Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977), as amended
Empowers the Board of Investment to grant tax incentives and conditional land-holding rights.
Northern Thailand — Chiang Mai
BOI Promotion & Foreign Business Licensing in Chiang Mai
Structuring foreign investment in Thailand correctly from day one.
Why Chiang Mai matters are different
Chiang Mai is the administrative, academic and tourism hub of northern Thailand and home to a large long-stay foreign community. Legal work here spans local business and land matters as well as documents, visas, marriage and succession for long-term foreign residents. Because regional courts and agencies are located in the province, many matters can be completed locally without travelling to Bangkok.
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.
- Many Chiang Mai plots sit in use-restricted zones or carry title documents other than a full chanote, so the title type must be checked before any contract.
- The large long-stay foreign community drives demand for bilingual wills, powers of attorney and documents for use in the client’s home country.
- Hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses rely on long leases, raising lease registration and renewal issues.
- Regional administrative and labour courts sit in the province, so those cases need not be filed in Bangkok.
Courts and authorities in Chiang Mai
Jurisdiction and filing requirements should be confirmed for each matter, because practice and required attachments differ between offices.
| Court / authority | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Chiang Mai Provincial Court and Chiang Mai Municipal Court | Civil and criminal cases within Chiang Mai province |
| Chiang Mai Juvenile and Family Court | Divorce, custody and family matters |
| Labour Court Region 5 | Labour cases in the upper northern region |
| Chiang Mai Administrative Court | Challenges to state decisions in the northern region |
| Chiang Mai Legal Execution Office | Seizure, garnishment and auction of local assets |
| Chiang Mai Provincial Land Office and branch offices | Registration of land and condominium transactions |
| Chiang Mai Immigration Office | 90-day reporting, extensions of stay and residence notification |
| Chiang Mai Provincial Commercial Office | Local business registration services |
What we handle in Chiang Mai
- 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 Chiang Mai.
Areas of Chiang Mai we regularly serve
เมืองเชียงใหม่นิมมานเหมินท์สันทรายหางดงสารภีแม่ริมดอยสะเก็ดสันกำแพงแม่แตงฝาง
Laws that govern this matter — Chiang Mai
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 — Chiang Mai
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 — Chiang Mai
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.
Official sources you can check
Rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before filing.
Questions people in Chiang Mai ask
Must this be filed in Bangkok, or can it be done in Chiang Mai?
Most matters can be handled locally: Chiang Mai has provincial, municipal, family, regional labour and administrative courts as well as a legal execution office. Exceptions are matters the law assigns to central bodies, such as MFA document legalisation.
Can a foreigner living in Chiang Mai make a will or grant a power of attorney?
Yes. The document must follow the correct Thai statutory form, and if it will also be used abroad, translation and certification should be planned from the outset to avoid redoing it.
Buying land or a house in Chiang Mai — what should I watch for?
Check the title type, legal access, zoning and use restrictions, and any registered encumbrances before paying a deposit — these are hard to fix after signing.
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 Chiang Mai
Litigation & Court Representation — Chiang MaiCivil, criminal, labour, family, succession and land disputesCorporate & Commercial — Chiang MaiIncorporation, contracts, foreign business, BOI and complianceImmigration & Foreign Nationals — Chiang MaiVisas, work permits, residency and lawful statusIntellectual Property — Chiang MaiTrademarks, copyright, patents and enforcementLand & Real Estate — Chiang MaiTitle due diligence, sale, lease and transfer at the Land OfficeFamily & Succession — Chiang MaiMarriage, divorce, custody, wills and estate administrationMediation, Arbitration & Enforcement — Chiang MaiResolving disputes outside court and making awards effectiveNotarial Services & International Documents — Chiang MaiSignature and document certification, translation, consular and embassy legalisation
Discuss your Chiang Mai matter with an attorney
Tell us the facts and we will explain which authority applies, what documents are needed and the realistic timeframe.