Company Registration in Thailand: A Complete Guide for Foreigners (2025)
Welcome to Thailand, the heart of Southeast Asia and a vibrant hub for business and investment. While the Kingdom offers immense opportunities, the first step—registering your company—can seem like a maze of legal requirements and paperwork. This guide will walk you through the essential steps for company registration in Thailand for foreigners, making the process clear and manageable for your 2025 start.
Step 1: Choose the Right Business Structure
Before any paperwork is filed, you must decide on the legal structure of your company. For foreigners, the most common options are:
- Thai Limited Company: This is the most popular structure. It requires a minimum of two promoters and at least one director. Critically, Thai law generally requires that at least 51% of the shares are held by Thai nationals. This structure is suitable for most business types not restricted under the Foreign Business Act (FBA).
- BOI Promoted Company: If your business falls into a category promoted by Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI)—such as tech, advanced agriculture, or smart electronics—you may be eligible for significant benefits. These can include 100% foreign ownership, tax holidays, and simplified visa and work permit processes.
- Treaty or Licensed Company: Under specific treaties (like the Thai-U.S. Amity Treaty for American citizens) or by obtaining a Foreign Business License (FBL), foreigners can hold a majority stake. However, obtaining an FBL is a complex and lengthy process.
Step 2: Reserve Your Company Name
Once you have a structure in mind, you must reserve a name for your company. This is done through the Department of Business Development’s (DBD) online portal. You will need to submit three proposed names in order of preference. The name must not be identical or confusingly similar to any existing registered company. Once approved, the name reservation is valid for 30 days.
Step 3: Prepare and File the Memorandum of Association (MOA)
The MOA is the foundational document of your company. It must be filed with the DBD within 30 days of the name reservation. The MOA includes key information such as:
- The reserved company name
- The province where the business will be located
- The company’s business objectives (a crucial section)
- The amount of registered capital and its division into shares
- The names and details of the initial promoters
Step 4: Hold the Statutory Meeting and Appoint Directors
A statutory meeting must be convened after the MOA is filed. In this meeting, the promoters and initial shareholders formally approve the Articles of Association, appoint the company’s director(s), appoint an auditor, and ratify any actions taken by the promoters on behalf of the company.
Step 5: Complete the Company Registration
This is the final step. Within three months of the statutory meeting, the company’s director(s) must submit the application to formally register the company with the DBD. Upon successful submission and verification of all documents, you will receive your official Company Registration Certificate and your 13-digit corporate identification number. Your company is now a legal entity.
What’s Next? Post-Registration Essentials
Your work isn’t done yet! After registration, you must:
- Register for Tax: Obtain a corporate tax ID card and register for Value Added Tax (VAT) within 30 days if your annual revenue is projected to exceed 1.8 million THB.
- Open a Corporate Bank Account: Essential for all financial transactions.
- Apply for Visas & Work Permits: The company must be fully registered before you can apply for your Non-Immigrant “B” Visa and Work Permit.
Navigating the company registration process in Thailand as a foreigner requires careful planning and attention to detail. While it is possible to do it yourself, it is highly recommended to work with a professional firm that can ensure every step is handled correctly and efficiently. A trusted partner will not only save you time but also protect you from costly future mistakes.
