RATCHABURI — 18 June 2026, Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration on Wednesday officially launched a programme to issue identification cards to Myanmar nationals who have fled armed conflict and are living in designated temporary shelter areas in Thailand under special permission.
At 10:00 on Wednesday at the Suan Phueng District Office Auditorium in Ratchaburi province, the launch ceremony of the Kick-Off event for issuing identification cards to aliens residing in controlled areas who have been granted special permission to stay in the Kingdom, specifically displaced persons fleeing fighting from Myanmar was presided over by Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) Narucha Kosasitwilai.
The event was attended by Ratchaburi Governor Thitilak Kampha, the Deputy Governor, executives from the DOPA, heads of government agencies, representatives from relevant organizations, district chiefs from all districts across Ratchaburi province, and Tammi Lynn Sharpe, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Thailand.
Narucha said Thailand has provided humanitarian assistance to people fleeing conflict in Myanmar along the border since 1984 based on humanitarian grounds, with the government granting them to remain temporarily in the kingdom. However, to ensure effective population management of this group, it requires accurate, clear, and up-to-date registration data and identity verification.
Therefore, the DOPA has introduced new regulations governing the registration and issuance of identification cards to aliens residing in controlled areas under special permission to stay in Thailand, 2026. This regulation aims to issue identification cards to registered Myanmar conflict refugees whose information has been verified. The identification cards will be used when contacting government agencies, requesting state services, and alongside official permits issued by the government.
Narucha praised and thanked Ratchaburi province, under the leadership of the Governor of Ratchaburi, for helping drive this policy. He also expressed his gratitude to UNHCR for providing financial support for the production of identification cards to the displaced persons fleeing fighting from Myanmar. Additionally, he thanked all network partner agencies for carrying out together in line with humanitarian principles while maintaining public order and national security, which will lead to effective and sustainable solutions in the future.
The UNHCR representative in Thailand said today’s event was significant to everyone because it concerned a matter of life, resilience, human dignity, and the future.
Regarding this as a key to accessing healthcare services, financial services, communication, employment, and life opportunities. The system not only enhances security but also promotes independence in daily life, freedom of decision-making, and the ability to plan for the future.
Narucha stressed that the primary purpose of issuing these identification cards is to enable authorities to accurately verify identities, determine who individuals are, where they reside, and under what conditions they are permitted to stay or work in Thailand. The information will beneficial for control, supervision, tracking, and law enforcement, while also enhancing national security and public order.
He clearly reaffirmed that this identification card is solely a registration and population management measure by the state to monitor and verify individuals based on humanitarian principles. It does not grant Thai citizenship, nor does it confer any rights as a Thai nationality in any way.