Since May 2025, Thailand has revoked almost 10,000 student visas amid an aggressive campaign against misuse and non-compliance. Notably, authorities are zooming in on foreigners abusing short-term academic studies as a cover to perform illegal activities.
Abuse of Student Visas
Consequently, authorities found that many student visa holders never attended classes. Instead, they worked illegally, often in construction or service industries.
Moreover, investigators revealed agencies that would charge up to 50,000 baht for fake enrollment. In fact, some private schools allegedly issued documents without monitoring attendance. Hence, the government identified the misuse as a national security risk.
With the aid of a 139,000-page report, investigators also implicated immigration officers in approving suspicious applications. Hence, this has since raised concerns about corruption within enforcement agencies. Therefore, the crackdown extends beyond students to officials who enabled the abuse.
Thailand Tightens Regulations
In response, the Ministry of Higher Education and immigration police have created a new centralized foreign student visa database. Correspondingly, institutions must now submit monthly attendance and progress reports to the Office of the Permanent Secretary. Moreover, immigration officers can instantly verify whether students comply with enrollment requirements.
Higher Education Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol explained, “This student database will be shared with immigration police to assist in visa approval decisions and prevent the misuse of student visas for illegal employment,”
Additionally, immigration police have begun inspecting private colleges more frequently. Notably, they have revoked thousands of visas after finding students absent from classrooms. Overall, this demonstrates the government’s commitment to stricter oversight.
Scale of Student Visa Revocations
As of August 22, authorities confirmed nearly 10,000 revoked visas, highlighting the scale of the student visa problem. Specifically, most belonged to holders of short-term, non-degree programs.
Pol. Col. Yodsak Raksuwan, from the Immigration Bureau, confirmed the crackdown’s scope. He stated that revocations would continue until compliance improves. Consequently, both students and institutions are under closer watch than ever before.
Wider Implications
Overall, the decision carries major consequences for foreign students and Thai institutions. For genuine students, new reporting rules may create extra paperwork. However, for institutions, the reforms demand strict record-keeping and transparency.
The government argues that these steps protect Thailand’s academic reputation. Furthermore, they aim to reduce trafficking networks that exploited loopholes. Previously, reports noted that trafficking groups used the student visa as a shield for illegal labor and criminal activity. Thus, the reforms are both an immigration and a crime-prevention strategy.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, the Ministry of Higher Education plans a nationwide briefing for universities in September. Specifically, this event will clarify student visa compliance rules and address academic concerns. Consequently, institutions must prepare to adapt their procedures quickly.
“We want to create proper understanding of the procedures and ensure consistent practical implementation across all institutions,” noted Assistant Permanent Secretary Dr. Panpimsakdi.
Nevertheless, officials admit challenges remain. Ensuring data accuracy, preventing corruption, and protecting genuine students will require sustained effort. Even so, Thailand insists the crackdown will continue.
Conclusion
Thailand’s revocation of nearly 10,000 student visas reflects a decisive effort to restore integrity. By closing loopholes, the country aims to safeguard both education and immigration systems.
Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash