Thailand Targets Fake Student Visas Under New “3 No’s” Immigration Campaign

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has identified fraudulent student visas as one of the primary targets of its new enforcement campaign, “3 No’s: No Entry, No Stay, No Escape.” The focus became clear following an English-language publication released by Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department (PRD Thailand) on June 6.

The report summarized the Immigration Bureau’s performance during the first five months of 2026 and highlighted several key priorities aimed at strengthening control over foreign nationals entering and staying in the country.

Screening Travelers Before Arrival

One of the campaign’s major objectives is preventing high-risk individuals from entering Thailand in the first place. Authorities are paying closer attention to travelers’ financial resources, travel plans, and previous visa histories, including repeated visa-run patterns.

According to PRD Thailand, some individuals suspected of planning illegal employment or involvement in criminal activities may be prevented from boarding flights to Thailand before departure. The agency stated that Thailand’s immigration blacklist currently contains more than 169,000 names.

Crackdown on Misuse of Student Visas

Another major priority is tackling abuse of education visas. While the Immigration Bureau previously reported that 668 visas had been revoked this year, PRD Thailand clarified that these were specifically student visas issued to individuals who were not actually studying.

Officials found that many visa holders had instead been working illegally or operating businesses in violation of immigration regulations. As a result, all 668 visas were canceled.

The report also stated that authorities have arrested 14,161 people for overstaying their visas or working illegally, with deportation procedures initiated against them.

Using Data Analytics to Detect Violations

The campaign also relies heavily on data analysis and cooperation between immigration authorities and local police forces. According to PRD Thailand, large immigration databases are being integrated with law enforcement systems to support targeted inspections and surprise raids.

Although media attention has largely focused on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, the highest number of enforcement operations took place in Pattaya, which recorded 147 raids. Chiang Mai followed with nine operations, while Phuket recorded eight.

PRD Thailand emphasized that Thailand remains welcoming to genuine tourists and legitimate foreign workers. However, authorities warned that those attempting to exploit the visa system or engage in illegal activities should expect swift enforcement action under the new campaign.