Burmese on 2 Year extensions expiring in 2017 must apply for a Pink Card before 29 July

[digitalchromakey]

Be aware.

The Government has moved the goal posts and will no longer offer migrant workers (Burmese, Lao, Cambodian, etc.) with temporary passports issued under the various unregistered migrant labour schemes to apply for further, additional 2 year non LA visas, as of now.

So such employees having legitimate Extensions and Work Permits will have to return to their own countries when the current extensions expire, this year or next and cannot further extend their stay.

This new procedural change affects non registered migrant workers with temporary passports who are reaching the end of a four year working stay in Thailand.

There is however a work around where they/employers can apply for a Pink Card (Credit card sized, combined ID/Work Permit) but the final application cut off date is currently fixed at the 29th of July. The Pink card will be valid for two years and includes health cover. After two years workers with Pink Cards can then apply for a full 5 year internationally valid passport from their own country, in which they can obtain new visas/extensions to allow them to continue working in Thailand.

Queues are long at specialist agencies at the moment, as workers with perfectly valid paperwork good for one year, that might only have been issued a couple of months ago, are now having to make these fresh Pink Card applications all before the 29th July.

[Naam]

any official link available?

[digitalchromakey]

any official link available?

Not aware of any web links, just of Thai Government documents being circulated and I don't have any copies of the documents.

I am based in the Phuket area, but have been told that this is a Nationwide issue.

[samran]

Yes, we had the same situation. Out nanny who had been on an LA visa in a temp passport has to switch over to a pink card. Much more restrictive and does not allow out of province travel for now, though am told this will change.

[Naam]

thanks!

[blackcab]

We have Lao workers who have the pink card already. So after holding the pink card for two years they can get a five year passport from the Lao government?

[digitalchromakey]

We have Lao workers who have the pink card already. So after holding the pink card for two years they can get a five year passport from the Lao government?

That certainly was the case up and until recently.

Read a news report yesterday in a local news paper here in Phuket which stated that even existing Pink Card holders have to re register.

I have been informed that certainly those with Work Permits reaching the end of a 4 year stay this/next year will not be able to remain in Thailand, unless they have been inducted into the new Pink Card Scheme by the 29th July.

Those holding Temporary Passports with Extensions & Work Permits expiring in 2018, even if that is the end of a six year (or longer) stay do not need to apply now, but can apply for a Pink Card in what will be next years round of registrations.

Your best bet is to check with the specialist agent you normally use, or your local One Stop Migrant Worker Registration Office, to ensure that your Laotian workers with existing Pink Cards are ok to remain, since the cut off for registration of Friday 29th July is fast approaching.