The Thailand nominee company crackdown 2026 is the most aggressive enforcement action we’ve seen in over 30 years of practice. On April 1, 2026, the Department of Business Development (DBD) rolled out mandatory in-person shareholder verification for any company amendment involving foreign participation. Thai shareholders can’t hide behind paper anymore. They have to show up, declare their income, and sign forms that carry criminal liability.

We’re not talking about some distant threat. This is happening now. The DBD estimates that roughly 94,000 companies in Thailand involve Thai nominee shareholders. That’s 80% of all companies with mixed Thai-foreign ownership. If you run a company with the old 49/51 split, ask yourself one question. Can your Thai partners prove they funded their shares? If not, you’ve got a serious problem.