Opening a company in Thailand as a foreigner: the 2026 guide

Thailand is one of the easiest places in South-East Asia to register a company — the paperwork can be done in days. The harder part is choosing the right structure, because foreign ownership is restricted in many sectors. Here is an overview of what to expect in 2026.

How much can a foreigner own?

Thailand's Foreign Business Act decides how much of a company foreigners may own:

• In activities that are not restricted — for example most manufacturing and export — foreigners can own up to 100%.
• In restricted activities, which include most services, foreign ownership is capped at 49%. A company where foreigners hold half the shares or more is treated as a foreign company.
• Nominee shareholding (Thais holding shares on behalf of a foreigner) is a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison and fines of 100,000 to 1,000,000 baht. Avoid any arrangement that relies on it.

Routes to majority foreign ownership

• BOI promotion — the Board of Investment can allow up to 100% foreign ownership plus tax incentives for promoted activities such as manufacturing and technology. Review takes roughly 40–90 working days.
• Foreign Business Licence — granted case by case by the Ministry of Commerce; it takes months and requires 3 million baht of capital per restricted activity.
• Treaty of Amity — available to US citizens and US-majority companies only.

Capital and shareholders

• There is no general minimum capital for a majority-Thai company.
• To employ a foreigner (including yourself) on a work permit, the company usually needs 2 million baht fully paid-up per foreign work permit (1 million baht if the foreigner is married to a Thai national).
• Since February 2023, a Thai limited company needs at least two shareholders.

Registration steps

1. Reserve the company name with the Department of Business Development (DBD).
2. File the Memorandum of Association.
3. Hold the statutory meeting to adopt the articles, appoint directors and allocate shares.
4. Register the company — you receive a 13-digit number that is also your tax ID.
5. Register for VAT if turnover will exceed 1.8 million baht a year (current rate 7%).
6. Apply for a Non-B business visa and work permit before doing any work — even in your own company.

Government fees for registration are around 5,500 baht, plus professional fees. Corporate income tax is 20%, with lower rates for qualifying SMEs.

How we help

We guide you through the process, coordinate the registration paperwork, help you open a bank account, and translate your documents between Arabic, English and Thai. For legal advice on your structure, we recommend consulting a licensed Thai lawyer — we can coordinate that too.