Law
Thai Parliamentary Committee Investigates 'Ghost Father' Birth Certificate Fraud
A parliamentary committee is pushing for a crackdown on fraudulent birth registrations involving non-Thai nationals, with hundreds of cases currently under investigation.
On September 3, 2026, Sakoltee Phattiyakul, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Health, announced an urgent push for the Ministry of Public Health and the Royal Thai Police to address the 'ghost father' scheme. This fraudulent practice involves non-Thai nationals falsely registering as the fathers of children to obtain Thai birth certificates and associated rights.
According to reports from Khaosod Online, investigations covering the period from 2017 to 2026 across 29 districts have identified 879 suspicious cases. Authorities have already confirmed 27 instances of fraudulent registration, leading to the revocation of those birth certificates. An additional 810 cases are currently undergoing rigorous verification, including DNA testing, to determine their legitimacy.
For residents and long-term visitors, this issue highlights ongoing efforts by the Thai government to tighten civil registration processes and prevent identity fraud. While the committee expressed concerns regarding the potential long-term implications of these fraudulent documents on national security and political eligibility, the primary focus remains on administrative integrity. It is important to note that the investigation is ongoing, and the full extent of the fraudulent network has yet to be determined. Authorities continue to coordinate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Department of Provincial Administration to resolve these discrepancies.