Bangkok: The Department of Provincial Administration has issued a strict regulation to prevent fraudulent marriage ceremonies. The Department aims to strengthen its procedures to safeguard citizens' rights and crack down on fraudulent marriages that may compromise the integrity of the country's civil registration system.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Narucha Khosasilvilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, highlighted the increasing use of registration and official documents by technology-related crimes and transnational criminal organizations. A prevalent method is "sham marriage registration" to gain illegal rights or benefits, which undermines the security and credibility of Thailand's civil registration system.
The department has received complaints about certain registration offices potentially not adhering to regulations, laws, and guidelines. As a result, enhanced supervisory and inspection measures have been deemed necessary. On May 22, 2026, a directive was sent to all provincial governors, mandating registration offices nationwide to rigorously enforce the "Measures to Prevent Fraudulent Marriage Registration." This aims to thwart criminal groups and transnational organized crime networks from exploiting sham marriages to infiltrate or illegally obtain rights in Thailand.
Specific guidelines have been set for the screening and verification of individuals in high-risk groups. This includes thorough reviews of marriage registration applications and the qualifications of the spouses, divided into three categories: general foreign nationals, minority and ethnic groups, and individuals without registered status. The department emphasized the need for stringent review processes at all stages to prevent identity theft and legal loophole exploitation.
Key measures include real-time checks of marriage history to prevent bigamy, separate interrogations in cases of suspected sham marriages, stringent control over Certificates of Single Status for foreigners, and a newly formatted Investigation Statement Form available in Thai, English, and Chinese, highlighting the criminal penalties for providing false information.
Mr. Khosasilvilai also stated that registrars have the discretion to refuse registration if fraudulent circumstances are suspected, with legal reasons provided to applicants. Applicants retain the right to appeal or pursue legal action. Additionally, personnel across all levels are instructed to perform duties with honesty and transparency, with a strict prohibition on accepting benefits beyond legal fees. Any corruption or favoritism will lead to decisive disciplinary action and a report to the Department of Provincial Administration.