Bangkok: The Ministry of Finance spokesperson has announced that approximately 5 million individuals have requested a review of their welfare card applications and have until September 20th to submit any additional evidence needed for consideration. The government is working to accelerate the rollout of the "Thai Tourism" campaign, set to launch on October 1st.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Vinit Visetsuwannapoom, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, stated that the deadline for submitting appeals regarding the State Welfare Card has passed. Applicants who did not pass the eligibility verification are urged to provide corrected evidence and information by September 20, 2026. There are four exceptions where no additional evidence is required: vehicles older than 20 years and motorcycles older than 15 years; business partners; company directors/shareholders with securities accounts; and individuals in the non-formal education sector. Relevant agencies will manage the verification and correction for these exceptions.
The process will then move forward with the expedited listing of eligible welfare card recipients, followed by e-KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) verification to enable benefit claims starting October 1, 2026. From the initial 9.5 million qualified applicants, it is anticipated that around 14 million individuals will qualify for the state welfare card this time. New eligible recipients must complete identity verification before receiving benefits, which can be done through Krung Thai Bank, Government Savings Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Islamic Bank of Thailand, Government Housing Bank (GHB), or the Paotang application. Vulnerable and bedridden individuals can authorize others to verify their identity on their behalf.
Mr. Vinit also noted that the "Thai Travel Thai" project is under review and will be ready for participation starting October 1, 2026. The project aims to support businesses registered for Value Added Tax (VAT), with details to be disclosed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports once approved. The project will follow a format similar to the previous "Thai Travel Thai" initiative.