A significant amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code No. 24 was officially announced in the Thailand Royal Gazette on September 24, 2024, and will come into effect on January 22, 2025. Under this new law, marriage registration will now recognize marriage equality. The definition of marriage has been changed from ‘man and woman’ to ‘persons,’ and gender-specific terms such as ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ have been replaced with ‘spouse.’
What to Expect
- All relevant authorities are required to amend their regulations accordingly within 180 days from the official announcement to align with the new law, after which the proposed changes will be submitted to the Cabinet for final approval.
- While the law will become effective on January 22, 2025, its practical implementation may take some time. This change will necessitate further adjustments within the mentioned authorities to ensure consistency across all processes.
- All related departments, including Immigration, Labor/Employment, BOI, and IEAT, are required to amend their regulations to align with this new law.
- These departments must update their regulations within 180 days of the announcement date, which is by March 23, 2025.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.