Setting up a branch or representative office of a foreign company in Thailand — parent-company documents, manager appointment and the certification chain
Quick answer
Establishing a branch or representative office in Thailand falls under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 and is filed with the Department of Business Development. The core documents are the parent company’s certificate of registration, the appointment of the branch manager and evidence of the scope of activity; documents executed abroad must pass a notary and Thai embassy certification, with Thai translations.
Key facts and the responsible authority
| Legal status | A branch or representative office is not a separate Thai entity but part of the foreign legal person |
|---|---|
| Applicable law | The Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 and the related notifications of the DBD |
| Scope of a representative office | Limited to the non-revenue activities the law specifies; the scope must be checked before operations begin |
| Key parent-company documents | Certificate of registration, board resolution appointing the manager and details of the business — certified and translated before filing |
| Foreign branch manager | Needs a visa and a work permit under the conditions of the Immigration Bureau and the Department of Employment |
| Official fees and timing | Set by the receiving authority and subject to change, so no figures are given here |
Document checklist and the certification involved
Parent company’s certificate of registration
Notarised, certified at a Thai embassy and translated into Thai
Resolution appointing the branch manager or representative
Signed by an authorised signatory and certified in the same chain as the certificate
Description of the activity to be carried on in Thailand
Prepared in Thai and within the scope the law allows for the chosen form
Identity documents of the manager
Passport copies with a translation where the officer asks
Evidence of the office address in Thailand
A lease or a consent letter to use the premises
Step by step
- Choose the form that matches the real activity: Compare a branch, a representative office and a Thai limited company against the activity you will carry on and the revenue limits.
- Obtain documents and resolutions from the parent: Request a current certificate and the appointment resolution, with names and titles matching the application.
- Certify and translate: Notarise in the country of origin, certify at a Thai embassy, then prepare a faithful Thai translation.
- File and plan the follow-on steps: File with the DBD, then plan the tax registrations and the work permit for a foreign manager.
What to do
- Render the parent company’s name in the translation exactly as in the original certificate, including the entity suffix used in that country.
- Describe a representative office’s scope carefully, since revenue-generating work falls outside what is permitted.
- Prepare spare certified copies for the tax and work permit stages so certification abroad does not have to be repeated.
What to avoid
- Operating beyond the scope of a representative office may amount to carrying on business without permission under the Act.
- An appointment resolution signed by someone not authorised in the certificate will be rejected even after notarisation.
- A certificate issued long ago may not be accepted; check the accepted issue window before sending it to a Thai embassy.
Frequently asked questions
- May a representative office earn income in Thailand?
- No. Its permitted scope is limited to non-revenue support and reporting activities.
- Must the whole parent-company file be translated?
- Translate the items the receiving authority lists; documents not used in the application need not be translated.
- Does a foreign branch manager need a work permit?
- Yes, filed with the Department of Employment under the published conditions, with a valid visa status.
- Can you help prepare the documents?
- Contact our staff by phone, LINE or e-mail with the chosen form and the document list the authority requested.
Official sources
- Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce (Registrar of Partnerships and Companies)
- Office of the Council of State — Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999)
- Department of Consular Affairs, MFA (document legalisation)
- Lawyers Council of Thailand — Notarial Services Attorneys
Checked on 2026-08-04; requirements change, so confirm with the authority before filing.
Related pages
Ask our team
The required documents and timing depend on the receiving office in each case. Contact our team to confirm the checklist before you file.