Age of Consent in Thailand

Sex with a child "not over 15" carries five to twenty years in prison and a fine of 100,000 to 400,000 baht (Penal Code Section 277). If the child is "not over 13", it's seven to twenty years or life. An indecent act against a child under 15 is a separate crime, consent or not, with up to ten years (Section 279). Penalties rise by a third when the offender is a teacher, guardian, relative or anyone else with power over the child (Section 285).

Thailand's close-in-age rule only covers teenagers. When the offender is 18 or under, the child is "over 13 but not over 15", and the child consented, the Juvenile and Family Court may order child-welfare measures instead of punishment (Section 277). There is no exception for adults: anyone over 18 faces the full penalty.

A December 2025 amendment widened the legal definition of sexual intercourse (Section 1(18); Thairath) and made sexually harassing a child under 15 a crime of its own, with up to five years (Section 284/1).

For anything paid, the line is 18. Having sex with a 15- to 17-year-old in a prostitution establishment carries one to three years in prison and a 20,000 to 60,000 baht fine, with or without their consent (Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act 1996, Section 8). With a child under 15 it's two to six years (Section 8). A prostitution establishment means any place set up for prostitution or where it's allowed, including a place used to solicit it (Section 4).

Procuring a 15- to 17-year-old for someone else's sexual gratification is a crime even with their consent, with three to fifteen years (Penal Code Section 282). Sex trafficking of a child carries six to twenty years (US State Department).

Turning 15 doesn't end every protection. Taking a 15- to 17-year-old away for an indecent purpose is a crime even with their consent, with up to five years (Section 283 bis). Taking them away from their parents or guardian for profit or an indecent purpose carries two to ten years, even if they go willingly (Section 319).

Under the Child Protection Act, anyone under 18 is a child, and no one may let a child into a brothel or another place children aren't allowed (Articles 4 and 26). Thais come of age at 20 (Civil and Commercial Code, Section 19).

Your own country's law travels with you. A US citizen or permanent resident who pays anyone under 18 for sex abroad, or commits a sexual act with someone under 18 that would be a federal sex crime on US federal territory, faces up to 30 years in US federal prison (18 U.S.C. § 2423). The Justice Department says the reason for the trip doesn't matter (US Department of Justice).

A UK national who does something abroad that would be a listed sexual offence in England and Wales is guilty of it there, even if it was legal where it happened (Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 72). Paying for sex with anyone under 18 is one of those offences (section 47). Canadian citizens and permanent residents who commit a listed sexual offence abroad against anyone under 18 are treated as if they did it in Canada (Criminal Code, section 7). That includes paying for sex with anyone under 18, which carries up to 14 years and at least six months for a first offence (section 286.1).

Australia draws its line at 16. Its citizens and residents face up to 25 years for sex with a child under 16 anywhere outside Australia, and sex with a 16- or 17-year-old is covered when the adult is in a position of trust or authority, such as their employer (Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 272).

Thai police target foreign buyers too. The State Department's 2026 report says police went after Thai and foreign nationals buying commercial sex or creating demand for child sex trafficking (2026 Trafficking in Persons report).

Licensed entertainment venues, including places where hostesses sit or sing with customers and venues with shows open past midnight, may not let in anyone under 20 who doesn't work there (Entertainment Places Act, Sections 3 and 16/1). They must check an official photo ID showing the customer's age, and may not employ anyone under 18 (Sections 16 and 16/1). A venue that skips the check can be fined up to 50,000 baht, and a customer who gets in without ID or refuses the check up to 5,000 baht (Section 28/1).

The legal drinking age is 20 (TAT), and a child under 18 may not enter a place whose main purpose is serving alcohol (Child Protection Act, Article 45).

If someone seems underage, trafficked or forced to work, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security runs the 1300 hotline, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division runs 1191, and the Department of Special Investigation takes reports on 1202 (Department of Special Investigation). The Tourist Police on 1155 answer 24 hours a day and help in several languages. From the US, you can also report suspected child sex tourism to NCMEC's CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or on 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day (NCMEC).