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Thailand Company Registration — DBD / BOI / IEAT

Complete Guide to Thai Business Entity Registration with MoJ-Certified Translation

Covers Co., Ltd., PCL, partnerships, FBL, US Treaty of Amity, BOI, IEAT, IHQ, branches, rep offices, associations, and foundations — compare capital, foreign ownership rights, and tax obligations.

13+ entity typesAligned with DBD / BOI / IEATSubmission-ready translation

Private Limited Company

Private Limited Company (Co., Ltd.)

Co., Ltd.

Most common Thai business entity — minimum 2 shareholders, limited liability.

No statutory minimum (THB 2M+ recommended for foreign employee / work permit)

Public Limited Company

Public Limited Company (PCL)

PCL

For companies preparing for IPO on SET/mai under the Public Limited Companies Act B.E. 2535.

Set by AoA; subscribed capital fully paid before registration

Partnerships

Registered Ordinary Partnership

ROP

All partners jointly and severally liable — separate legal personality after DBD registration.

No statutory minimum

Limited Partnership

LP

Two classes: limited-liability partners (capital only) and unlimited managing partners.

No statutory minimum

Foreign-Owned / FBL / Treaty

US Treaty of Amity Company

Amity

US-majority-owned Thai company exempt from most Foreign Business Act restrictions.

Standard Co., Ltd. rules apply (2M+ recommended)

Foreign Business License (FBL)

FBL

Required to operate restricted businesses (List 2 & 3 of FBA) without BOI or treaty.

≥ 3M THB per business activity (or 25% of average 3-year expenses)

BOI / IEAT / IHQ

BOI-Promoted Company

BOI

Tax holidays up to 13 years, 100% foreign ownership, land ownership, foreign experts.

≥ 1M THB project capital (varies by activity)

IEAT Free Zone Company

IEAT-FZ

Operate inside IEAT-designated free zones with import duty and VAT exemptions.

Per IEAT zone requirements

International Headquarters (IHQ)

ROH/IHQ

BOI-promoted IHQ regime for regional management, treasury, and IP licensing.

≥ 10M THB paid-up capital

Branch / Rep Office

Branch Office of Foreign Company

Branch

Foreign company operates revenue-generating activities directly in Thailand under FBL.

≥ 3M THB remitted within 3 years

Representative Office

RepOffice

Non-revenue liaison office for market research, sourcing, or QC under FBA List 3.

≥ 3M THB remitted in 3 years (2M in first year)

Non-Profit

Association (Civil Code)

Assoc

Non-profit membership entity registered with the Provincial Office.

None

Foundation

Foundation

Asset-based non-profit dedicated to a charitable, educational, or religious purpose.

≥ 200,000 THB initial assets (≥ 500,000 THB recommended for tax-exempt status)

Free quote — choose the right entity — LINE @THAIL · Tel 092-0170000

Thai Company Registration and Corporate Setup

Thai company formation is governed by the Civil and Commercial Code (Book III), the Public Limited Companies Act, and the Foreign Business Act. iLC forms every operating structure: Thai Limited Company, Public Limited Company (Plc), Partnership (Ordinary, Registered, Limited), Branch Office, Representative Office, Regional Office, Amity Treaty US Corporation, BOI-promoted entity, IEAT industrial-estate entity, and Foreign Business Licence (FBL/FBC). Registration is handled by the Department of Business Development (DBD, Ministry of Commerce) with a target 3-working-day timeline for Limited Companies. Foreign shareholders trigger additional filings: BOI application, FBL for restricted List-2 or List-3 activities, or 51% Thai shareholding for unrestricted operations. We deliver a fully-operational company — corporate seal, tax ID, VAT registration, social security registration, e-Filing enrolment — in as little as timing is assessed on your documents.

End-to-End Process — company registration thailand

The workflow below reflects current 2025–2026 practice with the relevant Thai authority and factors in queue seasonality, translation dependencies, and cross-agency handoffs.

  1. 1) Name reservation

    Three preferred names submitted to DBD; typical approval within 1 business day.

  2. 2) MoA / Articles drafting

    Custom Memorandum of Association and Articles reflecting founder intent, board rights, and dividend policy.

  3. 3) Statutory meeting

    Founders' meeting and initial share subscription documented per CCC Section 1108.

  4. 4) Registration at DBD

    Filing of registration package with paid-up capital declaration; timing is assessed on your documents standard.

  5. 5) Tax and VAT setup

    13-digit Tax ID and VAT registration with Revenue Department (mandatory above THB 1.8M turnover).

  6. 6) Banking and operations

    Corporate bank account, social security registration and e-Withholding setup.

Documents and Preconditions

The checklist below covers standard files. Complex or corporate matters can add supplementary certificates, board resolutions, or notarised affidavits; iLC brief these during the intake call.

  • Three preferred company names
  • Registered office lease agreement
  • Passport/ID of all shareholders and directors
  • MoA and Articles of Association drafts
  • Initial paid-up capital plan
  • Business scope description (TSIC codes)

Who Uses This Service

Real-world scenarios where clients rely on this service every month, spanning individual, family, and corporate mandates.

Foreign JV entering Thai market

Structured with 49/51 Thai-foreign shareholding plus preferred shares to secure investor control.

BOI-promoted tech startup

100% foreign-owned under Category 5 (Digital) with corporate income tax exemption.

Regional Operating Headquarters

IHQ / ITC structure for Asia-Pacific management centres.

Family holding company

Private company to consolidate family assets and structure succession planning.

Options and Trade-offs

Three delivery paths are usually available. We select the option that balances cost, deadline pressure, and destination-authority preferences.

OptionProsTrade-offs
Thai Limited (Thai majority)Fast, low regulatory friction, universal business scopeForeign shareholder capped at 49% for restricted activities
BOI-promoted100% foreign ownership, tax privileges, no ratioRequires project meeting BOI criteria
FBLLegal path for restricted List-3 activitiesCabinet approval slow (4–6 months)

In-Depth FAQ

Can foreigners own 100% of a Thai company?

Yes under BOI, IEAT, Amity Treaty (US), or FBL — otherwise capped at 49% for List-2 and List-3 activities.

What is the minimum capital?

THB 2M paid-up per foreign work permit (THB 1M if the foreigner is married to a Thai national).

Do I need a Thai director?

Not mandatory for foreign-owned companies; however, a Thai signatory speeds up banking KYC.

How fast can we start operations?

Realistically timing is assessed on your documents for registration + banking + VAT.

Points to check

Before you proceed: Thai Company Registration and Corporate Setup

“Before proceeding with Thai Company Registration and Corporate Setup, check names across documents and confirm the receiving authority's requirements to avoid incomplete submissions.”
Thai Law & Accounting Services Co., Ltd.
ทีมข้อมูลบริการ

Scope to assess

Service tierFees
เอกสารเดี่ยว / Single docAsk our team for a quote
แปล + Notary / Translation + NotaryAsk our team for a quote
MFA legalizationAsk our team for a quote
Embassy chain / สถานทูตAsk our team for a quote

Workflow

  1. 01Review documents and the receiving authority's requirements
  2. 02Assess scope, fee, and timing for the specific case
  3. 03Process the documents and coordinate any further certification
  4. 04Check completeness and deliver by the agreed method

Before submission

For Thai Company Registration and Corporate Setup, confirm names, document types, and the receiving authority's current requirements before starting. Timing and fees depend on each case.

Please confirm current requirements with the receiving authority

A working guide to company-registration-thailand in Thailand

company-registration-thailand can involve different document checks depending on the receiving authority. Confirm the intended use and destination before arranging translation, a notarial signature, or consular legalization. For a review of your specific company-registration-thailand matter, contact us on LINE @THAIL or by email at Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th.

How the workflow runs end-to-end

First identify the issuing authority, the person signing, the destination and the receiving body's current requirements. The necessary steps may include translation, certification or consular legalization, but not every document needs every step. Confirm the sequence before sending originals.

Who this service is for

Individuals and businesses may need different supporting documents. Share the document type, destination and receiving authority so the applicable route can be checked for your matter; requirements can change without notice.

Coverage, fees, and timing

Our offices are in Bangkok (Lat Phrao 95) and Khon Kaen. For other locations we can discuss remote document intake and coordination with partners where available. Fees and timing depend on the document, destination and relevant authorities; ask for an individual quote.

Quality assurance and confidentiality

Check names, dates, document versions and the receiving authority's instructions before filing. Acceptance is decided by the receiving authority; ask the team which evidence and original documents are required in your case.

Start your company-registration-thailand matter today

Reach Thai Law & Accounting on LINE Official @THAIL, email Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th, or phone 092-0170000. Please book an appointment in advance at our Bangkok office (Lat Phrao 95) or Khon Kaen head office; in every other province our team can coordinate with a local partner where available. Fees: ask our team for a quote. Timing is assessed for your documents. Confirm the required documents and any consultation terms with our team before proceeding with your company-registration-thailand matter.

Points to check

Before you proceed: company-registration-thailand

“Before proceeding with company-registration-thailand, check names across documents and confirm the receiving authority's requirements to avoid incomplete submissions.”
Thai Law & Accounting Services Co., Ltd.
ทีมข้อมูลบริการ

Scope to assess

Service tierFees
เอกสารเดี่ยว / Single docAsk our team for a quote
แปล + Notary / Translation + NotaryAsk our team for a quote
MFA legalizationAsk our team for a quote
Embassy chain / สถานทูตAsk our team for a quote

Workflow

  1. 01Review documents and the receiving authority's requirements
  2. 02Assess scope, fee, and timing for the specific case
  3. 03Process the documents and coordinate any further certification
  4. 04Check completeness and deliver by the agreed method

Before submission

For company-registration-thailand, confirm names, document types, and the receiving authority's current requirements before starting. Timing and fees depend on each case.

Please confirm current requirements with the receiving authority

Company registration and corporate documents

Explore the site

Go deeper on Corporate and company document certification

These guides outline possible certification steps; confirm the receiving authority's current requirements before filing:

Not sure which route applies? Send us the scan — LINE @THAIL · 092-0170000 · Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th

Documents usually required

  • Freshly issued company affidavit and certificate of registration
  • Memorandum and articles of association, or the current shareholder list
  • Board resolution or power of attorney signed by the authorised director
  • ID or passport copies of the authorised signatories

Common reasons a bundle is rejected

  • Company affidavits are usually accepted only within a short validity window.
  • Director names and job titles must match the registered filing exactly.
  • Spell every name exactly as it appears in the passport, across every document in the same bundle.

Prefer not to handle the chain yourself? Send the scans and we run every step for you, from translation to the final endorsement.

How the process runs — Corporate and company document certification

  1. Obtain freshly issued corporate records covering the whole group of entities involved.
  2. Prepare the board resolution or power of attorney signed by the authorised director.
  3. Translate using the registered English company name and the job titles exactly as filed.
  4. Complete the certification route the counterparty or destination authority requires.
  5. Deliver the certified set together with copies for internal corporate records.

Fees and processing times are set by each authority and vary by document and destination — confirm them with the responsible agency.

Handling it yourself vs letting iLC run it

AspectDoing it yourselfWith iLC
Working out which steps applyYou read each authority's rules yourself, and usually learn a step was missing only after the bundle is refused.Our advisers review the documents before work starts and sequence translation, notarisation, MFA, and embassy in one pass.
Time spent filingRepeat trips to each office, queueing and collecting in person.We file on your behalf; you send scans and receive the finished set by post or courier.
Risk that the translation is refusedAgency names, job titles, and the certification wording often do not match what the receiving office accepts.We use terminology and certificate formats the receiving authority has accepted before, with two-stage proof-reading.
If the bundle is rejectedYou diagnose the cause and refile yourself, losing a full cycle.We identify the cause, correct it, and refile without you starting over, with progress reported along the way.

What clients typically use this for

  • Foreign subsidiary registration
  • Bank account opening abroad
  • Tender and contract submissions

An advisor, not only a document processor

Before any work starts, our team assesses how many certification layers your document actually needs, which authorities are involved, and the correct order for the office you will really file with. One step out of order usually means restarting the whole bundle. More than 15 years of cross-border document work means we recognise how each authority rejects files and prevent it up front.

  • The certification route is matched to the receiving authority before work begins.
  • Rejection risks are checked, from name spelling to document validity windows.
  • The filing sequence is planned around the deadline you actually have.

Consult us at LINE @THAIL · 092-0170000 · Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th

Ask a question

Registering a company in Thailand: a practical checklist

Most foreign investors register a Thai private limited company, a BOI-promoted company, or a company under the US Treaty of Amity. The right structure depends on your business activity, foreign shareholding and visa plans. We prepare every DBD document, arrange certified translations and can supply a registered address.

Decisions to make first

  • · Business activity — some activities are restricted for foreign shareholders
  • · Shareholding structure and registered capital
  • · Whether to apply for BOI promotion or a Foreign Business Licence
  • · Registered address (own office or virtual office)

Registration steps

  • · Company name reservation with the DBD
  • · Memorandum of association and incorporation filing
  • · Tax ID, VAT registration (if needed) and social security registration
  • · Corporate bank account and, where relevant, work permits

More frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Thai company?

Only in certain cases — for example with BOI promotion, a Foreign Business Licence, or Treaty of Amity status for US nationals. Otherwise foreign shareholding is generally limited to under half.

Do I need to be in Thailand to register?

Not necessarily. Documents can be signed abroad, notarised and legalised, and our team files on your behalf.

What must I do after registering the company?

Typically: open a company bank account, set up bookkeeping with a registered bookkeeper, register as an employer with the Social Security Office within 30 days of hiring staff, and register for VAT once revenue exceeds the threshold or voluntarily.

What annual meetings and filings are required?

Hold an annual general meeting to approve the financial statements within 4 months of the fiscal year end, file the statements with the Department of Business Development within 1 month of the meeting, and file the shareholder list (Bor Or Jor 5) within 14 days of the meeting.

What does it cost and how long does it take?

Fees: ask our team for a quote. Timing is assessed for your documents and chosen structure.

Fees: ask our team for a quote · LINE @THAIL · Tel 092-0170000 · Timing assessed for your documents