Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has rebuked foreigners accused of breaking the law and exploiting Thai people, saying a series of recent cases involving illegal businesses and landholdings have “gone too far” as public backlash grows.
Speaking to officials on Thursday, Anutin said foreigners who come to Thailand should earn a living honestly and not take advantage of the country’s hospitality. His remarks came amid a government crackdown on alleged illegal foreign ownership, nominee businesses and other activities that breach Thai laws.
The government has responded by reducing the visa-free stay for most nationalities to 30 days and accelerating deportation proceedings against foreign offenders. Authorities are also targeting nominee arrangements, in which Thai nationals act as nominal owners of businesses to circumvent restrictions on foreign ownership.
The latest controversy centres on a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao province, where four bodies were exhumed this week. The cemetery appears to have been legally acquired by Thailand’s Jewish community, but authorities allege it continued operating under a permit that had expired.
Anutin said foreigners could use existing religious and burial facilities but should not acquire land for such purposes in breach of Thai law. The government has also come under pressure to address cases involving foreign nationals from several countries, including China, France, India and Russia.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry plans to amend Thailand’s 50-year-old nationality law following a case involving a Chinese fugitive accused of attempting to launder tens of millions of dollars through a tyre shop registered to his child, who allegedly obtained a Thai identity card illegally.
The government said the changes would seek to close legal loopholes that allow illicit businesses and foreign nominee networks to exploit Thai citizenship.
According to CNA, the government’s tougher stance follows concerns that Thailand’s 60-day visa waiver, introduced in 2024 to support post-pandemic tourism, has also been exploited by criminals seeking to establish illicit businesses and move funds into Thai property and companies.
The measures highlight the government’s attempt to balance Thailand’s reliance on foreign visitors and investment with growing domestic concerns over alleged abuses by some foreign nationals.
