Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.
Last updated on September 5, 2026
Domestic violence (ความรุนแรงในครอบครัว, khwam runraeng nai khropkhrua, also called family violence or spousal abuse) is any intentional act that causes physical, mental or health harm to a family member, or coerces a family member into an act they do not consent to, as defined in the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act B.E. 2550 (2007). The Act creates a specific offence, protection orders and a reporting system alongside the Criminal Code. For a foreigner it also matters in divorce and custody.
Table of Contents
What the 2007 Act provides
Family member is defined widely: a spouse or former spouse, a partner living together without registration, children, adopted children, and others in the same household. The offence carries up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. It is a compoundable offence, so the victim can withdraw the complaint and settle, and the court is directed to favour rehabilitation, with counselling, community service and behaviour bonds as options. Where the act is also a crime under the Criminal Code, such as bodily harm under Section 295, the prosecutor can proceed on both.
Protection orders are the practical heart of the Act. On receiving a complaint, the inquiry official can impose temporary measures, and the court can order the abuser to leave the home, keep away from the victim, pay maintenance, attend treatment or refrain from contact; breach of an order is itself an offence. A complaint must be made within three months of the victim being in a position to make it. A 2019 Act meant to replace the 2007 law had its entry into force suspended, so the 2007 Act remains the one applied.
Where a foreigner reports it and what to keep
Report to the nearest police station, or call 191 for an emergency and 1300 for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security hotline, which coordinates shelters and social workers. Larger public hospitals run a One Stop Crisis Centre where injuries are documented, producing the medical report a court will later want. The provincial Social Development and Human Security office can also bring the matter to court. A foreign victim reports in the same way as a Thai and can ask for an interpreter.
Evidence decides everything that follows: dated photographs, medical certificates, the police daily report, messages and witness names. A foreign spouse whose extension of stay depends on the marriage should take advice on immigration status before leaving the home, since a marriage extension ends with the marriage. Shelters and legal aid are covered in the guide to domestic violence in Thailand.
Domestic violence in divorce and custody
Violence is a ground for a contested divorce. Section 1516(3) of the Civil and Commercial Code covers serious harm or torture to the body or mind of the other spouse, and serious insult to the spouse or their ascendants; Section 1516(2) covers misconduct causing serious shame or injury. The one-year limit in Section 1529 runs from knowledge, but continuing abuse keeps the ground alive. A police report and a protection order are strong evidence in the Family Court.
In child custody disputes the court decides on the child’s welfare, and proven violence against the other parent or the child weighs heavily against the abuser, up to supervised visitation or a transfer of parental power. Violence is not, by itself, a reason to alter the equal division of marital property.
Frequently asked questions
Is domestic violence a crime in Thailand?
Yes. The Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act B.E. 2550 makes it an offence punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, and serious injury is prosecuted under the Criminal Code as well. It is a compoundable offence, so the victim can settle, and the court can order counselling or a behaviour bond instead of prison.
Where can a foreigner report domestic violence in Thailand?
At any police station, by calling 191 in an emergency, or through the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security hotline on 1300. Public hospitals with a One Stop Crisis Centre document injuries and refer victims to social workers. A complaint should be made within three months of the victim being able to make it.
Is domestic violence grounds for divorce in Thailand?
Yes. Section 1516(3) of the Civil and Commercial Code allows a divorce for serious harm or torture to the body or mind of the other spouse, and Section 1516(2) for misconduct causing serious injury or shame. Medical reports, police records and any protection order are the evidence the Family Court expects.
See also: grounds for divorce, contested divorce, child custody, compoundable offence, and the guides to domestic violence in Thailand and contested divorce in Thailand.
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