More than 2.3 million migrant workers whose work permits expire on 13 February 2027 and 31 March 2027 could be allowed to keep working until 13 February 2029. A government policy committee on managing foreign workers (known in Thai as Khor Bor Tor) approved the plan in principle at its fourth meeting of 2026. It is not in force yet. It needs approval from the Cabinet, plus announcements from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour.
The Labour Minister chaired the meeting. Three main measures were approved. The first extends working time for workers whose permits are about to expire. The second lets Lao and Myanmar workers hired under the MOU system continue working after their 4-year terms end. The third prepares for importing workers from Sri Lanka. The committee also approved in principle a separate approach for people who have fled fighting in Myanmar.
Permit extension to 2029 still needs the Cabinet
The meeting result is an approval in principle, not a Cabinet resolution. The Department of Employment will submit it to the Cabinet. The Ministry of Labour says these workers can act on it only after the Cabinet approves and the Interior and Labour ministry announcements take effect.
The measure covers workers under two Cabinet resolutions from 2025 whose permits expire in early 2027, more than 2.3 million people in total. Employers and workers in this group should not treat the permits as extended until the announcements are in force.
The committee also approved in principle a measure for workers with irregular legal status. They would be allowed to stay in Thailand temporarily and work for 1 year. Details and conditions have not been released, so employers with such workers must wait for the announcement.
MOU U-Turn for Lao and Myanmar workers: no 30-day wait
Lao and Myanmar workers who came under the MOU system and complete a 4-year employment term between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2027 are exempt from the 30-day break. They can continue working under the set process, without waiting 30 days before returning to work. The meeting said this approach cuts time, steps and costs.
The approved process has three steps:
- Submit a work permit application and wait for approval.
- After approval, travel to the border area to have the visa endorsed.
- Return to Thailand and resume work.
The workers still have to get the visa endorsement at the border before coming back. The meeting result does not say where to apply, which documents are needed, or what it will cost. Those details depend on the announcement once it takes effect.
Employers with Lao or Myanmar MOU workers should check when each worker completes the 4-year term. The exemption applies only to terms ending between 2026 and 2027. Workers whose terms end outside that period are not covered by the principle approved at this meeting.
Sri Lankan workers and the other approved measures
The committee approved in principle an added option to bring in Sri Lankan workers under the MOU system. The Ministry of Interior is preparing an announcement to support an L-A visa endorsement. It would allow a stay of 2 years at first, extendable by another 2 years.
Imports are expected to begin in early 2027. That is only an estimate, not a firm start date. The Interior Ministry's announcement is still being prepared, so employers interested in Sri Lankan workers cannot start yet.
The other measure approved in principle covers people who have fled fighting in Myanmar. They could work in the district that hosts a temporary shelter without a work permit, and the permitted period would be extended from 1 year to 2 years. This is also only a principle. The meeting also plans to push for a further announcement from the Prime Minister's Office.
What employers can prepare while waiting
The next step is for the Department of Employment to submit the meeting result to the Cabinet. No start date, filing procedure or conditions for each group have been announced.
Employers can prepare worker records in the meantime. First check whether a worker's permit expires in early 2027. Then check whether Lao and Myanmar MOU workers complete 4 years between 2026 and 2027.
Sorting workers into groups shows which measure applies to each person:
- Workers with permits expiring soon fall under the extension measure.
- Lao and Myanmar workers finishing their terms fall under MOU U-Turn, which requires travel to the border for the visa endorsement and a return to work.
- Workers with irregular status must wait for details of the 1-year grace period.
- Employers considering Sri Lankan workers must wait for the announcement supporting the L-A visa endorsement.
Filing details and required documents have not been released. Employers and workers should follow updates from the Ministry of Labour or the Department of Employment, and ask those agencies directly about their specific cases.
Source: Ministry of Labour and the fourth 2026 meeting of the policy committee on managing foreign workers.
This article is adapted from ViewNews' Thai-language report.
