Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration has ordered a nationwide review of marriage registrations to combat sham marriages used by transnational criminals seeking illegal advantages in the country. Officials warned that any civil servants found facilitating fraudulent registrations or accepting bribes would face severe disciplinary action.
Get today's headlines by email 
Director-General Narucha Khosasivilai signed an order sent to governors in every province, instructing district offices, local registration offices and municipal authorities to tighten anti-fraud checks. The move followed reports that criminal networks and foreign fraudsters were increasingly using fake marriages as a means to gain unlawful benefits in Thailand, undermining confidence in the national civil registration system.
Authorities said complaints had also been received regarding improper practices at some registration offices. The directive aims to strengthen oversight and ensure all marriage registrations comply fully with legal procedures.
The new measures focus on three high-risk groups. The first covers foreign nationals, whose passports and supporting documents from their home countries must now undergo stricter verification. The second targets ethnic minority groups and stateless individuals classified under registration categories type 6 codes 50-72 and type 7. The third includes people without official registration status, specifically groups coded 0-89 and 0-00.
Officials have also introduced four additional anti-corruption mechanisms. These include real-time checks of marriage records to prevent duplicate or fraudulent marriages, separate questioning of applicants where suspicious circumstances arise, and stricter authentication of foreign “certificate of no impediment” documents through Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A revised interview form, known as Por Kor 14, will now be issued in Thai, English and Chinese. The form clearly outlines criminal penalties for providing false information to authorities.
Narucha stressed that registrars have the authority to reject any marriage registration immediately if they believe it may be a sham arrangement. He also ordered officials not to demand or accept payments beyond the legal registration fees.
Any officer found involved in corruption, abuse of authority or facilitating fraudulent marriages would face immediate and severe disciplinary punishment, according to the directive.
ThaiRath reported that the crackdown is expected to increase scrutiny at registration offices nationwide in the coming weeks, particularly in cases involving foreign nationals and vulnerable registration groups.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now Thairath 27 May 2026