Source : Immigration’s duties workbook 23 January 1994

In the past entering and leaving Thailand was done freely. During the seventh reign of the Bangkok dynasty, King Rama VII Prachathipok issued the royal immigration act 2470 (1927) and created the Immigration Department within the Ministry of the Interior and put it in charge of controlling the arrivals to and departures from Thailand, in order to be in line with other civilised nations. The first head of the Immigration department was Pol. Col. Wichai Prachabal who had a mere 50 officers in his department. In 1932 the Immigration Department was attached to the Police Department and its name changed into Immigration Division.

Thailand changed its political system. At the same time an economic crisis caused the new government to cut its budget, which resulted in the former Immigration Department to be downgraded to the Immigration Division under the command of the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior in November 1932. In 1935 the Immigration Division moved its headquarters to a new location on South Sathorn Rd. This locality is presently used as accommodation of the Yannawa Police Station. The number of immigration checkpoints and offices was increased in the Northern, Northeastern and Southern regions.

The Immigration Division has moved its office to South Sathorn Road. Currently, it is the residence of police officers at Yannawa Metropolitan Police Station. and increasing immigration checkpoints in the north Northeast and South.

After World War II, the Immigration Division asked for permission to use the location of the German embassy, which was controlled by the Thai government, as its new head office. The immigration officers were promoted from civil servants to police officers and given special uniforms in accordance with customs of civilised nations.

On June 22, 1960, the Immigration Division moved into its new built head office at the mouth of Soi Phiphat, which was later used as Foreigner Registry and Taxation Division.

The bureaucracy was reorganised and the duties of the Immigration Division were divided into 5 command divisions and 13 sections, together with 58 regional immigration offices. Later a communication centre was added and some new provincial immigration offices opened.

Moved to a new location (the present head office) on Soi Suanphlu off South Sathorn Rd. in Sathorn District, Bangkok. The new head office was built on a plot of land belonging to the Treasure Department, measuring 4 rai, 2 ngan, 54 sq. wa. (7,816 m2) The construction of the new building cost a total of 26,842,990 Baht.

The Police Officers Committee approved the number of immigration positions according to the workload of the division. A total of 1,049 positions were approved in the Police department.

The Police Officers Committee approved another 53 positions in the visa section of command 2. The aircraft control section of the command 2 of the Immigration Division was reorganised, abolishing all former positions and creating a total of 307 new positions.

The Committee of Police Officers (Kor. Sq.) has approved the assignment of 53 more positions for the work of Visa Inspection Division 2, Immigration Division, and has improved the Air Vehicle Inspection Department. Supervision Division 2, Immigration Division by canceling all original positions and set up a total of 307 new positions

The structure of the Immigration Division was reorganised and renamed “Immigration Bureau”, consisting of 4 commands in order to assure a high efficiency and efficacy of the operations of the Immigration Bureau in accordance with the workload and national policies.

Thai Immigration has revised the structure consisting of 3 divisions and 6 divisions in order to facilitate the operation of The Immigration Office achieves maximum efficiency and effectiveness as well as being able to support and operate in a manner consistent with the state’s policy.

Thai Immigration has revised the structure, consisting of 8 divisions and 1 unit to ensure the operation of The Immigration Office achieves maximum efficiency and effectiveness as well as being able to support and operate in a manner consistent with the state’s policy.