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.

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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.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thairath 27 May 2026

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Good luck to all of you guys on marriage visas. Take a cartography course before your next extension application.

1 hour ago, flaming dragon said:

Good luck to all of you guys on marriage visas. Take a cartography course before your next extension application.

From the OP: Authorities said complaints had also been received regarding improper practices at some registration offices.

And the Section 128 of the Anti-Corruption Act used by the Provincial Administration as basis in the above marriage scam action is the same section now used in the revised (2025) Immigration announcement used in specifying what is and is not bribery and process for filing a complaint.

Edited May 27May 27 by JerryM

How many more offences can be trumped up against farangs until Thailand is free of foreigners?

18 minutes ago, mikebell said:

How many more offences can be trumped up against farangs until Thailand is free of foreigners?

OP: He also ordered officials not to demand or accept payments beyond the legal registration fees.

From this action, it is dealing with foreigners who offer bribes as well as officials who accept them.

Seems like it may only affect a limited group of applicants

1. The first covers foreign nationals, whose passports and supporting documents from their home countries must now undergo stricter verification - specific countries or all would be a question?
2. ethnic minority groups and stateless individuals
3. people without official registration status

Por Kor 14 is a Child Custody Form, not sure if everyone would be required to complete the new version, similar is already covered under the STM10 and STM11 forms

My guess is doing a standard marriage visa at Chaengwattana there won't be any change