The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand announced on October 23 that individuals, whose residence permits have expired, as well as those who entered legally but are working illegally, can now apply for temporary residence and work permits.

This announcement follows a decision made by the Thai government on September 24 to provide options for illegal foreign workers.

Eligible workers include those who have overstayed their visas or are working without proper authorization. Once granted, the temporary permit will allow them to live and work in Thailand for one year. Additionally, foreign workers with a valid MoU or those holding passports or identity cards permitting work until February 13, 2025, can apply for a two-year residence and work permit, with the option to extend for another two years, totaling four years.

As part of these new measures, the timeframe for switching jobs has been extended to 60 days, doubling the previous 30-day limit. Moreover, workers changing employers only need to update their employment information, bypassing the need for additional submissions to the registration officer.

Myanmar workers with expired MoUs must ensure their passports have at least two years of validity. CI book holders also need two years of remaining validity. The embassy is facilitating passport exchanges at both the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate General in Chiang Mai. A new camp for exchanging expired CI books is being coordinated, with further details to be provided later by the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok.