Thailand Extends Work-Permits, Delays Deportations for Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese Workers

Rumours of a looming expulsion of Cambodian labourers next February had construction crews, seafood processors and many Thai employers on edge. That speculation has now been quashed: officials say no Cambodian worker with the correct paperwork will be forced out early, and even those still tidying up their status have months — in some cases years — to do so.

Key points Thai readers asked us to double-check

• No mass deportation of Cambodian migrants in February 2026

• Lao and Vietnamese permits also stretched to February 2027

• Unauthorised Cambodian workers can regularise their status until 31 March 2026

• e-Work Permit system now handles all renewals, cutting trips to government offices

• Possible one-time extension to February 2029 for those whose papers already expire in 2027

Why the rumour exploded on social media

Facebook posts shared in border provinces late last month claimed authorities would begin rounding up Cambodian nationals on 13 February 2026. The posts, often accompanied by shaky smartphone footage of police checkpoints, racked up tens of thousands of shares before the Ministry of Labour stepped in. Officials blame an outdated memo that referred to Lao and Vietnamese workers but was mislabelled as applying to Cambodians. Employer groups say the confusion briefly stalled new hires, with some sites reporting an absentee spike as workers rushed home to find out what was happening.

The revised calendar of deadlines

Government gazettes published this month lay out a clear timetable:

Cambodian migrants who already renewed their work permits — most of whose previous papers ran out on 13 February 2025 — may stay and work until 13 February 2027.

They will be granted one additional two-year extension, up to 13 February 2029, if they remain with the same employer or move through the formal transfer process.

Cambodians currently without valid permits are covered by a separate amnesty that lets them regularise and work until 31 March 2026 while their documents are processed.

Lao and Vietnamese workers whose original cut-off was 13 February 2026 have also been shifted forward a full year, aligning everyone at 2027.

Thai authorities underline that these dates are anchored in a 2 December 2025 cabinet resolution and supersede any earlier circulars. Employers found dismissing staff on the wrong date could face fines of up to ฿100,000 per worker.

What employers and workers should do now

• Switch to the e-Work Permit portal (doe.go.th) — paper booklets are being phased out.

• Keep biometric data up to date; renewal requests lacking fingerprints or facial scans will be auto-rejected.

• Encourage staff to schedule medical checks early. Border clinics are already seeing queues, especially in Sa Kaeo and Trat.

• Budget for the standard fees: ฿100 application charge and ฿225 licence cost per person, the Labour Ministry confirmed these remain unchanged for 2026.

Security and identity checks: what is different this time?

The Department of Employment is collaborating with army units and immigration police to tighten vetting. Officers will cross-reference permit data with national security watchlists and use mobile scanners at random factory inspections. Authorities insist this is aimed at a small number of workers whose identities cannot be verified — roughly 100,000 by their latest estimate — and not the bulk of Cambodia’s 1.2 M-strong workforce in Thailand.

A border economy in numbers

The Cambodian workforce underpins huge slices of Thailand’s labour market:

• Fishery and seafood exports: 30 % of deckhands are Cambodian

• Construction: in Pathum Thani alone, Cambodians fill about 45 % of site vacancies

• Eastern Economic Corridor factories: employers report 12,000 positions would sit empty if a mass departure occurred

Pundits warn that any miscommunication can ripple through the supply chain, push up overtime costs for Thai staff and dent export commitments — particularly as regional competitors court the same labour pool.

Where to get verified updates

Workers can call the Ministry of Labour hotline 1506 (press 2), while employers may dial 1694 for the Department of Employment’s 24-hour English- and Khmer-language service. Official notices are posted first on the ministry’s Facebook page and the e-Work Permit dashboard, not in informal Line groups. Keeping an eye on those channels will help businesses avoid panic the next time a screenshot goes viral.