Chiang Rai Prepares for Legal Status Process for Over 80,000 Stateless Residents

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

More than 80,000 people in Chiang Rai are eligible to apply for legal status under a Cabinet resolution aimed at regularising the status of long-term stateless residents. The government has approved a central budget of 123 million baht to support the process, which is set to begin on 30 June 2025.

The initiative follows a resolution by the Cabinet on 29 October 2024, which laid out criteria for accelerating the legal recognition of individuals who migrated into Thailand along the border areas prior to 18 January 2005 and have been living in the country for no less than 15 years. The aim is to address long-standing issues affecting stateless persons, many of whom have lived in the country for decades without legal recognition.

According to the Ministry of Interior’s announcement, published in the Royal Gazette on 29 May 2025, the legalisation process will begin 30 days after publication. Applications can be submitted from 30 June 2025 and must be completed within five working days of submission. The process is free of charge.

Eligible applicants include holders of “non-citizen” identity cards, specifically, the 0-89 series and the “highland people” 6-series cards. Required documentation includes Form 89, Form Tor Ror 38 Kor, personal history records, and a non-conflicting history of residency in Thailand.

Nationwide, more than 483,000 individuals have been identified as potential beneficiaries of this policy. This includes 340,101 long-term migrants and 143,525 children born in Thailand to non-citizen parents. The government has allocated the budget to support application processing and administrative procedures.

Chiang Rai Province alone accounts for over 80,000 eligible individuals. Key districts with high numbers of applicants include:

1. Mae Sai District – 37,987 people

2. Mae Fa Luang District – 14,881 people

3. Mae Chan District – 10,104 people

4. Mueang Chiang Rai District – 13,801 people

The remaining eligible individuals are distributed across 14 other districts in the province.

Applicants must submit their requests to the district chief of their home district.

The policy covers 19 recognised ethnic groups and aims to ensure inclusive access to legal rights, social services, and improved quality of life for stateless persons.

The Interior Ministry has emphasised the urgency of this effort to close long-standing gaps in legal identity and promote sustainable wellbeing across border communities.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-06-16