UNHCR - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

06/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2026 03:47

UNHCR: Government-issued ID cards mark new era of refugee inclusion and self-reliance in Thailand

Press releases

UNHCR: Government-issued ID cards mark new era of refugee inclusion and self-reliance in Thailand

17 June 2026
© UNHCR

BANGKOK - Refugees living in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border began receiving official identity cards today in a historic milestone welcomed by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

The issuance of official, non-Thai identity cards by the Royal Thai Government formally recognizes the group as "Myanmar Displaced Persons", and is a landmark step towards inclusion, protection and self-reliance for one of the world's most protracted refugee populations.

"For refugees from Myanmar in Thailand, these identity cards are not simply a form of documentation - they are a gateway to protection, stability and opportunity," said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou. "These cards help restore dignity, open new possibilities, and enable refugees to build meaningful futures."

This milestone builds on the Government's commendable policy shift announced in August 2025, establishing legal access to employment for longstanding refugees and marking a move away from encampment-based approaches. Since its implementation in October 2025, more than 5,500 refugees have joined the workforce, contributing to the sustainable development of the Thai economy and helping strengthen community resilience. The hope is that many more will follow.

The new identification system includes biometric registration and integration into the national civil registry. The system, which includes QR code verification, enhances protection by reducing the risks of identity fraud, trafficking and exploitation, while enabling access to essential services such as banking, telecommunications, and health care.

"This initiative empowers refugees to contribute economically and live with greater security and independence," said Mazou. "We commend the Royal Thai Government for this progressive policy, which holds important lessons for other countries responding to protracted displacement."

"UNHCR stands ready to continue working closely with the Government to support these efforts and achieve the best possible outcome for displaced communities and the people of Thailand."

Some 80,000 forcibly displaced people from Myanmar are hosted in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border. The identity cards will be issued in phases to those over the age of 5, with the first phase focusing on those currently employed. With the dire security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar, they continue to be in need of international protection. Many have lived in the camps for decades and are entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. Around 45 per cent of the refugees were born in the temporary shelters in Thailand.

Globally, UNHCR is focusing on a clear and measurable goal: to reduce by more than half, over the next decade, the number of refugees in long-term displacement reliant on humanitarian assistance, thereby improving prospects for millions of people. Thailand's progress is a strong example of its commitment to international responsibility-sharing, ensuring that people forced to flee are not only protected but also empowered to rebuild their lives with dignity.

For more information, please contact:

UNHCR - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees published this content on June 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 17, 2026 at 09:47 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]