Foreign business licence and restricted activities
In short
The Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) restricts certain activities for foreign-majority companies and lists them in three schedules. Depending on the activity, a foreign business licence or certificate may be required, or the activity may be closed to foreign majority ownership entirely.
Classification is the whole exercise. Many businesses fall partly inside and partly outside the lists, so the description of the revenue-generating activity — not the company's marketing language — decides the answer.
Treaty and promotion routes can change the position: a US company may look at the Treaty of Amity, and a BOI-promoted project may obtain a foreign business certificate through that channel. Each route has its own evidence requirements.
What we need from you
- Precise description of the activities that generate revenue
- Shareholding structure and ultimate ownership
- Contracts or scopes of work with Thai customers
- Whether BOI promotion or a treaty route is being considered
Watch out
Restructuring shareholdings to appear Thai-majority without substance is examined by the authorities and creates serious risk.
Reviewed as of 2026-08-04. General guidance only, not case-specific advice and not a guarantee of outcome. Government fees, conditions and processing times are set by the responsible authority and can change. This site does not publish prices — please ask our staff.
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