On October 19, Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul announced comprehensive measures to crack down on foreigners illegally acquiring land through Thai proxies. Provinces and land departments have been instructed to conclude investigations into high-risk cases by the end of December, tracing the actual controllers, ultimate beneficial owners, and funding sources behind suspect properties.
Land confirmed to be held illegally through nominees will be subject to forced sale under the law, and those involved will face legal consequences. Anutin said deportation and revocation of nationality may also be used where necessary. The government will also tighten scrutiny over land transactions and corporate shareholding transfers to prevent individuals from evading oversight simply by swapping nominee names. It is estimated that disposing of the affected land could bring Thailand tens of billions of baht in revenue.
Thai law generally restricts foreigners from owning land directly, and some overseas buyers rely on nominee shareholders or local proxies to hold real estate and villas. With the year-end audit deadline fast approaching, these structures may face growing regulatory pressure. Foreign investors and Chinese expatriates holding properties under Thai corporate or proxy arrangements may want to review their compliance early and seek professional legal advice where needed.
ToNanyang Prediction Market: https://tonanyang.cc/webapp/
