Thailand Age Of Consent: 15 or 18 Years Old?

As you can presume if you sleep with an underage Thai girl that can get you in jail and completely change your life.

Although young Thai women understand the implications of their actions, they don’t care much as they’re not legally liable. So, it’s up to male tourists to wisen up and avoid this common trap.

In this article, we’ll talk about the legal age of consent and how it relates to marriage and prostitution.

 

What is the Age of Consent In Thailand

Thailand minor

According to Thailand’s law, anyone who is 15 years old or older is legally able to consent to sexual activity.

Youth below the age of 15 is considered legally incompetent for sexual relations. So no one should have sexual intercourse with an underage because they will be charged with statutory rape.

In other words, men who are above 15 can be prosecuted for having sexual relations with someone who is below 15 years of age.

The Thai legal system doesn’t recognize the concept of Romeo and Juliet law. This law would allow young people of similar ages to have a consensual sexual relationship where one of the partners is under the age of consent.

 

Is it Allowed to Have Sex with Someone who is Under 18 Years Old?

It depends. Thai laws state that any sexual relationship with minors aged 15, 16, and 17 is a compoundable offense.

In other words, the authorities will not pursue the guilty party of their own accord, but the underage participant can still press charges.

In short, it is possible to date someone who is aged between 15 and 17 years old. It’s even possible to have sex with them.

However, by doing so, you’re exposing yourself to the risk of being reported to the local authorities by her.

If you’re visiting the country, I advise that you stay away from anyone who is younger than 18. If you’re unsure about her age, ask for an ID.

 

Prostitution And Age Of Consent

Although Thailand is famous for its sex tourism, this isn’t a completely legal practice.

For example, go-go bars, massage parlors with special services, and bathing houses operate within legal gray areas. There you’ll find working girls who are at least 18 years old…

So men who have sex with girls working in these establishments won’t have problems with the girl’s age of consent because the owner is liable, not the customer.

And this brings us to the next important point…

 

Never Pay A Minor For Sex

Although Thailand is a loose place where everything goes, you shouldn’t mess around with minors.

If you have any doubt that a person is underage, it’s much better to stay away than deal with the repercussions.

The tricky thing about Thailand is that many women are forced to sell their bodies due to a lack of alternatives. And you’ll find them everywhere around Thailand as you can see in this video…

They’ll try to have sex with you no matter what, so it’s your responsibility to act within the legal frames. It doesn’t matter if you’re aware of their laws or not, you’ll suffer the consequences nonetheless.

To stay on the safe side, I suggest that you only date women who are over 18 years old. Because if you get guilty to engage in sexual activities with a minor between ages 15 and 17, you can be charged with a 20,000 to 60,000 fine and 1 to 3 years in prison.

And in case she is below 15, you can say goodbye to your freedom for a good 10 to 20 years.

 

Punishments for Raping an Underage Person In Thailand

The Thai Criminal Code stipulates that whoever has a sexual relationship with a person below 15 years old will be charged with 4 to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of THB 4,000 to THB 8,000 (THB – Thai Baht).

This kind of sentence always applies, whether or not the underage person gave their consent.

Furthermore, those who commit any improper act towards persons under the age of 15 will be subjected to up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of THB 20,000.

In the case of sexually unrelated physical injuries, the offender could receive a maximum prison penalty of up to 20 years.

If a child dies or is sexually assaulted, the offender could face life imprisonment. The punishment can be reduced if there are some mitigating circumstances, such as the offender’s confession, cooperation, and a clean criminal record.

Both parties involved in sexual violence can settle the case outside of the court. However, a settlement is not possible if the victim is severely hurt or killed.

If two young people aged 15 to 18 want to engage in sexual activities outside their homes, they need to procure written consent from their parents.

 

FAQs About Age Of Consent In Thailand

 

Can an 18 year old date a 16 year old In Thailand?

An 18 year old can date a person aged 15, 16, or 17, but it will be considered a compoundable offense if they had a sexual relationship.

 

Is 17 minor in Thailand?

A person who is 17 years old is considered to be a minor in Thailand. However, they can get married at that age.

 

Can You Marry A Thai Person Who isn’t 18 Years Old Yet?

In order for two people to form a marriage in Thailand, they both have to be 17 years or older. An underage person can circumvent this rule if his or her parents or guardians provide consent.

Alternatively, a court might allow an underage couple to marry each other if they have a valid reason for doing so (if parents can’t provide consent).

Underage people can sign engagement agreements in Thailand. These are legally-binding documents where both parties have certain responsibilities and are liable in case of a breach.

 

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