfully file for renewal with the required company papers plus a copy of your existing Passport/Extension of Permission to Stay.

Edited December 27, 201213 yr by digitalchromakey

So, is my understanding correct that our employer does not need our original passports when they apply to renew our work permits?

Officially you only have the option of renewing on time or applying for a new work permit when you return.

If he has an official power of attorney the organisation might very well be able to renew without you. But he will need the passports. If labour will accept a (signed) copy is the big question. Might depend very well on the contacts with the labour department. Alternatively you could try with a copy of your passport certified by a Thai embassy. No guarantees.

Officially you only have the option of renewing on time or applying for a new work permit when you return.

If he has an official power of attorney the organisation might very well be able to renew without you. But he will need the passports. If labour will accept a (signed) copy is the big question. Might depend very well on the contacts with the labour department. Alternatively you could try with a copy of your passport certified by a Thai embassy. No guarantees.

Guess it depends on whether they want to see the real face of the person who belongs to WP & PP....some offices do...for many years I never had to turn up, just send the PP and WP, but last 2 years...they want to see my face there as well....a quick in and out, but still have to go..

Officially you only have the option of renewing on time or applying for a new work permit when you return.

If he has an official power of attorney the organisation might very well be able to renew without you. But he will need the passports. If labour will accept a (signed) copy is the big question. Might depend very well on the contacts with the labour department. Alternatively you could try with a copy of your passport certified by a Thai embassy. No guarantees.

Thanks for the helpful info. Applying for a new one sounds like a fair bit of hassle (cancelling the old one first, then re-applying all over again). I may fly out on my own before my work permit expires and renew it... and bring along a copy of my wife's passport certified by the Thai embassy here. Bit risky that... if it doesn't work, she would potentially have to leave the country within 7 days of it expiring & apply for a non-immigrant o visa... then start the WP process all over again. Or simply come under my work permit as a dependant... which would limit what she could do.

Officially you only have the option of renewing on time or applying for a new work permit when you return.

If he has an official power of attorney the organisation might very well be able to renew without you. But he will need the passports. If labour will accept a (signed) copy is the big question. Might depend very well on the contacts with the labour department. Alternatively you could try with a copy of your passport certified by a Thai embassy. No guarantees.

The employer with a power of attorney should be able to file the renewal applications without the actual passports or the individuals themselves being present, but may only get receipts marked to the effect that Labour are awaiting passports being shown for the actual WPs to be picked up.

Things do however vary from area to area, so there are no hard and fast guarantees and also it may depend on how long it is before the OP actually returns to Thailand.

No need to worry. I had this procedure done several times. While I was abroad I faxed the HR department a copy of my new "Non-Im -B-" visa. They then went on to apply for the WP extension and when I came back I had the WP extended for another year.

Power of attorney might be necessary, but actually it is the company that has to apply for the WP, not the foreigner.

Good luck and a good time abroad.

Actually am quite sure it is not the company that applies but the foreigner - often company legal department will take care of the paperwork but it is the foreigner that is making the application and is responsible if any paperwork is not valid. Be very careful what you sign and for whom.

Actually am quite sure it is not the company that applies but the foreigner - often company legal department will take care of the paperwork but it is the foreigner that is making the application and is responsible if any paperwork is not valid. Be very careful what you sign and for whom.

Here is a link to the renewal form - check Remark (2) which states that the application form must be verified by the applicant or the appointee.

http://wp.doe.go.th/...rm/form_tt5.pdf

Both are correct - application by employee or authorized person/appointee (with Power of Attorney - Labour have a standard form for this see link below) - often it is the employer who makes the application but it is clearly on behalf of the employee.

http://wp.doe.go.th/...form/power1.pdf

Also note that a copy of the passport is requested on the renewal form, not the original.

Although in my area Labour normally do like to see the original Passport when they hand over the WP, they no longer make any annotations in the rear.