Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977), as amended
Empowers the Board of Investment to grant tax incentives and conditional land-holding rights.
Central Thailand — Bangkok
BOI Promotion & Foreign Business Licensing in Bangkok
Structuring foreign investment in Thailand correctly from day one.
Why Bangkok matters are different
Bangkok concentrates the courts, central government departments, embassies and most corporate head offices in Thailand. A legal matter arising in Bangkok therefore usually touches several authorities at once — the court with territorial jurisdiction, the Department of Business Development, the district land offices, the Immigration Bureau and the Department of Consular Affairs. Sequencing the steps correctly from the start saves far more time than correcting them later.
Foreign nationals doing business in Thailand fall under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999), which reserves activities across three annexed lists. We assess which list your planned activity falls into, whether it needs a Foreign Business Licence, a treaty-based certificate, or qualifies for Board of Investment (BOI) promotion, and then prepare the application, supporting documents and responses to the officers reviewing the file.
- Bangkok cases require choosing the court by territorial jurisdiction — the defendant’s domicile or where the cause arose. Filing in the wrong court costs weeks.
- Documents for overseas use usually pass through the MFA and the relevant embassy, each with its own queue and requirements.
- Most companies are registered in Bangkok, so corporate searches and filings are typically faster here.
- Bangkok serves many foreign clients, so bilingual documents and interpreted appointments are routine.
Courts and authorities in Bangkok
Jurisdiction and filing requirements should be confirmed for each matter, because practice and required attachments differ between offices.
| Court / authority | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Civil Court, Criminal Court and Bangkok municipal courts | Hear civil and criminal cases according to territorial jurisdiction in Bangkok |
| Central Labour Court | Dismissal, severance and employment-contract disputes |
| Central Administrative Court | Challenges to state orders and administrative action |
| Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court | Trademark, copyright, patent and international trade cases |
| Central Bankruptcy Court | Bankruptcy and business rehabilitation |
| Legal Execution Department | Seizure, garnishment, auction and execution-stage mediation |
| Department of Business Development | Company registration and registered changes |
| Department of Consular Affairs, MFA | Legalisation of documents for overseas use |
| Immigration Bureau | Visas, extensions of stay and residence notification |
What we handle in Bangkok
- Screening the activity against Lists 1–3 of the Foreign Business Act
- Foreign Business Licence and Foreign Business Certificate applications
- BOI promotion applications and use of granted privileges
- US–Thai Treaty of Amity certification
- Limited company, branch, representative and regional office registration
- Shareholding structures, shareholders agreements and nominee-risk review
- Coordinating business visas and work permits for foreign executives
- In-house notarisation and legalisation of corporate documents for overseas use
The local process, step by step
- 1Initial case assessment: business plan, shareholding and target market
- 2Written comparison of the available routes with conditions and trade-offs
- 3Drafting the filings, application forms and supporting business plan
- 4Filing and follow-up with the Department of Business Development or BOI
- 5Responding to officer queries until the file is concluded
- 6Post-approval steps: capital, reporting obligations and renewals
Documents to prepare
- Passports and identification of foreign shareholders and directors
- Certificate of incorporation of the overseas parent with certified translation
- Financial statements or evidence of the investor’s financial standing
- Business plan, revenue projections and employment details
- Lease agreement or proof of right to use the business premises
- Duly signed power of attorney, notarised where required
Points to watch
- Using Thai nominee shareholders is an offence and exposes both the nominee and the foreign party.
- BOI privileges attach to approved conditions; unreported changes can lead to revocation.
- The Treaty of Amity does not cover certain reserved activities such as land and transport.
- Approval is at the authority’s discretion; we cannot guarantee the outcome.
Typical timeframe
Company registration usually takes a few working days once documents are complete, while Foreign Business Licence and BOI promotion applications take from several weeks to several months depending on the activity and the completeness of the file.
Timeframes are indicative and depend on the court calendar and the authority handling the matter in Bangkok.
Areas of Bangkok we regularly serve
สาทรสีลมบางรักวัฒนาคลองเตยห้วยขวางจตุจักรลาดพร้าวบางนาพระโขนงดินแดงปทุมวันบางกะปิดอนเมืองมีนบุรี
Laws that govern this matter — Bangkok
Summarised for general understanding only. The application of each provision depends on the facts of your case.
Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999)
Lists restricted or licensable businesses and defines "foreigner" by shareholding.
Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Foreigners B.E. 2560 (2017)
Regulates foreign employment and work permits, which must match the business activity.
Example situations and how they are handled — Bangkok
These are constructed examples used to explain procedure. They are not client matters, and no outcome is implied or guaranteed.
Illustrative scenario: promoted activity does not match actual operations
Situation: A company is promoted for one activity but earns mainly from another.
Usual approach: Review the approved scope and conditions, then consider amending the project or separating entities — operating outside scope affects both incentives and staff visa status. (Hypothetical.)
Advice for your specific situation — Bangkok
Companies preparing an application
- Align the business plan, investment projection and staffing plan — the documents are cross-checked.
- Map post-approval conditions in advance, such as reporting and start-up deadlines.
Foreign businesses unsure whether a licence is needed
- Assess by actual activity, not only by the registered objectives.
- Some treaties grant rights to particular nationalities — check before fixing the structure.
Every matter — what to do in the first 7 days
- Gather every original document in one place, keep scanned copies, and note the date you received each one.
- Write a dated timeline — the date you received a notice or learned of the event usually starts the limitation or appeal clock.
- Do not sign a settlement, debt acknowledgement or withdrawal before a lawyer reviews it — it may extinguish existing rights.
- Preserve digital evidence unaltered (full screenshots, original files, emails with headers) — edited files are easy to challenge.
Questions people in Bangkok ask
Which Bangkok court will hear my case?
It depends on the case type and territorial jurisdiction. General civil and criminal cases go to separate courts, while labour, administrative, IP and bankruptcy matters each have a specialised court. We verify jurisdiction from the parties’ domicile and the place of the events before filing.
I live upcountry but the case is in Bangkok — must I attend every hearing?
Not every hearing. With a proper appointment of counsel and power of attorney, your lawyer can act for you in many steps, but hearings where you must testify require your attendance. We tell you in advance which dates are mandatory.
Certifying a document in Bangkok for use abroad — what comes first?
Always start from the receiving authority’s requirement — it dictates whether you need signature certification, translation, MFA legalisation and embassy endorsement, and in what order. For Thailand, the Apostille Convention enters into force on 28 February 2027; until then MFA and embassy legalisation continues to apply.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Thai company?
Sometimes. Full foreign ownership is possible where the activity is not on a reserved list, where a Foreign Business Licence is granted, under BOI promotion, or under a treaty. It must be assessed activity by activity.
What is the difference between BOI promotion and an FBL?
BOI promotion grants investment privileges such as foreign ownership and easier expatriate employment, while a Foreign Business Licence is a case-by-case permission to operate an activity otherwise reserved for Thai nationals.
Is there a minimum registered capital?
It depends on the structure and licence used. Statutory minimum capital for foreign business activities and the employment conditions attached to work permits differ; we confirm the figures applying to your case after reviewing the documents.
Same service in other provinces
Other legal services in Bangkok
Litigation & Court Representation — BangkokCivil, criminal, labour, family, succession and land disputesCorporate & Commercial — BangkokIncorporation, contracts, foreign business, BOI and complianceImmigration & Foreign Nationals — BangkokVisas, work permits, residency and lawful statusIntellectual Property — BangkokTrademarks, copyright, patents and enforcementLand & Real Estate — BangkokTitle due diligence, sale, lease and transfer at the Land OfficeFamily & Succession — BangkokMarriage, divorce, custody, wills and estate administrationMediation, Arbitration & Enforcement — BangkokResolving disputes outside court and making awards effectiveNotarial Services & International Documents — BangkokSignature and document certification, translation, consular and embassy legalisation
Discuss your Bangkok matter with an attorney
Tell us the facts and we will explain which authority applies, what documents are needed and the realistic timeframe.