Thumbs up for Thailand. The United Nations Refugee Agency has reviewed Thailand's plan to issue identification cards that allow displaced persons to work legally in the Kingdom, and expressed its approval, praising the country's progress in helping vulnerable people.

For decades, Thailand has provided sanctuary to more than 90,000 displaced persons  from its war-torn neighbors. Most live in refugee camps along the Kingdom's western border and are not allowed to leave those areas without permission from the Thai authorities.

In August 2025, the Thai government approved measures allowing displaced persons from Myanmar to apply for and obtain ID cards that enable them to work legally until their situations are resolved. In recent months, several ministries have coordinated their efforts and conducted trial runs of the process. They are expected to begin fully implementing the program within a matter of weeks.

The ID cards should help displaced persons to gain access to banking services, communications and health insurance, bringing greater stability to lives that have been disrupted by events in their homeland.

Displaced persons from Myanmar are the largest group of displaced people in Thailand. People from more than 40 other countries are also seeking sanctuary in the Kingdom,  but the current plan does not extend to them.

A delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met with Thai officials in early June and visited a site just north of Bangkok where displaced persons from neighboring Myanmar can apply for the cards. Thai officials briefed the delegation on the process and demonstrated how it works.

UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou praised Thailand's commitment to assisting displaced persons from Myanmar over the past 40 years. According to The Thaiger, he commended the Kingdom's support, care and efforts to provide legal employment opportunities.

Mazou also said UNHCR was ready to support Thailand and worked with the country to address displaced persons issues.