The Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA) has launched an identity card scheme for refugees from the Myanmar conflict living in controlled border areas in a bid to improve documentation and public services.
DoPA Director-General Narucha Kosacivilize chaired a kick-off ceremony in Ratchaburi on Wednesday for the registration of foreign nationals granted temporary residence under humanitarian arrangements, including refugees from Myanmar.
Officials, provincial administrators and representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) attended the event, alongside Ratchaburi governor Thitiluck Kampha.
Mr Narucha said Thailand has hosted Myanmar refugees along the border since 1984 on humanitarian grounds, with temporary permissions allowing them to remain. He said the new system aims to ensure accurate and updated population records for better administration and legal clarity.
Under a 2026 regulation, eligible refugees who are registered and verified will be issued non-Thai national identity cards, known as the pink card, to facilitate access to government services, official transactions and lawful documentation.
Mr Narucha said the cards are for identification and administrative control, enabling authorities to confirm status, residence and permitted conditions for holders.
“The scheme does not grant Thai citizenship or associated rights but serves as a humanitarian management tool while supporting national security and public order.”
