The government is stepping up comprehensive measures to curb “nominee” practices, making it one of nine urgent missions of the Ministry of Commerce to tighten controls on illegal capital while not obstructing legitimate investors.
On 23 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the government is advancing transparent and fair trade competition. The Ministry of Commerce, under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Ms. Supachai Suthamphan, has designated the prevention and suppression of illegal businesses and goods as one of nine short- and medium-term urgent missions announced on 15 Sep 2026 GMT+7. A key goal is to prevent the use of Thai nationals as concealed representatives, or “nominees,” and to crack down on foreign capital operating illegally.
Ms. Lalida stated this approach intensifies and broadens existing measures rather than initiating nominee inspections for the first time. Since 1 Aug 2026 GMT+7, inspections have expanded from company establishment to include post-registration changes such as alterations in shareholders, directors, or authorized signatories, enabling risk assessment throughout the corporate lifecycle.
For cases meeting specified criteria, applicants must disclose investment details and present relevant financial evidence. This allows officials to verify the sources of investment funds and the genuine capacity to invest, using case-by-case data and evidence for assessment.
“It must be emphasized that being classified as high-risk does not imply wrongdoing or nominee status, nor does foreign ownership within legal limits automatically make a company a nominee. Authorities will verify facts and evidence before taking legal action to avoid unfairly lumping together legitimate businesses, while preventing corporate structures from being used to evade Thai law,” Ms. Lalida said.
The Deputy Spokesperson added that efforts extend beyond the Ministry of Commerce, involving cooperation among 23 agencies. A memorandum of understanding signed on 29 Apr 2026 GMT+7 supports data integration, monitoring, and enforcement within each agency’s authority. This enables risk or suspicious cases to be forwarded to relevant agencies for investigation and legal action.
However, tightening controls on illegal capital is balanced with facilitating legitimate investors. Since 1 Aug 2024 GMT+7, the Department of Business Development has offered the e-Foreign Business system for foreign operators to apply online for licenses or certificates to conduct business in Thailand. This simplifies government procedures but applications still require legal and factual review before approval.
“The government’s goal is not to make foreign investment more difficult but to create a fair playing field where legitimate and transparent investors can operate confidently. Those using Thai proxies or corporate structures to evade laws will be scrutinized and legally dealt with. Risk-based screening and inter-agency cooperation enable more precise government oversight without erecting barriers to honest investment,” Ms. Lalida explained.
The government will continue to prevent and combat nominee practices by emphasizing early screening, monitoring changes after registration, and coordinating with relevant agencies upon detecting risks. This approach aims to close loopholes for illegal business while building confidence among legitimate operators and investors in Thailand.