Reviewed by Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556, for ThaiLawOnline, a Thai law firm acting for foreigners since 2006.
Update log
- 4 November 2026: Added the statute box with Thai, English and French text and checked the page against the official text
Last reviewed: 27 September 2026. Checked against section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, the Central Authority’s regulation of 2013 made under the Act on International Cooperation in Civil Matters concerning the Breach of Rights of Custody of Children B.E. 2555, and the Hague Conference status table for the 1980 Convention, including the list of states that have accepted Thailand’s accession. Not verified in this review: the foreign agency contacts listed at the end, and enforcement practice.
Child abduction in Thailand is a serious problem. It happens when a parent takes a child out of the country. This usually occurs to avoid a custody fight. Thailand acceded to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction on 14 August 2002, and the Convention entered into force for Thailand on 1 November 2002. A parent whose child has been wrongfully taken to or kept in Thailand can apply through the Thai Central Authority for the child’s return, and does not need the other parent’s permission to do so. That authority is the Attorney General, acting through the Office of the Attorney General, under the Act on International Cooperation in Civil Matters concerning the Breach of Rights of Custody of Children B.E. 2555. It is not the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, which is widely but wrongly named for this role and in fact runs the Prachabodee mediation centre.
Check first that the Convention actually applies between Thailand and your country. Thailand acceded to the Convention instead of signing it at the outset, so it operates only between Thailand and a state that has formally accepted that accession. Most guides skip this, and it decides whether you have a Hague route at all. The United States withheld its acceptance for years, on the ground that Thailand had not passed implementing legislation, and accepted only in January 2016; the Convention has been in force between the United States and Thailand since 1 April 2016. Check your own country against the HCCH status table for the 1980 Convention before you rely on it. An abduction can have severe legal and emotional consequences for everyone involved. International law offers certain provisions that can be utilized in such cases. If your child has been taken from another country to Thailand or vice versa, the situation can be more common than you might anticipate. Remember that an unmarried father in Thailand does not have parental powers (Child Custody in Thailand). He gains them only by marrying the mother, registering the child as his at the amphur, or obtaining a court judgment (section 1547).
Abduction cases turn on who legally holds parental power, which is explained in our overview of family law in Thailand.
Table of Contents
What Parental Abduction Looks Like in Thailand
1. It usually begins as a lawful trip
These cases rarely begin with a stranger. They begin with an agreed holiday, a visit to family or a school break, and the child is simply not brought back. That shapes the whole case, because the child left, or arrived, with everyone’s consent. The question is therefore not how the child travelled but who held the right to decide where the child lives. Under Section 1567(1) of the Civil and Commercial Code that right belongs to whoever holds parental power.
2. Who holds parental power decides the case
An unmarried father in Thailand does not hold parental power automatically, and this is the single most common surprise for foreign fathers. Until he marries the mother, registers the child as his at the amphur, or obtains a court judgment (section 1547), the mother holds parental power alone. A father in that position who keeps the child has far weaker standing than he expects, and a father in that position whose child is kept from him has fewer levers than he expects. Fathers’ rights here are not the rights they would have at home. See our guide to legitimation and fathers’ rights in Thailand.
The law behind this page
English
Section 1567Amended on 25 March 2025
A person exercising parental power may determine the child's place of residence, punish the child to admonish, instruct or correct the child's behaviour, provided it does not amount to cruelty, violent harm to the child's body or mind, or improper treatment, require the child to do work reasonably suited to the child's ability and station in life, and demand the return of the child from anyone unlawfully detaining the child. Representing the child is Section 1569 and managing the child's property is Section 1571.
Full text
The person exercising parental power has the right: (1) to determine the child's place of residence; (2) to punish the child for the purpose of admonition, instruction or correcting behaviour, provided that this does not amount to cruelty, physical or mental violence, or other wrongful treatment; (3) to require the child to do work suitable to the child's ability and station in life; (4) to demand the return of the child from any other person who unlawfully detains the child.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1566
A minor child is under the parental power of both parents. Parental power rests with the father or the mother alone only in the cases this section lists, such as the death of the other parent, an adjudication of incapacity or quasi-incapacity, or a court order giving parental power to one of them.
Full text
A child who has not yet attained majority is subject to the parental power of the father and mother. Parental power rests with the father or the mother in the following cases: (1) the mother or the father is dead; (2) it is uncertain whether the mother or the father is alive or dead; (3) the mother or the father has been ordered by the court to be an incompetent or quasi-incompetent person; (4) the mother or the father has to be admitted to hospital by reason of mental infirmity; (5) the court orders that parental power rest with the father or the mother; (6) the father and mother have so agreed, in a case where the law provides that they may agree.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1546Amended on 8 March 2008
A child born to a woman who is not married to a man is deemed to be the mother's legitimate child, unless the law provides otherwise.
Full text
A child born of a woman who is not married to a man is deemed to be the legitimate child of that woman, unless the law provides otherwise.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1547
A child becomes legitimate when (1) the parents subsequently marry, (2) the father registers the child as his child (Section 1548 sets the consent requirements), or (3) the court issues a legitimation order.
Full text
A child born of parents who are not married to each other becomes legitimate only when the parents subsequently marry each other, or the father has registered the child as his child, or the court has given judgment that the child is his child.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1520Amended on 23 January 2025
Full text
In the case of a divorce by mutual consent, the spouses shall make a written agreement as to which of them is to exercise parental power over which child. If no agreement is made, or agreement cannot be reached, the court shall decide. In the case of a divorce by judgment of the court, the court trying the divorce action shall also decide which party is to exercise parental power over which child. If, in so deciding, the court considers that there are grounds under Section 1582 for depriving the spouses of parental power, the court may deprive the spouses of parental power and order that a third person be guardian. In all of this, the court shall have regard primarily to the well-being and interests of the child.
ThaiLawOnline translation
ไทย
มาตรา 1567แก้ไขเมื่อ 25 มีนาคม 2568
ข้อความเต็ม
ผู้ใช้อำนาจปกครองมีสิทธิ(๑) กำหนดที่อยู่ของบุตร(๒) ทำโทษบุตรเพื่อว่ากล่าวสั่งสอนหรือปรับพฤติกรรม โดยต้องไม่เป็นการกระทำทารุณกรรมหรือทำร้ายด้วยความรุนแรงต่อร่างกายหรือจิตใจ หรือกระทำโดยมิชอบ(๓) ให้บุตรทำการงานตามสมควรแก่ความสามารถและฐานานุรูป(๔) เรียกบุตรคืนจากบุคคลอื่นซึ่งกักบุตรไว้โดยมิชอบด้วยกฎหมาย
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1566
ข้อความเต็ม
บุตรซึ่งยังไม่บรรลุนิติภาวะต้องอยู่ใต้อำนาจปกครองของบิดามารดา อำนาจปกครองอยู่กับบิดาหรือมารดาในกรณีดังต่อไปนี้ (๑) มารดาหรือบิดาตาย (๒) ไม่แน่นอนว่ามารดาหรือบิดามีชีวิตอยู่หรือตาย (๓) มารดาหรือบิดาถูกศาลสั่งให้เป็นคนไร้ความสามารถหรือเสมือนไร้ความสามารถ (๔) มารดาหรือบิดาต้องเข้ารักษาตัวในโรงพยาบาลเพราะจิตฟั่นเฟือน (๕) ศาลสั่งให้อำนาจปกครองอยู่กับบิดาหรือมารดา (๖) บิดาและมารดาตกลงกันตามที่มีกฎหมายบัญญัติไว้ให้ตกลงกันได้
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1546แก้ไขเมื่อ 8 มีนาคม 2551
ข้อความเต็ม
เด็กเกิดจากหญิงที่มิได้มีการสมรสกับชาย ให้ถือว่าเป็นบุตรชอบด้วยกฎหมายของหญิงนั้น เว้นแต่จะมีกฎหมายบัญญัติไว้เป็นอย่างอื่น
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1547
ข้อความเต็ม
เด็กเกิดจากบิดามารดาที่มิได้สมรสกัน จะเป็นบุตรชอบด้วยกฎหมายต่อเมื่อบิดามารดาได้สมรสกันในภายหลังหรือบิดาได้จดทะเบียนว่าเป็นบุตรหรือศาลพิพากษาว่าเป็นบุตร
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1520แก้ไขเมื่อ 23 มกราคม 2568
ข้อความเต็ม
ในกรณีหย่าโดยความยินยอม ให้คู่สมรสทำความตกลงเป็นหนังสือว่า ฝ่ายใดจะเป็นผู้ใช้อำนาจปกครองบุตรคนใด ถ้ามิได้ตกลงกันหรือตกลงกันไม่ได้ ให้ศาลเป็นผู้ชี้ขาด ในกรณีหย่าโดยคำพิพากษาของศาล ให้ศาลซึ่งพิจารณาคดีฟ้องหย่านั้นชี้ขาดด้วยว่าฝ่ายใดจะเป็นผู้ใช้อำนาจปกครองบุตรคนใด ในการพิจารณาชี้ขาดถ้าศาลเห็นว่ามีเหตุที่จะถอนอำนาจปกครองของคู่สมรสนั้นได้ตามมาตรา ๑๕๘๒ ศาลจะถอนอำนาจปกครองของคู่สมรสและสั่งให้บุคคลภายนอกเป็นผู้ปกครองก็ได้ ทั้งนี้ ให้ศาลคำนึงถึงความผาสุกและประโยชน์ของบุตรนั้นเป็นสำคัญ
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
Français
Article 1567Modifié le 25 mars 2025
Le titulaire de l'autorité parentale peut fixer la résidence de l'enfant, le punir pour le corriger sans cruauté, violence physique ou psychologique ni abus, le faire travailler selon ses capacités et sa condition, et le réclamer à quiconque le retient illégalement.
résumé non officiel
Article 1566
L'enfant qui n'a pas encore atteint la majorité est soumis à l'autorité parentale de ses père et mère. L'autorité parentale appartient au père ou à la mère dans les cas suivants : 1° la mère ou le père est décédé ; 2° il est incertain que la mère ou le père soit en vie ou décédé ; 3° la mère ou le père a été déclaré par le tribunal incapable ou quasi incapable ; 4° la mère ou le père doit être admis à l'hôpital en raison d'un trouble mental ; 5° le tribunal ordonne que l'autorité parentale appartienne au père ou à la mère ; 6° le père et la mère en sont convenus, dans les cas où la loi leur permet de convenir.
résumé non officiel
Article 1546Modifié le 8 mars 2008
L'enfant né d'une femme qui n'est pas mariée avec un homme est réputé enfant légitime de cette femme, sauf disposition contraire de la loi.
résumé non officiel
Article 1547
L'enfant né de père et mère qui ne sont pas mariés l'un avec l'autre ne devient enfant légitime que lorsque ses père et mère se marient ultérieurement, ou que le père l'a fait enregistrer comme son enfant, ou que le tribunal a jugé qu'il est son enfant.
résumé non officiel
Article 1520Modifié le 23 janvier 2025
En cas de divorce par consentement mutuel, les époux conviennent par écrit de celui d'entre eux qui exercera l'autorité parentale sur chaque enfant. À défaut d'accord, ou s'ils ne parviennent pas à s'accorder, le tribunal statue. En cas de divorce prononcé par jugement, le tribunal saisi de l'action en divorce statue également sur la partie qui exercera l'autorité parentale sur chaque enfant. Si, en statuant, le tribunal estime qu'il existe un motif de retirer l'autorité parentale aux époux en vertu de l'article 1582, il peut leur retirer l'autorité parentale et ordonner qu'un tiers soit tuteur. Dans tous les cas, le tribunal prend principalement en considération le bien-être et l'intérêt de l'enfant.
résumé non officiel
Supreme Court decisions
Sources
- Civil and Commercial Code, Office of the Council of State, retrieved 31 October 2026
- deka.supremecourt.or.th, Supreme Court of Thailand decisions database (copy held in our library), retrieved 19 February 2026
3. Recovery is slow, and the Hague route is narrower than it looks
Recovery is difficult in practice. Agencies coordinate poorly, resources are thin and proceedings take time. The Hague route is also narrower than it appears, because it runs only between Thailand and the countries that accepted Thailand’s accession, as set out above. Where the Convention is not available to you, or while a Hague application grinds on, a custody ruling from a Thai court is often the more durable instrument. It is worth getting one even if your child is already abroad.
A foreign custody order, including a United States order, is not enforced in Thailand as it stands, and a parent who travels to Thailand comes under the jurisdiction of the Thai courts. Older United States government guidance, written before the Convention took effect between the two countries on 1 April 2016, warned that the Embassy could not force a child’s return. Since that date a parent in the United States can apply for return through the Hague route described above.
Child Abduction in Thailand and the American government
The practical point is the same for every foreign parent: a foreign custody order does not bind a Thai court. Americans who travel to Thailand come under Thai jurisdiction, and a foreign child custody order carries no weight here until a Thai court recognises it.
The first thing to do is contact the authorities. This includes the police, government offices, and embassies. There are some agencies protecting children in most countries
Once you have contacted the authorities, you could need a lawyer in order to start some legal proceedings. Sometimes, the authorities do these cases without lawyers. You just want to be sure that things are being done properly and quickly. You can also use Thai Courts and try to get full and sole custody if you don’t. That would give you all the rights on the child but it is hard to get here. Even if your child is abroad, a clear decision by a Thai court about custody here could help you.
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Abduction USA, Thailand:
Consult: travel.state.gov, International Parental Child Abduction
Abduction Australia Thailand:
consult: the Attorney-General’s Department, and its current contact details are listed in the HCCH directory of Central Authorities
Abduction Canada Thailand:
consult: travel.gc.ca, child abduction and welfare
Abduction France Thailand:
consult: the Bureau du droit de l’Union, du droit international privé et de l’entraide civile at the Ministry of Justice, whose current contact details are in the HCCH directory of Central Authorities
Abduction Germany Thailand:
consult: bundesjustizamt.de (Bundesamt für Justiz)
Countries part of the Hague convention
HCCH status table for the 1980 Child Abduction Convention
Should you need any help about international child abduction, ThaiLawOnline has worked on several cases from different countries and they all found success.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Thai Central Authority for a Hague return application?
The Attorney General, acting through the Office of the Attorney General, under the Act on International Cooperation in Civil Matters concerning the Breach of Rights of Custody of Children B.E. 2555. It is not the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Does the Hague Convention apply between Thailand and my country?
Only if your country has accepted Thailand’s accession, because Thailand acceded instead of signing at the outset. The Convention has been in force between the United States and Thailand since 1 April 2016. Check your country against the HCCH status table.
Does an unmarried father have parental power in Thailand?
Not automatically. Until he marries the mother, registers the child as his at the amphur, or obtains a court judgment (section 1547), the mother holds parental power alone.
Is a foreign custody order enforced in Thailand?
Not as it stands. A foreign custody order does not bind a Thai court. A custody ruling from a Thai court is often the more durable instrument, and it is worth getting one even if your child is already abroad.
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