Bangkok: The government is addressing loopholes in the civil registration system and enhancing child legitimation procedures to combat surrogacy-related fraud. The Ministry of Interior has mandated registration offices across the country to tighten procedures, specifically requiring foreign parents to present themselves in person to prevent the occurrence of "fake fathers" in child legitimation cases.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, is prioritizing efforts to curb corruption and exploitation in Thailand's civil registration system. The Ministry of Interior is expediting initiatives to upgrade measures against illegal child legitimation, aiming to close the gaps exploited by transnational criminal networks to secure Thai citizenship for foreign children. This citizenship is then used by these networks to acquire assets, conduct business, or launder money through Thai nationals.

The Deputy Spokesperson revealed that Mr. Polpeera Suwannachawi, Deputy Minister of Interior, attended a press conference detailing the outcomes of an expanded operation targeting fraudulent marriage and child legitimation schemes. The operation revealed instances where Thai nationals were paid to act as "surrogate fathers" to falsely certify paternity for foreign nationals, thereby granting them Thai citizenship. Following this, the Ministry of Interior has instructed all 878 district registration offices to revise child legitimation procedures. The new regulations necessitate that foreign parents appear in person before a registration officer to verify their paternity, thus preventing fraudulent claims and the use of forged documentation.

These enhanced measures aim to provide robust preventative verification, thereby closing existing loopholes in the civil registration system. This initiative is expected to reduce opportunities for transnational criminal networks to exploit Thai citizenship as a tool for owning real estate, conducting business, or laundering money through Thai nationals, which poses threats to national security and interests.

General Peer has affirmed that the government will persist in improving the system while strictly enforcing the law, adhering to the principle of "keeping names confidential, observing behavior." Regardless of the individuals involved, whether citizens, foreigners, or government officials, anyone found complicit in such activities will face thorough investigation and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.