Thailand’s Department of Lands has ordered all 462 land offices nationwide to intensify checks on suspected nominee arrangements, with more than 157,000 landholders identified for investigation.
The directive forms part of an ongoing crackdown on the unlawful use of Thai nationals to hold land on behalf of foreigners.
Department director-general Somchai Leelanoy outlined the measures on Monday, 19 October, at a press conference announcing an operation to investigate high-risk land ownership cases and enforce the sale of unlawfully held land.
He said land offices must examine legal entities holding land in their areas, scrutinising shareholding structures and related activities for evidence of nominee arrangements.
The investigations will target entities whose proportion of foreign shareholders exceeds the legal limit, as well as those where facts or circumstances give reasonable grounds to suspect land is being held on behalf of foreign nationals.
Somchai said more than 14,000 of the landholders identified for investigation had undergone preliminary screening. He instructed provincial nominee investigation subcommittees to accelerate enquiries, establish the facts and take legal action where warranted.
The department also outlined preventive checks required before land rights and legal transactions are registered.
For individuals buying land, officials must examine funding sources and occupations where the purchase price exceeds 2 million baht or the land’s appraised value exceeds 5 million baht.
Checks also apply to Thai nationals with foreign spouses, with the aim of ensuring that land ownership arrangements comply with the law.
Land offices have been instructed to work with provincial nominee investigation subcommittees and other relevant agencies to coordinate investigations and enforcement.
Somchai said the measures were intended to implement government and Interior Ministry policy and protect national interests.