Thailand Orders Nationwide Nominee-Land Crackdown, Sets End-of-December Deadline

On 19 October 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced a nationwide crackdown on the use of Thai nominees to hold land and property on behalf of foreigners who would otherwise be barred from owning it outright. Speaking at Government House, Anutin set out a three-part plan: investigate suspected nominee arrangements, enforce penalties against confirmed cases, and tighten checks so the same land cannot simply pass to a new nominee.

Provincial governors and the Department of Lands have been told to prioritise high-risk cases and reach conclusions by the end of December 2026. Investigators are instructed to look past the names on title deeds to establish who actually controls each landholding and who benefits from it, tracing the money and corporate structures behind the arrangement.

Land confirmed to be held illegally faces compulsory sale, with buyers vetted so the property cannot simply be passed to another nominee. Depending on the case, officials say the possible consequences also include revoked land rights, deportation, and loss of Thai citizenship for those involved. Anutin said the drive targets nominee structures specifically and that Thailand remains open to legitimate foreign investment.

The announcement turns an existing nationwide screening effort — reported in September — into a formal order with a fixed deadline. Anyone holding Thai property through a company or nominee arrangement, not only new buyers, falls within its scope.