Well, it seems to have helped.

Russians have become the second-largest expat community on Koh Phangan. The Russian community is now the second-largest on Koh Phangan after the Israeli community. Russians also rank second in the number of recorded offenses, right after Israelis, although the gap between them is minimal. These data were published by the Thai Immigration Bureau amid an ongoing campaign to restore order on the "party island" of Phangan. As stated by the agency, inspections continue following media reports of a large number of foreigners living on the island in Surat Thani province and allegedly working illegally or conducting business through Thai nominees. Publications about educational institutions for foreign children operating without necessary permits also prompted the investigation. Since early May, the Immigration Bureau, together with other state agencies in Surat Thani, has been verifying the facts presented in these reports. According to the agency, 2641 foreign residents with valid permits to stay for more than 30 days live on Phangan. Top 5 foreign communities on Phangan: • Israel — 369 • Russia — 335 • Great Britain — 291 • France — 283 • Germany — 210 • Other countries — 1152 If we look only at the number of active visas, Israelis are indeed the largest group of expats on the island, but without significant dominance. The gap in the number of cases initiated against foreigners in 2026 is also not too large. Cases against foreigners in 2026: I went through with my mother's wool comb. Well, it seemed to help • Israel — 16 • Russia — 13 • USA — 8 • Germany — 7 • Other countries — 50 According to the Immigration Bureau, these cases involve traffic violations, illegal drug trafficking and use, and non-compliance with regulations governing the employment of foreigners. At the same time, Israeli citizens lead by a significant margin in cases related to opening businesses through fictitious Thai shareholders to circumvent the Foreign Business Act. Cases involving nominees since 2024: • Israel — 9 • Russia — 3 • France — 3 • USA — 2 • Other countries — 6 Separately, the agency reported identified violations in children's institutions Chayut Childcare Center, World Abundance Co., Ltd., Kiddy World Property Co., Ltd., and Arki Kids Co., Ltd. In the Arki Kids case, three people were detained: Thai citizen Pratumthip, and Iranian citizens Aydin and Negar. The Immigration Bureau stated that it will continue to strengthen control over foreigners and suppress violations that could threaten public order, security, and Thailand's image. Work to identify violators and deport them is ongoing. Previously, the Department of Business Development (DBD) reported that in 2026, the share of businesses with foreign participation on Phangan reached 67.5% — Israel leads here. On Samui, this figure is 68.2% with France leading, and on Phuket — 39%, where Russia takes first place. ✅ Subscribe to Thailand News