International migration makes a significant contribution to economic and social development in Thailand but in 2014 many key aspects of migration policy remain unresolved. These include the establishment of a migration management system that ensures that most migrants are in a regular status, the slow preparations for the ASEAN Community, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, and the situation of displaced persons along the Myanmar border.
United Nations Thematic Working Group on Migration in Thailand
International migration makes a significant contribution to economic and social development in Thailand but in 2014 many key aspects of migration policy remain unresolved. These include the establishment of a migration management system that ensures that most migrants are in a regular status, the slow preparations for the ASEAN Community, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, and the situation of displaced persons along the Myanmar border.
It may be estimated that there are between 3.5 million and 4.0 million foreigners living in Thailand, of whom approximately 3.25 million are working. About 2.7 million of those working are from the three neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar. Workers are not the only migrants in Thailand, however. At the end of 2013, there were 127,000 registered and unregistered displaced persons in shelters near the Myanmar border. In 2012 there were about 34,500 persons residing in Thailand on retirement visas and in 2010 there were 20,155 international students in higher education.
