Why You Should Run a Background Check on Your Thai Girlfriend

July 6, 2022 - Reading time: 5 minutes
Updated: March 3, 2025

Many of our clients seek a prematrimonial background check on their Thai girlfriend to verify her identity, check her circumstances, and ultimately protect any financial or emotional investments they may make in her.

There are several reasons why performing a background check on a Thai partner is important. Below, we explore the most common motivations for getting a background check.

1. Check Her Honesty

In Thai culture, the concept of "saving face" is significant, which can sometimes lead Thai girlfriends to withhold information that they fear may make them less desirable to a foreign partner. For example, if you met her in Thailand or through online dating, she might not immediately tell you about children from a previous relationship or her family situation.

Even though children are often cared for by grandparents in rural villages while parents work in the city, the lady may not mention this if you do not meet her family. A background check can help verify the lady's circumstances.

Learn more about our background check service.

Additionally, if the lady has been divorced or is still married, she may not mention this to avoid awkwardness or prevent jeopardising the relationship. A background check can help uncover such facts.

For example, if she works in the adult entertainment industry, she may not disclose her occupation, presenting herself as a student or someone with a regular job. These situations may seem unlikely, but we’ve found that they do occur, and a background check could uncover the truth.

2. Marital Status and Marriage/Divorce History

Did you know that if you're involved with a married woman in Thailand, you could be legally liable? Thai law allows for a husband to sue if he finds evidence of another man in his wife’s life. For this reason, it is crucial to verify her marital status and marriage/divorce history, even if you’re not running a full background check.

3. Applying for a Long-Term Visa

If you're thinking about applying for a long-term visa for your Thai girlfriend, various factors could complicate the process. A criminal background, for example, may prevent her from obtaining a visa to visit your country. If she's been divorced recently or is still married, it might also create issues for your visa application.

Additionally, if she has a history of unstable employment or cannot demonstrate long-term career prospects, it might affect her chances of obtaining a visa. Our background checks can also help verify her employment and educational background.

4. Avoid Falling Victim to Romance Scams

Romance scams are on the rise, with the United States Federal Trade Commission reporting an 80% increase in scams in 2021. Fraudsters prey on people by building an emotional connection and then deceiving them to gain money.

These scams often involve elaborate lies, making even the most unlikely stories seem believable. Fraudsters are highly skilled at manipulating emotions, and victims often become too attached to question the situation. Performing a background check is one way to verify claims and eliminate the risk of falling into a scam.

5. Make an Informed Investment

In many cases, foreign partners may provide financial support to their Thai girlfriend, whether it's through regular assistance or during special occasions. For example, in Thai weddings, a dowry, or sin sod, may be expected, which can involve a significant financial contribution (ranging from 500,000 THB to several million THB). This can include money, gold, or even property.

Even if a formal wedding and dowry are not part of the plan, cross-border relationships often incur travel, visa, and relocation costs. Just as in business, it’s wise to do your due diligence in romantic relationships to protect your investment.

Learn More

To learn more about how we can assist you, please visit the Bangkok Investigators homepage or explore our background screening services. We offer free, no-pressure quotes for all services. Contact us today for more information or to request a quotation.