Notary attorneys
End-to-end set-up of Thai Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, Representative Offices and Branches of
Thai Company Formation + BOI + FBA + Work Permit + LTR Visa — Full-Stack Corporate Set-Up
End-to-end set-up of Thai Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, Representative Offices and Branches of foreign companies, with Foreign Business License (FBL) under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (FBA) and BOI Promotion (CIT exemption + 100% foreign ownership + land ownership + instant visa/work permit) under the Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (as amended 2565) — covering tax structuring (CIT/VAT/WHT/Transfer Pricing), UBO reporting under AMLO Notification 2566, Smart Visa, LTR Visa under Royal Decree B.E. 2565 and EEC privileges — delivered by Lawyers Council-registered attorneys with CPAs and BOI-certified consultants. We do not guarantee BOI approval but design every application to fit the exact Activity Category and mitigate risk at every step.
Setting up a Thai entity for foreign investors is complex because six authorities must be coordinated: (1) Department of Business Development (DBD) — incorporation under CCC §§ 1012–1273, name reservation, e-Registration; (2) Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) — eligibility check, application, promotion certificate; (3) Revenue Department — VAT registration (when revenue exceeds THB 1.8M / year), tax ID, e-Tax Invoice; (4) Social Security Office (SSO) — once the first employee is hired; (5) Department of Employment + Immigration — work permit and visa; (6) AMLO — UBO reporting under the 2566 Notification. Errors at the set-up stage (wrong capital structure, incomplete objectives for BOI, missing restriction clauses in the shareholders' agreement) can result in BOI denial, criminal exposure as a Nominee under FBA §36 (≤3 years imprisonment + ≤THB 1M fine), or back taxes with 100–200% penalties.
Recurring issues include: (a) Nominee Shareholding — using Thai persons to hold shares for a foreigner to circumvent FBA — a criminal offence under §36; DBD and DSI have aggressively examined source-of-fund for Thai shareholders since 2021; (b) Choosing the wrong BOI Category — A1+ (Knowledge-Based) attracts 10–13-year CIT exemption while Category B grants only non-tax privileges, so activities must be mapped against the Activity List in Announcement 9/2565; (c) Transfer Pricing — Thai companies transacting with parents must prepare a Local File + Master File under Revenue Code §71 ter (THB 200M threshold); (d) Incomplete UBO reporting — companies with beneficial owners holding > 25% must report to AMLO within 30 days; (e) Capital injection that does not pass through a Foreign Currency Deposit account — no Foreign Investment Certificate (FIC), so Land Code §96 bis cannot be invoked.
Our team is led by Lawyers Council-registered Notarial Services Attorneys (verify at /trust/credentials), CPAs, BOI-certified consultants (IC programme) and tax counsel. We handle pre-incorporation planning, drafting bilingual MOA + AOA, shareholders' agreements protecting foreign investors (drag-along / tag-along / reserved matters), BOI e-Investment filing, DBD incorporation, VAT/Tax ID, UBO at AMLO, work permit + Smart/LTR Visa, transfer-pricing documentation, and annual compliance (DBD, CIT return, BOI annual report). We comply with PDPA Section 24 (UBO, financial and employee data are sensitive), store data on ISO/IEC 27001 + HSM servers in Thailand for 30 years, and never accept a contingency fee for BOI work — Lawyers Council Ethics Regulation B.E. 2529 Clause 11.
End-to-end set-up of Thai Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, Representative Offices and Branches of
Provinces · 50+77
16,168+ clients · 60+ nationalities
Send your business plan + shareholder structure via LINE — receive an Incorporation Roadmap + BOI Eligibility
List 1 (absolutely prohibited) — 9 activities closed to foreigners (Thai-language newspaper, radio/TV, farming, livestock, forestry, fishing in Thai waters, Thai herbal extraction, antiques). No licence available.
List 2 (Cabinet approval required) — 13 activities affecting security, culture or resources (weapons manufacturing, domestic transport, antiques, Buddha image manufacturing). Foreigners may hold up to 60% with Cabinet approval.
List 3 (FBL from DBD required) — 21 service-sector activities where Thai firms are not yet competitive (construction, brokerage, auctioneering, retail/wholesale, food, hotel, tourism, advertising, 'other services'). FBL takes 60 days; government fee THB 5,000 plus a licence fee of THB 0.25–5M (calculated on registered capital).
Lawful routes around FBA — (1) BOI Promotion; (2) US Treaty of Amity; (3) IEAT Free Zone — 100% ownership; (4) EEC; (5) Capital Threshold — paid-up capital ≥ THB 100M auto-qualifies for FBL in certain activities.
Important — the Nominee Shareholder Trap: using Thai persons to hold shares for a foreigner is a criminal offence under §36 (≤3 years + THB 100,000–1,000,000 fine). DBD examines source-of-fund for every Thai shareholder and treats unproven funds as nominee shareholding.
Risks and disclosures (communicated before every engagement)
How can foreigners own 100% of a Thai company?
Five lawful routes: (1) BOI Promotion under Announcement 9/2565; (2) US Treaty of Amity (US nationals only); (3) Foreign Business License from DBD; (4) IEAT Free Zone within an Industrial Estate; (5) EEC privileges under the Eastern Economic Corridor Act B.E. 2561. Each route has different capital, activity, location and tax/non-tax conditions — we issue an Eligibility Memo comparing all routes before engagement.
Which BOI Category gives the maximum CIT exemption?
Category A1+ (Knowledge-Based industries with R&D ≥ 1% of sales): CIT exemption 10–13 years uncapped, plus Merit-Based +3 years — up to 13 years total. Typical sectors include biotechnology, embedded / AI software, aerospace and medical-device R&D. We perform an Eligibility Mapping before every application.
What is the minimum registered capital for foreigners?
By law there is no minimum for a Co., Ltd. (THB 15 is sufficient to incorporate). However, each work permit requires THB 2M paid-up capital + one Thai shareholder per four foreigners. BOI imposes no minimum (investment budget instead). FBL requires a minimum of THB 3M over four years; a Branch Office likewise THB 3M / 4 years.
Why is nominee shareholding illegal?
FBA §36 prohibits a Thai person from holding shares as a nominee for a foreigner. Penalty: ≤ 3 years imprisonment + THB 100,000–1,000,000 fine + company dissolution + asset forfeiture. DBD and DSI examine source-of-fund for every Thai shareholder; unproven funds are treated as nominee. We never accept nominee work.
How long does BOI take from filing to operations?
Application stage: 30–60 days (Category A) or 60–90 days (Category B). Promotion Certificate: 30 days after acceptance. Company incorporation + capital injection: within 6 months. Operations start: within 36 months (extendable). Total: roughly 4–7 months to begin operations.
How do LTR Visa and Smart Visa differ?
LTR Visa (Royal Decree B.E. 2565): 10 years renewable; flat 17% PIT (Highly-Skilled); no 90-day report (annual instead); 4 categories (Wealthy Global / Wealthy Pensioner / WFT Professional / Highly-Skilled). Smart Visa: 4 years; no work permit required; 4 categories (T/I/E/S). LTR suits long-term residence; Smart Visa suits tech/startup founders.
Are BOI-exempt companies tax-free on all profits?
No. BOI exemption applies only to profit derived from the Promoted Activity specified in the Promotion Certificate. Non-Promoted Activity profit is taxed at 20%. Accounting must separate Promoted / Non-Promoted; dividends paid out of Promoted profit are also exempt from WHT. We run an annual Tax-Privilege Calculation to maximise the benefit.
Can a BOI company own land?
Yes — Investment Promotion Act §27 allows ownership of land for office, factory and director/employee residence, in sizes approved by BOI. If Promotion is cancelled, the land must be sold within 1 year (similar to Land Code §96 bis).
When does Transfer Pricing apply?
Revenue Code §71 bis–ter (2562): companies with revenue ≥ THB 200M / year must prepare a Local File (kept 5 years) + Disclosure Form (TP-DF) filed with PND.50. Master File required for multinationals ≥ THB 28B worldwide. CbCR for Ultimate Parents in Thailand. Penalty for non-filing: THB 200,000 + tax adjustment + 1.5%/month surcharge.
When is UBO reporting required at AMLO?
Under AMLO Notification B.E. 2566, every DBD-registered company must report Ultimate Beneficial Owners (> 25% direct or indirect) within 30 days post-incorporation, update on change, and confirm annually via the AMLO online system. Non-filing: THB 500,000 + THB 5,000 daily.
Is the first consultation free? What should I send?
Yes. Send via LINE: (1) business plan / activity description; (2) shareholder structure, nationalities, source of fund; (3) capital plan + investment budget; (4) preferred office location (Bangkok / EEC / Free Zone); (5) number of foreign experts needed. Within one business day we return an Incorporation Roadmap + BOI Eligibility Memo + Tax Memo + Quotation. Lawyer-Client Privilege applies from the first minute.
ลูกค้าจริง 60+ สัญชาติทั่วโลก ใช้บริการ Notary, แปลรับรอง, MFA และสถานทูตกับเรา
"ทีมงานช่วยจัดเตรียมหนังสือมอบอำนาจสำหรับใช้ที่ออสเตรเลียได้รวดเร็วมาก พร้อมประสานงาน NAATI ครบจบในที่เดียว"
"Very professional notary service. Document was certified, translated and ready for the UK embassy in two business days."
"ใช้บริการรับรอง Affidavit + รายชื่อผู้ถือหุ้นเพื่อจดทะเบียนสาขาที่สิงคโปร์ ทีมงานละเอียดและตอบกลับไว"
Send your business plan + shareholder structure via LINE — receive an Incorporation Roadmap + BOI Eligibility Memo + Tax Memo within one business day
Short answer: Company documents such as certificates, board resolutions, powers of attorney and financial statements must be signed by the authorised directors shown on the company affidavit, sealed where required, then have the signature certified by a notarial services attorney before consular and embassy legalisation in the order the receiver requires.
Thai legal entities
Foreign companies and branch offices
Tenders, contracts and investment files
1. Verify signing authority against the affidavit
Match director names, the number of required signatories and the seal condition against the latest affidavit; a signature outside those conditions invalidates the whole set.
⏱ Same day
2. Draft the documents and translation
Draft resolutions or powers of attorney with a defined scope, validity period and covered transactions, with names spelled exactly as in the passport.
⏱ 1–2 working days (estimate)
3. Sign before a notarial services attorney
Authorised signatories appear in person with original identity documents so the attorney can certify the signature and the signer's capacity.
⏱ 1 working day (estimate)
4. File for consular legalisation
Submit the certified set to the Department of Consular Affairs through the channel currently offered.
⏱ 1–3 working days (estimate, excluding agency queues)
5. File at the destination embassy and deliver
Submit to the receiving country's embassy or consulate under its own conditions, then deliver with a backup copy for company records.
⏱ 2–10 working days (estimate, varies by mission)
| Criterion | In-house | Our team handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Signing authority check | HR or the company secretary checks it internally | We reconcile the affidavit and seal conditions before printing |
| Resolution and POA drafting | Generic templates that may not match the transaction | Drafted for the actual transaction with wording receivers have accepted |
| Multi-layer filing | Staff make repeated trips between agencies | We run the layers continuously and report status at each one |
| Risk to the closing date | High when a rejection lands near signing day | Screened in advance by a team with more than 15 years in this field |
If you would rather your team not spend days moving files between agencies, we can run the chain from authority check to delivery. Initial consultation is available by phone, LINE or email.
All durations are working-day estimates excluding agency queues, and are not a guarantee of any authority's decision.
Sources: กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า (DBD) — บริการข้อมูลนิติบุคคล · กองสัญชาติและนิติกรณ์ กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ · สภาทนายความในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์ · Last reviewed: 2026-08-10
Document and legalization advisers with 15+ years of practice
Before we start, we read your actual documents and confirm the legalization route matches what the receiving authority asks for. During the work we report progress, and after delivery we still answer questions about how to submit the file.
We prepare documents to the requirements of the receiving authority. Any approval decision remains at that authority's discretion.
Send your documents on LINE for a preliminary review, a recommended legalization route and a written quote.
General guidance, not a case-specific determination. Requirements change with agency notices — confirm with the receiving authority before you act.
Sources: กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า กระทรวงพาณิชย์ (DBD) · สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน (BOI) · กองสัญชาติและนิติกรณ์ กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ · สภาทนายความในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์ · Last reviewed: 2026-08-04
These are illustrative composites of common corporate document patterns, not individual client records, and not a guarantee of any authority's decision. Durations are approximate working-day ranges.
Illustrative scenarios, not individual client records · Last reviewed 2026-08-09
Shareholding structures, company affidavits, board resolutions and documents certified before DBD or BOI filing.
Usually yes. The shareholder signs before a notary public in their own country, that signature is legalised locally, and the Royal Thai Embassy attests it — an Apostille will cover this for Convention countries from 28 February 2027. The set is then translated into Thai and filed. Confirm the exact wording with us before signing: the Department of Business Development is strict about names matching the passport exactly, and a re-signing abroad costs weeks.
Registrars commonly want a document issued recently — often within three to six months — and will look at the issue date rather than the certification date. Order the fresh original first, then translate and certify, in that order. Doing it the other way round wastes the certification when the registrar asks for a newer original. Timelines are estimates and depend on the issuing registry abroad.
A certificate of incorporation or affidavit from the Department of Business Development, the shareholder list, the articles of association, a board resolution authorising the transaction, and a signatory's identification. For overseas use these are translated into English and legalised, and the counterparty's own embassy may add a layer. Affidavits carry an issue date, so check how recent the counterparty requires it to be.
Yes, with a properly drafted power of attorney and identification documents attested where required. A foreign individual's signature is typically attested by a notary abroad and then by the Royal Thai Embassy there, while a corporate shareholder also provides its own constitutional documents translated into Thai. Because the foreign leg is slow, start it before the Thai filings are prepared.
Most counterparties apply their own freshness rule, commonly one to three months from issue, because the affidavit records the position on the day it was issued. Since translation, attestation and courier time all consume part of that window, request the affidavit once the rest of the bundle is nearly ready rather than at the start of the transaction.
The affidavit and shareholder list, the articles of association, a board resolution naming the authorised signatories, and identification for each of them. Banks read for exact name consistency across all four, so a signatory's name must be spelled identically to the passport in every document. Confirm the branch's list before the appointment, as requirements vary between institutions.
Short answer: Registrars refuse names that clash or breach naming rules, objectives that do not cover the real business, foreign shareholder powers of attorney without a complete certification chain, and incomplete office-address evidence.
We design the shareholding, objectives and foreign-document chain around the licences you will need next — advice first, filing second.
Durations are working-day estimates excluding agency queues, and are not a guarantee of any authority's decision.
Sources: กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า (DBD) · สภาทนายความในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์ · Last reviewed: 2026-08-10
Company documents such as certificates, board resolutions, powers of attorney and financial statements must be signed by the authorised directors shown on the company affidavit, sealed where required, then have the signature certified by a notarial services attorney before consular and embassy legalisation in the order the receiver requires.
If you would rather your team not spend days moving files between agencies, we can run the chain from authority check to delivery. Initial consultation is available by phone, LINE or email.
Durations are working-day estimates excluding agency queues and are not a guarantee of any decision.

Statements on this page follow the authorities below. Confirm current requirements with the authority before filing. Last reviewed 2026-07-29.
Fees are not published online — ask our team by phone, LINE or email for a scope-based quote.