Nationwide crackdown on foreign nominee businesses
Thailand is actively cracking down on foreign nominee arrangements for businesses and property nationwide, with investigations ongoing in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan. Foreigners using nominee structures or long-term leases for property or business face heightened scrutiny, legal risk, and potential loss of assets, as new business registrations in high-risk categories have dropped by 75% due to tightened checks and linked databases.
How this developed
Thailand's nominee crackdown cuts new filings by 75%
Thailand's crackdown on nominee businesses has reduced new registrations in the high-risk category by 75% (141 vs 561 last year). The government is tightening pre-registration checks, extending post-registration scrutiny to changes in shareholders or directors, and linking databases with the Land Department to uncover nominee land ownership. Foreigners involved in Thai businesses or property should be aware of heightened enforcement.
Minister vows probe into foreign nominee businesses on Koh Samui
A nationalist group submitted a dossier to Minister Polpeera alleging foreign-controlled businesses, illegal workers, and Thai nominees on Koh Samui. The minister vowed to investigate all credible complaints, signaling a potential enforcement crackdown for expat business owners using nominee structures.
Crackdown: 112 Koh Pha Ngan firms risk land loss
Surat Thani officials are moving to revoke land rights of 112 companies on Koh Pha Ngan with foreign shareholdings exceeding the legal limit. The crackdown targets nominee structures and has led to disposal orders for some entities. Expats using Thai companies to hold land should be aware of increased enforcement.
Phuket cracks down on firms using Thai nominees
Thai authorities are intensifying a foreign-ownership crackdown in Phuket, investigating over 100 companies with combined revenue of 5 billion baht that allegedly used naturalised Thai citizens as shareholders to circumvent foreign ownership restrictions. This signals heightened enforcement risk for expats using nominee arrangements.
Property crackdown expands to company-owned condos in 16 provinces
Thai authorities are expanding their probe into foreign-owned property, now investigating 36,277 entities linked to foreigners for nominee land deals, 30-year leases, and condo holdings across 16 provinces. Expats who hold property through Thai companies or nominees may face increased scrutiny and legal risk.
13 foreigners arrested in Hua Hin property-nominee crackdown
Police arrested 13 foreigners in Hua Hin for using Thai nominee shareholders to buy property, part of a nationwide crackdown that has inspected 233 land blocks and obtained 133 arrest warrants. Foreigners using nominee structures face enforcement risk.
Phuket nominee firms face financial probe, could expand
Thai authorities have launched a financial investigation into over 100 Phuket companies suspected of being nominee fronts for foreign investors, with plans to expand probes to other tourist areas. Foreign nationals, including Israeli citizens with Thai citizenship, are linked to the network. The probe signals increased enforcement that could affect expat business owners using nominee structures.
Foreigners arrested in Phuket for operating illegal international schools
Police arrested two foreigners and two Thais in Phuket for running international schools through nominee arrangements, violating the Foreign Business Act. The arrests follow a new crackdown and tighter registration rules for foreign-invested companies. Expats involved in or considering nominee business structures should be aware of increased enforcement risk.
Krabi nominee firm crackdown targets 1,000 companies
Deputy Interior Minister Polpeera has ordered an investigation into over 1,000 companies in Krabi suspected of using Thai nominees to circumvent foreign business ownership restrictions. The probe expands the nationwide crackdown on illegal foreign businesses.
Chiang Mai nominee crackdown: 31 firms raided, 5 foreigners arrested
Police raided 31 companies in Chiang Mai suspected of using Thai nominees to mask foreign ownership, arresting five foreigners and uncovering one jailed foreigner still listed as a director and shareholder. The crackdown confirms that nominee arrangements are being actively targeted, putting expat shareholders at risk of legal action and potential business or property losses.
Thailand escalates crackdown on foreign nominee firms
Thailand's anti-nominee campaign has escalated, with over 14,800 tax probes, 17,556 land investigations, and thousands of police cases. Foreigners using nominee arrangements for property or business face heightened scrutiny and legal risk.
Phuket nominee business crackdown expands to 200 more firms
The Interior Ministry is investigating about 200 additional companies in Phuket for suspected nominee arrangements, after earlier actions against 159 firms led to legal proceedings for 39 and closures for 34. Authorities are cross-referencing business and land records, signaling an ongoing, heightened enforcement climate that affects foreigners using Thai nominees to own businesses or property.