The right route into Thailand for your country and sector.
Treaty routes, BOI promotion, representative and regional offices, and industrial-estate projects in the EEC: chosen for your situation and structured lawfully from the start.
Start your matterYou are planning a presence in Thailand from abroad.
- You are a US company or citizen and want majority or full ownership of a Thai company.
- You are a Japanese or Australian investor and want to know what your treaty allows.
- Your activity may qualify for BOI promotion.
- You need a representative or regional office for sourcing, quality control or coordination, without selling in Thailand.
- You are planning a project on an industrial estate in the EEC, in Rayong or Chonburi.
- Your sector is restricted for foreign ownership, and someone has suggested a Thai nominee.
From route to running company.
Each stage has a written scope and a fixed fee agreed in advance.
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Route assessment
Which structure fits your country, sector and plans.
- Includes
- A written comparison of the routes open to you (treaty, BOI, licence, office), their conditions, timeline and the documents needed.
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Set-up
Incorporation or office registration.
- Includes
- Company or office registration, the Treaty of Amity certificate or Foreign Business Licence where needed, and BOI applications, handled by power of attorney.
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Project permissions
For EEC and industrial-estate projects.
- Includes
- Coordination of BOI promotion, Industrial Estate Authority (IEAT) permissions and work permits, so the business activities are set up correctly.
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Running it from abroad
After the company exists.
- Includes
- Company secretary and annual compliance through our Local Representative service.
No nominees.
Where a sector is restricted, a Thai partner proposed as shareholder or director must be a genuine investor, not a nominee. We structure the business lawfully from the start, subject to applicable rules and regulations, and say so plainly when a structure would not be.
One contact from first question to registration.
- Your case managerYour single point of contact: documents, signing and legalisation where you are, and every update.
- Our legal teamLicensed Thai lawyers: route advice, registrations, licences, BOI and IEAT applications.
- Our accounting teamAccounting set-up and the filings that follow.
For each matter we assign the lawyer or specialist best suited to your needs. The responsible lawyer and their credentials are named in your engagement letter. Who you work with
Routes into Thailand: the points that matter.
- What does the US Treaty of Amity allow?
- Under the Treaty of Amity (1966), US citizens and US-majority-owned companies can hold a majority or 100% of a Thai company in most sectors the Foreign Business Act otherwise restricts, after obtaining a certificate from the Department of Business Development.
- Which sectors does the Treaty exclude?
- Communications, transport, fiduciary activities, deposit banking, land and natural-resource exploitation, domestic trade in local agricultural products, and professional services.
- What do JTEPA and TAFTA offer?
- The Japan–Thailand (2007) and Thailand–Australia (2005) agreements give sector-specific relaxations of foreign-ownership limits. Their exact scope is subject to the applicable treaty schedules and rules.
- What can BOI promotion allow?
- For eligible activities: 100% foreign ownership, land ownership for the promoted activity, tax incentives and work-permit facilitation.
- What can a representative or regional office do?
- Non-revenue activities only, such as sourcing, quality control, information and coordination. Both need a Foreign Business Licence and minimum capital of about THB 3 million, brought in over time. A BOI International Business Center suits regional headquarters functions.
- Are some sectors restricted?
- Yes. For example, tour-agency business is on the Foreign Business Act’s restricted list. A Thai partner in such a business must be a genuine investor, not a nominee, subject to applicable rules and regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US company own 100% of a Thai company?
In most sectors the Foreign Business Act restricts, yes, through the US Treaty of Amity, after obtaining a certificate from the Department of Business Development. Some sectors are excluded, including communications, transport, deposit banking and professional services.
Do we need to come to Thailand to set up?
Most steps can be handled by power of attorney, with documents signed where you are and certified or legalised as required, subject to applicable rules and regulations.
Can a representative office sell in Thailand?
No. A representative or regional office is limited to non-revenue activities such as sourcing, quality control, information and coordination.
Related services
Tell us what you plan to do in Thailand.
Start with your company name, your home country and any Thai parties involved, for our conflict check. If a land, lease or BOI deadline is running, include it in your message.