Law
Thai Ministry of Commerce Launches Crackdown on Nominee Property Holdings
The Thai Ministry of Commerce has initiated a nationwide operation to investigate 125,000 legal entities suspected of acting as nominees for foreign property ownership.
According to a report by Prachachat Business on September 7, 2026, the Thai Ministry of Commerce has launched a major operation to identify and address the use of 'nominees'—individuals or entities acting on behalf of others—to hold land and condominium units. This initiative involves a collaborative effort between the Department of Business Development, the Department of Lands, the Department of Provincial Administration, and various law enforcement agencies.
Authorities are currently scanning a database of 125,000 legal entities that collectively hold approximately 4.5 million rai of real estate across Thailand. The primary objective is to ensure compliance with existing laws regarding foreign property ownership and to prevent the circumvention of regulations through nominee structures.
For residents and expatriates, this development highlights a heightened regulatory focus on property holding structures. While the operation is currently focused on data verification and inter-agency information sharing, it may lead to stricter scrutiny of corporate ownership records in the future. It remains to be confirmed how this data analysis will translate into specific enforcement actions or if it will impact existing property titles held by foreign-linked entities. Stakeholders are advised to monitor official government announcements for further updates regarding the scope and potential outcomes of this investigation.