Révisé par ThaiLawOnline, un cabinet d'avocats thaïlandais agréé exerçant en Thaïlande depuis 2006. Avocate thaïlandaise en charge du dossier : Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., licence du barreau thaïlandais 3149/2556.
Dernière mise à jour le 5 septembre 2026
A changwat (จังหวัด, also spelled jangwat) is a province of Thailand, the country’s first-level administrative division. Thailand has 76 provinces plus Bangkok, which is a special administrative area with province-level status, so official lists often count 77. Each changwat is divided into districts (amphoe), sub-districts (tambon) and villages (muban).
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How a changwat is governed
Every province is run by a provincial governor (phu wa ratchakan changwat, ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัด), a career official of the Ministry of Interior appointed under the Provincial Administration Act B.E. 2457 (1914) and the State Administration Act B.E. 2534 (1991). The governor supervises the district chiefs (nai amphoe) and the provincial branches of central ministries: the provincial bureau des hypothèques, the provincial employment office, the provincial immigration office and so on. Bangkok is the exception: its governor is elected under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act B.E. 2528 (1985), and its districts are called khet rather than amphoe.
Alongside the appointed governor, each province also has an elected local government, the Provincial Administrative Organisation (Or Bor Jor, องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัด), created by the Provincial Administrative Organisation Act B.E. 2540 (1997). Its chief executive and council are elected every four years and it handles province-wide services such as major roads, some hospitals and schools. Do not confuse the Or Bor Jor with the Aor Bor Tor, which works at sub-district level.
Thailand’s administrative hierarchy
| Niveau | thaïlandais | Anglais | Head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changwat | จังหวัด | Province | Governor (appointed; elected in Bangkok) |
| Amphoe (khet in Bangkok) | อำเภอ / เขต | District | Nai amphoe (appointed) |
| Tambon (khwaeng in Bangkok) | ตำบล / แขวง | Sub-district | Kamnan |
| Muban | หมู่บ้าน | Village | Phu yai ban (elected) |
Local self-government runs in parallel to this state hierarchy: the Or Bor Jor at province level, the tesaban (municipality) in urban areas and the Aor Bor Tor in rural sub-districts.
Where a foreigner meets the changwat
The province appears on every Thai address, land title deed, livret de famille ET certificat de mariage, always as the last line before the postcode. In practice most legal steps a foreigner takes outside Bangkok happen at a provincial office: the provincial land office (or its branch) registers land transfers, leases, usufruits and mortgages; the provincial court (san changwat) hears divorces, child custody cases, estate administrator applications and property disputes; the provincial immigration office handles visa extensions, 90-day reports and TM30 notifications; and the provincial employment office issues work permits.
Jurisdiction follows the province. A case about immovable property must be filed in the court of the province where the land is located (Civil Procedure Code, section 4(1)), and an application to appoint an estate administrator is normally filed where the deceased was domiciled or where the estate assets are. See our guide to the système juridique thaïlandais for how provincial courts fit into the court structure.
Foire aux questions
How many changwat does Thailand have?
Thailand has 76 provinces (changwat). Bangkok is not legally a province but a special administrative area with the same rank, which is why you will see both 76 and 77 quoted. The newest province is Bueng Kan, created in 2011.
Is Bangkok a changwat?
Not formally. Bangkok is governed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration under its own Act of B.E. 2528 (1985), with an elected governor. For most purposes, including addresses, courts and immigration, it functions as a province.
What is the difference between the governor and the Or Bor Jor?
The governor is a civil servant appointed by the Ministry of Interior and represents the central state in the province. The Or Bor Jor (Provincial Administrative Organisation) is an elected local government with its own chief executive, council and budget.
Voir aussi : amphoe (district), tambon (sub-district), tesaban (municipality), Aor Bor Tor, phu yai ban (village headman) and our guide to the Thai legal system.
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