How to verify a Thai citizen

Thailand is struggling with the events of COVID, which is only exacerbating the existing economicissues. The latest lockdown measures may further delay the Thai economy's recovery from its worst slump in more than two decades. Even before announcing the latest measures, Thailand's central bank saw “significant downside risk” to itscurrent1.8% economic growth forecast for this year, saying a prolonged outbreak will squeeze business liquidity and hurt employment in the services sector. The Kingdom expects the economy to return to pre-COVID levels only in early 2023 if herd immunity is delayed to the end of next year.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Status

Thailand is no longer on the FATF List of Countries identified as having strategic AML deficiencies.

In 2010, FATF identified Thailand's progress in improving its AML/CFT legal and regulatory framework to meet its commitments in its Action Plan regarding the strategic deficiencies. Therefore,Thailandis no longer subject to FATF's monitoring process under its ongoing global AML/CFT compliance process. Thailand will work with the APG as it continues to address the full range of AML/CFT issues identified in its Mutual Evaluation Report.

According to the latest Mutual Evaluations Report, Thailand was deemed compliant for 3 and largely compliant for 24 out of the 40 recommendations; and highly effective for 0 and substantially effective for 5 concerning the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime.

Regulators

Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO)

Founded in 1999,AMLOis the key agency in Thailand that is responsible for enforcing AML/CFT regulations. They play a pivotal role in solving crimes by implementing the AML/CFT measures to eliminate the commission of predicate offences or block out the utilization of assets connected with the commission of such crimes. Under the new laws, thepowersof AMLO have increased to act as a central financial intelligence agency regulating companies both within and outside of Thailand.

Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG)

Thailand is a founding member of theAPG(since 1997). The APG is an international governmental organisation. It consists of 41 member jurisdictions, focused on ensuring that its members effectively implement the international standards against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing risks.

Relevant regulations

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) is theonlyAML regulation applicable to every person in the jurisdiction of Thailand. Recently, the AMLA was updated and amended in compliance with the international standards of FATF.

In 2020, Thailand's cabinet and parliament issuedamendmentsto the AMLA to comply with the international standard of FATF. The reforms highlight a focus on financial technology services. The AMLA's definition of financial institutions expanded to asset management and digital asset businesses, trustees in capital market trusts, personal load businesses, regulated e-payments systems and services, and non-bank credit card service providers – but not limited to these businesses.

The government implemented a new customer due diligence regulation under theMinisterial Regulation on Customer Due Diligence 2020.This regulation exempts reporting entities from the requirement to identify beneficial owners of certain types of customers, including government entities, special financial institutions, and listed companies.

Thai verification available

Thai citizens can be verified using government, commercial and credit data sources, including support from the Royal Thai Embassy for verification of Thai nationals living abroad. Institutions can verify and validate their customers' names, dates of birth, gender, province, phone number, addresses (based on their documentation) and document numbers. Citizens of Thailand can be verified in different ways such as the Thai national identification card, passport, and driver's license.

National identity card

The Thainational identity cardis the official identity document issued by the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of the Interior. This Thai ID card can be received by Thai citizens between the age of 7 and 70 years. With this Thai national ID card, you can verify your customers' first name, last name, date of birth, and Thai identity card number.

Passport

ThePassport Divisionby the Department of Consular Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues the Thai passport. In 2020, a third version of the e-passport was released by the Thai government that contains technical specifications that comply with the standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The e-passport includes biometric data, helps to improve the verification process at immigration, and contains security features to prevent forgery. You can verify Thai nationals' first name, last name, date of birth, passport number, and nationality.

Driver's license

TheDepartment of Land Transportunder the Ministry of Transport issues the Thai driver's license. It allows you to drive in Thailand and other Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) states without an international driving permit. You can verify the holder's identity information such as first name, last name, date of birth, and licence number.

AML Screening

Global watchlists can identify ifThai citizens are high-risk individuals or entities. You can screen your customers against PEPs, Sanctions, and adverse media lists through the required documents for verification.