Thailand has become a major destination of illegal immigration, especially from neighbouring countries.
Demographics
As of 2005, it was confirmed by the Thai government that there are 1.8 million registered and legal foreign workers and illegal immigration is as much as 5 million in Thailand. These illegal migrants also include refugees and the percentage of the illegal migrant population is as respectively Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar/Burma, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Africa and China.
There are also large numbers of westerners living and working illegally in Thailand, many of whom teach English or run internet-based small businesses and use tourist visas or other types of visa obtained using fake documentation to stay in the country long-term.
North Korean illegal immigrants
In recent years
North Korean defectors
Since the division of Korea after the end of World War II, North Koreans have fled from the country in spite of legal punishment for political, ideological, religious, economic, moral, personal, or nutritional reasons. Such North Koreans are re ...
have attempted to use Thailand as an entry route to get to South Korea. Some people continue working and staying in Thailand. By North Korean law, civilians cannot exit the country unless he/she was sent by government or was invited, which he/she has to go back and send report twice per year to North Korea.
Illegal Rohingya migrants
At least 600 Rohingya Muslims believed to b
illegal migrants from Myanmar detainedwere found in Thailand on 11 January 2013 after two raids by the authorities near the border with Malaysia. The Thai government has been criticized for its treatment of illegal immigrants.
There may certainly be more Rohingya Refugees in Thailand however, legal and illegal.
TM30
A law passed in 1979, a time when many Vietnamese and Cambodian people were entering Thailand as refugees, requires most resident foreigners to notify the government every time they leave their permanent residence for more than 24 hours. This law had fallen into disuse but as of 2019 has been revived due to a crackdown under the slogan "Good guys in, Bad guys out".
See also
*
Human trafficking in Thailand
According to the United States Department of State, "Thailand is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking." Thailand's relative prosperity attracts migrants from neighb ...
References
{{Asia topic, Illegal immigration to
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
Crime in Thailand by type
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
Immigration to Thailand