The Royal Gazette website published an announcement that Minister Anutin ordered the revocation of Thai citizenship of Joseph Heim Kanter, leader of the Jewish community and chairman of the Chabad network in Thailand, due to violation of naturalization conditions.
On 29 October 2026, the Royal Gazette website published an announcement from the Ministry of Interior regarding revocation of Thai citizenship. It stated that Joseph Heim Kanter, a Thai national (formerly an American), who obtained Thai citizenship through naturalization under Section 10 of the Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (1965), continued to use his original nationality. It was confirmed that he was granted full Thai citizenship legally announced in the Royal Gazette on 11 April 2013 and first issued a Thai ID card on 2 May 2013. However, data from the Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice, showed that Mr. Kanter used his American citizenship to travel in and out of Australia 16 times (most recently on 26 January 2026). This use of his original (American) nationality violated the conditions for naturalization. Mr. Kanter was informed of these conditions when he applied for Thai citizenship. This case meets the criteria for revocation of Thai citizenship under Section 9(2) of the Nationality Act B.E. 2508, as there is evidence he continued to use his original nationality (American). Allowing this to continue could cause serious harm to the public and national security. Therefore, the Minister of Interior, under the authority of Section 19, paragraph one of the Nationality Act B.E. 2508, revoked the Thai citizenship of Joseph Heim Kanter.
This announcement is made for general awareness.
Announced on 28 October 2026.
Anutin Charnvirakul
Minister of Interior