BANGKOK, Thailand – The government is reviewing Thailand’s citizenship application system and conducting a one-year retrospective check to close legal loopholes and prevent the use of Thai nominees by foreign nationals. Government Deputy Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesangchan said the government is coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to implement Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s directives on social order and the review of Thai citizenship procedures. The Ministry of Interior’s special task force on social order has agreed to review the citizenship process, including application procedures, eligibility criteria and decision-making mechanisms. Authorities will also examine cases involving the acquisition of Thai nationality.
The findings will be used to consider amendments to the Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (1965), with the aim of bringing the law in line with current circumstances, closing loopholes that could be exploited to circumvent legal restrictions, and protecting the rights and interests of Thai citizens. The Department of Provincial Administration is also increasing immigration-law training for administrative officials at provincial, district, village and community levels. The aim is to strengthen local monitoring and encourage officials and residents to report suspicious activity.
Particular attention will be given to cases where foreigners allegedly use Thai citizens’ identity cards or personal information to establish companies, a practice authorities say can involve the use of Thai nominees to circumvent legal restrictions. The department is also compiling nationwide information on accommodation providers offering short-term rooms through online platforms. Provincial authorities have been instructed to verify whether operators are running hotels without licences or without the required notification for non-hotel accommodation.
Where violations are found, authorities will examine obstacles to obtaining licences and consider legal changes to reflect current conditions. Ploytalay said the Department of Provincial Administration will examine records from the past year to identify irregularities and weaknesses in the system. The findings will then be used to review citizenship criteria and consider amendments to the 1965 Nationality Act. The government said the measures are intended to prevent misuse of legal loopholes and strengthen the management of citizenship and legal status.
