The Ministry of Interior has ordered all 878 districts to strictly control paternity registration to prevent foreigners from fraudulently obtaining Thai citizenship and to crack down on "fake fathers."

The government has ordered a crackdown on the "child recognition" syndicate. The Ministry of Interior is intensifying efforts in all 878 districts nationwide, revising child recognition procedures and requiring foreigners to verify their identity to curb transnational crime involving the fraudulent use of Thai citizenship for money laundering.

11 July 2569 – Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Government Spokesperson It has been revealed that the government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul places great importance on preventing corruption and exploitation within Thailand's civil registration system.

The Ministry of Interior is accelerating efforts to strengthen measures to prevent illegal child legitimation in order to close loopholes that transnational criminal organizations use to allow foreign children to obtain Thai citizenship, before using it to own assets, conduct businesses, or launder money through Thai nationals.

Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said Deputy Minister of Interior, Pol. Gen. Peerapong Suwannachawi, participated in a press conference announcing the results of an expanded operation to crack down on a scheme involving the concealment of marriages and fraudulent child legitimation. The operation uncovered a pattern of hiring Thai nationals to act as "surrogate fathers" to formally certify the children of foreign nationals, thereby granting them Thai citizenship.

Following the investigation, the Ministry of Interior issued urgent instructions to all 878 district registration offices nationwide to revise the child recognition procedures. These instructions stipulate that in cases where the father or mother is a foreign national, they must personally appear before a registration officer to confirm paternity and prevent fraud or the use of forged documents.

Ms. Lalida It was stated that the measure enhances preventative verification to close loopholes in the civil registration system, reducing the opportunity for transnational criminal networks to use Thai citizenship as a tool to own real estate, conduct business, or launder money through Thai nationals, which would affect national security and interests.

Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office General Peer stated that the government will continue to improve the system while rigorously enforcing the law, adhering to the principle of "keeping names confidential, observing behavior." Regardless of whether the offender is a citizen, a foreigner, or a government official, if found to be involved in wrongdoing, they will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

"The government is focused on addressing the root causes of the problem, not only prosecuting offenders but also urgently closing loopholes in the system to prevent recurrence, creating transparency in civil registration administration, and safeguarding the country's long-term interests."

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