This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Kingdom of Thailand’s governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• Regular migrants in Thailand have access to government-funded health services through the Migrant Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). Migrant workers recruited under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) can enrol for the Social Security Fund (SSF) and are eligible for the Universal Health Coverage scheme on the same basis as citizens.
• The National Education Act (1999) and the National Education Plan 2017–2036 (2017) ensure that all migrants, regardless of their migration status, have access to government-funded education.
• Foreign residents can become Thai nationals after five years of continuous residence as provided for in the Nationality Act (1965).

Areas with potential for further development 

• Thailand lacks agreements on social security portability; however, the government is discussing agreements on the portability of social security entitlements with countries like Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
• Migrants do not have equal access to employment as nationals. According to the Notification of the Ministry of Labour, titled “Prescription of the prohibited occupations for foreigners” (2020), there are 27 occupations that are reserved for Thai nationals and inaccessible to migrants. 
• There is no specific strategy for addressing hate crimes, violence, xenophobia, and discrimination against migrants. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• In 2020, Thailand developed its first National Implementation Plan of the Global Compact on Migration (2020-2022), which includes objectives to minimize adverse drivers of migration, enhance regular migration pathways, and facilitate fair and ethical recruitment for decent work.
• Thailand’s Overseas Employment Administration Division, under the Ministry of Labour, manages and protects Thai migrant workers going abroad.
• The National Statistics Office (NSO) collects disaggregated data on migration through its Migration Survey, published annually.
• Rules and regulations pertaining to migration are available to the public on the websites of the Office of the Council of State, Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Labour.

Areas with potential for further development 

• Establishing a dedicated agency responsible for for enacting diaspora policy or coordinating efforts to engage with its diaspora population is an area with potential for development.
• There is limited coordination across different levels of government on migration issues, as there are no formal arrangements for consultations with decentralized levels of government.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The government participates in several regional consultative processes on migration that include:- the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking, the Bali Process, the Colombo Process, the ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) and the Inter-governmental Asia–European Union Meeting’s (ASEM) Conference of the Directors General of Immigration and Management of Migratory Flows. 
• Thailand has migration-related memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Cambodia (2003), Myanmar (2003), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (2016) and Viet Nam (2015) on cooperation in the employment of migrant workers of both countries. 
• In 2005, Thailand signed a multilateral MoU with Cambodia, China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Viet Nam on cooperation against trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Areas with potential for further development

• There is no formal government framework for engagement with members of its diaspora and expatriate communities in agenda setting and implementation of development policy.
• Thailand engages CSOs and social partners in migration-related issues on an ad hoc basis. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Labour Market Information Administration Division under the Ministry of Labour's Department of Employment collects and publishes monthly data on domestic labour market demand in Thailand.
• The country has developed mechanisms to attract skilled workers in target industries through the Smart Visa, launched in 2018.
• The Labour Protection Act (2019) ensures equal pay for workers regardless of gender, applying to both citizens and migrants.
• Thailand participates in the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) (2016) and the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) (1998).

Areas with potential for further development 

• International students are charged higher fees than nationals.
• The government is not actively involved in promoting the creation of formal remittance schemes.
• Thailand does not have programs to promote financial inclusion of migrants and their families. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• Thailand’s National Disaster Risk Management Plan (2015) contains measures to assist migrants during and post crisis in the country. 
• The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Assistance to Nationals Units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development implements measures to assist nationals living abroad in times of crises. 
• The Overseas Employment Administration Division records Thai nationals working abroad and coordinates evacuation plans with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during crises.
• The 2019 Regulations of the Office of the Prime Minister on Aliens in Thailand provide exceptions to immigration procedures for migrants from crisis-affected countries.

Areas with potential for further development 

• Thailand lacks a harmonized disaster risk management legislation with specific provisions for preventing and addressing the displacement impacts of disasters.
• There is no policy or strategy to address migration due to environmental degradation and adverse effects of climate change. 
• Communication systems in place to receive information on the evolving nature of crises are only available in Thai and do not take into consideration the specific vulnerabilities of migrants. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau oversees integrated border control and security as per the Immigration Act (1979).
• In 2019, multiple Thai ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Alternatives to Detention for Children in Immigration Centres, emphasizing minimal and brief detention, family or community-based care, and comprehensive support measures.
• A National Referral Mechanism was developed in 2020 to identify migrants in vulnerable situations and provide adequate referral and protection services for trafficking victims in Thailand.
• The Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2008) includes specific measures to enforce laws deterring and preventing human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Areas with potential for further development 

• Thailand does not have a policy or a strategy to ensure that migrant detention is used only as a measure of last resort. 
• There are no formal government programmes for attracting nationals who have emigrated to return or to facilitate the reintegration of returnees.
• The establishment of formal cooperation agreements to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants, outside of international conventions, is an area for development.