Thailand has published new regulations setting out how foreign nationals can be deported for immigration, employment and other offences, as well as conduct considered contrary to public order, morality or public wellbeing.

The Prime Minister's Office Regulation on Deportation BE 2569 (2026) was published in the Royal Gazette on 27 August and takes effect on 28 August.

The regulations say Thailand remains open to foreigners entering to travel, live, work and do business, provided they obey the law and uphold public order and good morals. However, they cite cases involving people who entered legally but later breached laws for personal gain, or behaved in ways considered disruptive to public order or morality.

Who can face deportation

Under the new rules, the Interior Ministry's permanent secretary, or a delegated official, must report cases to the Interior Minister where a foreigner is deemed to have acted against public order, good morals or the wellbeing of the public. The minister can then order deportation.

The provision also applies to anyone who instigates or supports such conduct.

Foreigners may also be deported after they have fully served a final court sentence and been released from prison for offences including illegal entry or stay, working without permission, unlawfully operating a business, forging or using forged official documents, or crimes carrying a prison term of five years or more.

Those who organise, encourage or assist such offences can also be subject to deportation.

Prison releases and possible re-entry bans

The Corrections Department must provide the foreigner's name, nationality, case file and relevant evidence to the Interior Ministry at least 15 days before release from prison.

Where a court gives a suspended prison sentence or imposes a fine, the Office of the Judiciary must urgently send relevant information to the Interior Ministry for consideration.

Once informed, the permanent secretary or delegate must quickly refer the matter to the minister. A deportation order may also specify a period during which the person is barred from re-entering Thailand.

The rules state that deportation decisions must take account of Thai laws, regulations, Cabinet resolutions and Thailand's obligations under relevant international law.

Return to home country or third country

Unless the Prime Minister revokes a deportation order or directs that removal should not proceed, an authorised official will send the person to their country of nationality through channels and methods set by the Interior Ministry. A person without confirmed nationality will be sent to the country where they said they last lived before entering Thailand.

A third country or international organisation can request that a deportee be transferred elsewhere, through diplomatic channels, within seven days of the deportation order. This may apply where the request seeks to prevent torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or enforced disappearance.

The requesting party must accept all care and transfer costs, while the deportee must provide written consent. Such transfers should be completed within 30 days, with the minister able to grant up to two extensions of no more than 30 days each.

Picture courtesy of Royal Gazette

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28 August 2026

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As noted in a post-July 26 analysis:

The proposed Regulations of the Office of the Prime Minister on Deportation would not create a new substantive power to deport foreign nationals. Instead, the draft is intended to standardize the administrative process through which relevant government agencies exchange information, refer cases and implement deportation decisions.

https://fosrlaw.com/2026/thailand-deportation-procedures-foreign-offenders/

NB The ThaiRath article on this has the headline:

Prime Minister Signs New Deportation Regulation Effective 28 Aug, Aiming to Crack Down on Illegal Foreigners

So if you are not doing anything illegal, it doesn't concern you.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by JerryM

It is a bit scary, because could minor offences also lead to deportation??? the last sentence in this article is : So if you are not doing anything illegal, it doesn't concern you... But vaping is illegal as an example...a few days overstaying...and strict according to the law, even washing your car is illegal... It sounds silly these things, but in fact if they want rid of you they can now deport you.. And than I don't even talk about sex on the beach, or in public. Which is in my opinion not done nor in Thailand as in the home country, but that kind of offences can have serious consequences now.. I hope a real court orders the deportations and not a police or immigration officer

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by ikke1959

19 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

It is a bit scary, because could minor offences also lead to deportation???

No -- you would have to be CONVICTED of an offense carrrying a max. sentence of 3 years or more.

4 minutes ago, JerryM said:

No -- you would have to be CONVICTED of an offense carrrying a max. sentence of 3 years or more.

Provide a credible source for your statement.

45 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Provide a credible source for your statement.

The Thai Cabinet has approved a new draft regulation, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, to expedite and streamline the deportation process for foreign nationals who break Thai law. The new measure addresses the current lack of a centralized administrative procedure for deportation and aims to protect national security and public order more efficiently.

Serious Crimes: Committing offenses punishable by imprisonment of 3 years or more

https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/2078/iid/523152

3 minutes ago, JerryM said:

The Thai Cabinet has approved a new draft regulation, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, to expedite and streamline the deportation process for foreign nationals who break Thai law. The new measure addresses the current lack of a centralized administrative procedure for deportation and aims to protect national security and public order more efficiently.

Serious Crimes: Committing offenses punishable by imprisonment of 3 years or more

https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/2078/iid/523152

That doesn't address your claim.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

That doesn't address your claim.

OK will restate: The 3 year offense with conviction is one of 6 categories. Other categories already allow for deportation without conviction.

Unlawful entry or staying: Administrative determination of illegal status or overstay does not require a criminal trial or conviction.

Unlawful work: Working without a valid permit can be acted upon via administrative enforcement.

Unlawful business operations: Breaching foreign business laws (such as illegal nominee structures) falls under administrative and regulatory oversight.

The Section 144 of the Penal code on bribing an official has a 5 year maximum penalty but would not be covered prior to the amendment as an administrative ruling

Edited 41 minutes ago41 min by JerryM

1 minute ago, JerryM said:

OK will restate: The 3 year conviction is one of 6 categories. Other categories already allow for deportation without conviction.

Unlawful entry or staying: Administrative determination of illegal status or overstay does not require a criminal trial or conviction.

Unlawful work: Working without a valid permit can be acted upon via administrative enforcement.

Unlawful business operations: Breaching foreign business laws (such as illegal nominee structures) falls under administrative and regulatory oversight.

That is not what you said before.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

That is not what you said before.

You are right. I mis-stated that any deportation requires a conviction.

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

It is a bit scary, because could minor offences also lead to deportation??? the last sentence in this article is : So if you are not doing anything illegal, it doesn't concern you... But vaping is illegal as an example...a few days overstaying...and strict according to the law, even washing your car is illegal... It sounds silly these things, but in fact if they want rid of you they can now deport you.. And than I don't even talk about sex on the beach, or in public. Which is in my opinion not done nor in Thailand as in the home country, but that kind of offences can have serious consequences now.. I hope a real court orders the deportations and not a police or immigration officer

If you know all about those "silly things" you know exactly what you should avoid.

In your home country you want criminal migrants being deported. And here you start whining.

Face the consequences or don't stay here can be a solution, isn't it?

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

So if you are not doing anything illegal, it doesn't concern you.

Exactly, behave and get to stay